Existential OCD: When the Quest for Meaning Becomes Overwhelming

Every now and then, most of the people ask themselves what the meaning of life is. These questions cannot be mere ponderables to someone with Existential OCD. They become intrusive thoughts which seem impossible to get rid of. They do not evoke curiosity, but rather they promote fear, confusion and a strong feeling of being trapped.

What Is Existential OCD?

Existential OCD is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in which the individual is obsessed with philosophical or religious issues. Examples of typical obsessions may be:

“What is the meaning of life?”

“What if none of this is real?”

“What happens after death?”

These thoughts are obtrusive and unwelcome as opposed to natural curiosity. They do not result to clarity but instead to anxiety-rumination cycles. The mind continues to suffer seeking certainty that cannot be established.

How Obsessions and Compulsions Show Up

Similar to other forms of OCD, existential OCD comes with obsessions and compulsions. The recurrent questions and doubts are called obsessions. The actions or thoughts that an individual tries to perform to seek relief are called compulsions.

Compulsions may look like:

Incessantly studying philosophy or religion.

Seeking other people to reassure him about life and reality.

Improving the psyche of all thoughts or memories.

Restatement of dialogue to gain a feeling of assurance in thoughts.

Though these compulsions are temporary relief, the doubt comes back soon and the cycle continues endlessly.

Why It Feels So Difficult

The problem of existential OCD is the character of the questions. They are often unanswerable. When the mind needs what it believes will be sure, it leads to frustration, burnout and even the feeling that it is no longer a part of life. The individuals can begin to lose connection with their environment or not enjoy simple things in life.

Finding the Right Treatment

Existential OCD can be treated, which is the good news. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is one of the best methods. ERP can assist a person to confront his or her obsessive thoughts without compulsions. They do not seek answers and instead tolerate uncertainty.

This will eventually cause the anxiety to fade and break the chain of obsessions and compulsions. Medication can also be included in the treatment plan of some, but learning how to respond to intrusive thoughts differently is the key.

The Role of an OCD Program

Structured guidance is often needed to recover someone who has existential OCD. That is where an OCD Program can help. An effective program offers stepwise approaches to confront compulsions, strengthen, and decrease the strength of intrusive thoughts.

Our OCD Program at OCD-Anxiety.com is developed to provide individuals with some practical tools that they can use in their day-to-day life. The program focuses on:

Education: How OCD functions: Why thoughts feel so sticky.

Practical Tools: How to learn the techniques of ERP and exercises that will lead to a decrease in fear.

Self-Empowerment: Gaining the courage to meet uncertainty without compulsions.

The program helps individuals to take charge and move on by integrating clinical knowledge with strategies in real life.

Living Beyond Existential OCD

A person does not necessarily have to live with existential OCD. Although intrusive thoughts can always manifest here and there, the difference is in response. These questions can be observed with the right help and treatment without being dragged down into depths of analysis.

A good OCD Program is one that teaches that the most important questions of life do not require one-syllable responses.

FInal Thoughts

Existential OCD may be lonely but not without hope. The cycle of obsessions and compulsions can be broken and people can regain some form of calm and meaning. There are programs such as the one at OCD-Anxiety.com that are based on proven tools and guidance, which assist people to deal with existential doubts in a healthy manner.

There will always be mysteries in life--but now with the proper backing they need never again to dominate your thoughts or even your joy.