The number I keep coming back to

Specialist CBT therapy for anxiety, OCD, depression and more in West London

Sometimes a person has lived with intrusive thoughts, checking, mental reviewing, reassurance seeking, avoidance or rituals for a long time before finding words for what is happening. They may have called themselves a worrier, a perfectionist or simply someone who needs to be more careful. They may have kept the experience private because the thoughts feel embarrassing, frightening or hard to explain. There is no reliable single number that can tell us how many people have recognised obsessive compulsive patterns or when they should seek support. Statistics can change according to the question, population and method used. More importantly, a statistic cannot determine whether an individual has OCD, why a pattern developed or what kind of help is appropriate. An assessment is not only about attaching a label. It can be a place to describe what is happening without assuming that a thought means a person wants it to be true. We might look at triggers, thoughts, images, urges, actions, mental routines, short term relief and the impact on daily life. We would also consider other relevant factors, including anxiety, mood, health, sleep, stress, relationships and safety. Compulsions can be visible or internal. One person may repeatedly check a lock. Another may replay a conversation, search for certainty, ask for reassurance, mentally repeat a phrase or avoid a decision. These actions can be attempts to manage discomfort, guilt, disgust, responsibility or doubt. A blog cannot determine whether they are compulsions, but it can explain why a careful assessment is often more useful than self judgement. If CBT is appropriate, the work is collaborative. We may develop a shared formulation and consider what response might be helpful. Exposure and response prevention, where relevant, is planned within therapy with consent, pacing and assessment. It is not a self directed instruction to confront a fear, stop a routine abruptly or remove reassurance without support. Progress differs from person to person. It may involve recognising a pattern, spending less time in a mental ritual, making a decision with less checking or finding a more workable way to respond to uncertainty. It cannot be guaranteed and it should be reviewed in the context of the individual’s life. If someone cannot keep themselves safe or is at immediate risk of harming themselves, they should call 999, attend A&E or contact urgent crisis support. For concerns that are not immediate, an assessment led conversation can help clarify whether CBT may be useful and what other support needs consideration. For related information, read about <a href="/therapy/ocd/">CBT for OCD</a> and the <a href="/guides/ocd comprehensive guide/">OCD clinical guide</a>. The Lyceum Clinic offers assessment led CBT online and in West London. A first conversation can help decide whether this support is appropriate and what other care may be relevant.