Definition
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts driven by an urgent need to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared outcome. In OCD, they are functionally linked to obsessions.
Why it matters
Compulsions are frequently misunderstood as personality traits or preferences. Naming them accurately opens the door to effective treatment.
The Science
Compulsions are maintained by negative reinforcement — they briefly reduce distress — but strengthen the underlying obsession. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) has robust evidence in OCD.
The NSI Perspective
NSI treats compulsions as intelligent short-term relief that costs long-term freedom.
Clinical Implications
ERP, sometimes with medication, is the treatment of choice for OCD. It should be available and appropriately delivered.
Practical Application
If a repeated behavior briefly reduces distress but leaves you doing it more, not less, that is a compulsion — and there is a specific, evidence-based path out.
References
- 1.Abramowitz JS, Deacon BJ, Whiteside SPH. Exposure Therapy for Anxiety: Principles and Practice. Guilford Press; 2019.