Scientists have studied the association of OCD with traumatic experiences

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may experience fear not only of specific events, but also of what they themselves are capable of becoming. A study involving 16 adults with OCD showed that childhood trauma and rejection experiences in some people may play a role in shaping the so—called "scary self" - the idea of what kind of person they are most afraid to turn out to be. About how past experiences can be associated with obsessive thoughts in OCD, see the "Izvestia" article.

How the "scary self" is formed

The causes of OCD are not fully established. It is assumed that a combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors, including traumatic or stressful experiences, may be involved in its development. The disorder usually begins around the age of 20 and, without treatment, can persist throughout life.

In an article published in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology (BJCP), researchers examine the theory of the "scary self." According to her, some people's obsessive thoughts may be related to deep-seated ideas about who they are or who they are afraid of becoming.

For example, a person may consider himself dangerous or immoral. Then the aggressive thought that arises can be perceived by him as a confirmation of this self-image. Compulsions in this case can turn into attempts to prove the opposite and control their own thoughts. At the same time, the theory of the "scary self" is not the only explanation for the occurrence and persistence of OCD symptoms.

Scientists have uncovered the mechanism of the gap between thoughts and actions in OCD

How childhood traumas affect self-image

To explore this theory, the researchers conducted interviews with 16 Australian adults with an officially confirmed diagnosis of OCD. Most of the participants were women. They had symptoms ranging from moderate to extreme, and the obsessions themselves ranged from fear of contamination and harm to problems with symmetry and unwanted thoughts.

The first topic that stood out in the interview was the traumatic events experienced in childhood. They often occurred within the family and included sexualized, physical, or emotional abuse, bullying, harassment, and lack of necessary parental care.

Many participants talked about the fear of becoming a bad person and causing others the same harm that they once caused them. One of the participants said that after his parents divorced, his father became very aggressive, which made him afraid to do the same one day. Another participant talked about an abusive father with alcohol addiction. According to the researchers, this experience was related to the fear of the participant himself becoming addicted to alcohol someday.

When child responsibility became a part of OCD

Harassment and harassment could have a similar effect. One of the participants noted that such an experience makes you think about your own capabilities and limitations and wonder what a person is capable of.

Separately, the researchers described the experience of parental neglect. One of the participants recalled that when he was a child, he checked the house on his own, because his parents did not do this. In particular, he made sure that everything was locked and the stove was turned off in order to feel safer.

The researchers note that for many participants, the need to take on responsibilities in childhood that significantly exceeded their age later became the basis for the formation of obsessions and compulsions in adulthood.

Identity code: what do we get from our parents and change ourselves

Why Rejection could change your self-image

The second important topic was rejection — the feeling that a person is not accepted, betrayed, or considered not good enough. The participants attributed it, among other things, to the feeling that they did not meet their parents' expectations, for example, because of their grades at school, despite all their efforts.

The researchers also named emotional coldness of parents as a significant factor. One of the participants described her mother as a person whose attitude towards her was constantly changing.: She didn't know when her mother would be kind, and when she would start pointing out her little mistakes and talking about her as a bad person. According to the authors of the study, such an experience of rejection at an early age could contribute to the formation of an unstable and vulnerable self-image. Against this background, the researchers believe, a "scary self" could gain a foothold.

Why trauma can't be considered a cause of OCD yet

The findings reinforce the theory that OCD in some people may be associated with a "scary self" shaped by traumatic experiences and rejection. According to the authors, this understanding can help in developing treatment approaches that address a person's deeply ingrained self-image.

As one of the possible approaches, the article considers image rescription, a method in which a person returns to negative memories and changes the meaning associated with them. This approach can potentially be used to work with the ideas of the "scary self" in OCD.

The authors also note the importance of a trauma-informed approach that can help specialists and patients consider frightening thoughts like "what if I'm dangerous?" in the context of a person's past experience. If such experiences are indeed risk factors, their early detection can potentially be used for prevention.

However, the study was small and examined the experiences of specific people in detail, so its results cannot be automatically extended to all OCD patients. In addition, the participants recalled childhood events, and such memories can be subject to distortion. The authors emphasize that it is not yet possible to claim that the described experience directly causes OCD. Not all cases of the disorder are related to trauma. Larger and more diverse studies are needed to further verify the findings.