High levels of anxiety linked to physical
sensations such as breathing, swallowing, eye-floaters, heartbeat and physical posture or balance can be symptoms of
Sensorimotor Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
In
our experience, Sensorimotor OCD can be effectively treated using a special
form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in as few as eight CBT sessions. To book
a free initial telephone call with a CBT expert, email or text your contact
details to
Like other forms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Sensorimotor OCD involves a preoccupation with sensations or feelings, obsessional worry about feeling normal and compulsive self- monitoring to check or test the sensation. This creates a vicious cycle of self-surveillance and checking, that disrupts personal and professional responsibilities and leads to high levels of anxiety and depressed mood. Common Sensorimotor Preoccupations include:
Whilst the sensations in themselves are typically within the normal range, Sensorimotor OCD increases attention and amplifies the distress associated with the physiological preoccupation. This causes normal bodily sensations and functions to feel distracting and overwhelming.
Like all other OCD subtypes, Sensorimotor OCD involves a three-part process. Intrusive doubts lead to obsessions and high levels of fear, anxiety and depression. Mental compulsions are performed in an attempt to escape or suppress the obsessions and anxiety. Whilst this provides temporary relief, it also reinforces the vicious cycle of Harm OCD.
The Trigger
This can be an internal preoccupation or an
urge to check if something feels “normal”. The trigger itself is a normal
sensory experience, however in Sensorimotor OCD this leads to a primary
inference. The primary OCD inference or irrational doubt is that the sensation will
feel wrong or abnormal or that the individual will lose control of the feeling.
The Obsession
Once the individual is hooked by the initial
trigger or OCD inference that something feels wrong, this leads to a level of
obsessional worry, rumination and self-doubt about never feeling normal again. This
involves worry, over-thinking and doubt
about the sensation itself as well as a secondary form of meta-worry about the
impacts of obsessional worry and anxiety. (Worry about worry). This super
charges and escalates sensorimotor obsessions, leading to higher levels of
anxiety and feelings of helplessness.
The Compulsion
The compulsive response involves mental and
physical checking to seek relief and see if the sensation feels normal again.
Compulsions include cognitive avoidance or
suppression; trying to not notice or push the sensation out of conscious
awareness. This triggers a rebound affect which increases surveillance and
attention to the sensation.
Physical compulsions include checking or
self-monitoring to test or suppress the feeling. This also involves Googling,
over-researching the problem and seeking reassurance from others.
The compulsion increases attention on the
feeling and reinforces the association between the trigger and the checking
behaviour.
This three-part OCD process creates a vicious
cycle of attention, worry and physical checking, that disrupts personal and
professional responsibilities and leads to significant emotional distress.
The recommended treatment of choice for Sensorimotor OCD is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. In particular, a combination of ERP Plus, Cognitive Reappraisal, Acceptance and Defusion strategies have been found to be particularly effective in the treatment of Sensorimotor OCD. Our CBT treatment process involves:
Sensorimotor OCD can be treated in
approximately eight-ten sessions, depending on other factors and levels of
complexity. Sessions are normally delivered by video link which has been found
to be highly effective and works in exactly the same way as traditional
face-to-face therapy.
Specialist Sensorimotor OCD sessions are
charged at £125 per session. This includes a written assessment report,
treatment plan and relevant psychometric measures.
To
book an appointment with an experienced and qualified OCD specialist, complete
the contact form or email We are professionally
registered with most of the major insurance providers.
To find out more email
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