OCD

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

We all suffer from OCD. My OCD is always seeking the truth as I refuse to take anyone's word for anything as I want to find the truth myself or experience it. Remember the tricks of shaytaan come in bite size pieces and before you know it, he has got you right where he wants you. He will dress everything up making it seem there is no harm. Plus I have an obsession with helping people that I do not believe what I actually do is work hence why I mix and talk with everyone, even nature.

OCD is defined as a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings. OCD can lead to unpleasant feelings like anxiety, fear, guilt and panic.

TICM has long been used to treat mental imbalances, though western medicine is generally unaware that it can be such a viable treatment option. TICM believes that if our organs are balanced, mental function will also be harmonious. This is due to our mental health being interconnected with our physical health, the entire body being treated as a whole, and not compartmentalised.

The beauty of TICM is that it is a more specific and focused way to treat a disorder like OCD. OCD patterns and symptoms are highly individualized. Trying to treat and diagnose OCD with a one-size-fits-all approach may not yield successful long term results.

Different organ imbalances lead to specific OCD patterns and their related symptoms. We know that specific emotions are correlated to corresponding organs. When the organ health is compromised, it makes the body more susceptible to certain emotions and this acts likes a cycle, the more you feel that emotion, the more it hurts the organ, the more the organ is imbalanced, the more you may feel that emotion.

Spleen imbalance due to the emotion associated with the Spleen system is worry, and a weak Spleen manifests as OCD with repeated unwanted thoughts. The Spleen works to digest food, thoughts and experiences, anything we see throughout the course of the day. A weak digestion can lead to excessive anxiety related to OCD.

Kidney imbalance as Kidney is associated with the emotion fear, this type of OCD manifests into compulsions or rituals and can also be anxiety and panic attacks associated with OCD. The compulsions or rituals are a way to deal with fear through distraction.

The Kidney organ system also houses the Spirit or Shen called "Zhi". As mentioned in one of the most classical texts of TCM, Ling Shu: “When there is apprehension and anxiety, worry and preoccupation attack the Spirits. When the Spirits are attacked, under the effect of fear and fright, there is a flowing out, there is a spilling over that cannot be stopped.” The Kidney stores our life force called Jing, which generates life force (Qi), and vital life force (Qi) generates Spirit. When this system is hindered, fear can easily result.

Kidney & Lung Imbalance: Lung energy is related to self esteem in TICM. This imbalance links to the fear of being embarrassed, letting someone down, making a mistake, disappointing someone, or acting in a socially unacceptable way. Kidney and Lung imblanace is also the cause of asthma which should be rectified as a child before it continues into adulthood. However if you get ashthma as an adult, know that it is a simple imbalance with these organs that are easily rectified.

Heart imbalance as all emotions have relations with the Heart system, as our Blood helps them to flow smoothly. Insomnia that is related to OCD further implicates Heart imbalance as the Heart houses the mind during sleeping hours.

Liver imbalance as depression associated with OCD can often be traced back to the Liver. When Blood stagnation occurs here, usually from stress or anxiety, associated emotions can arise like depression, anger, frustration and irritability.