OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

A Letter to Someone with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

By Bill Harris
Director, Centerpointe Research Institute

I have been doing a lot of research on brain physiology and brain function lately, based on research done using SPECT scans of the brain, and how what these pictures of brain function show relates to various mental and emotional problems, only one of which is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

OCD is connected with over-activity of a part of the brain called the basal ganglia. Generally there is an over- production of dopamine in the brain in OCD, which results in low production of serotonin in the brain (the two tend to balance each other). High serotonin levels can create ADD, so there is a spectrum between high basal ganglia activity, high dopamine, low serotonin, and OCD on one hand, and low basal ganglia activity, low dopamine, high serotonin, and ADD on the other. The brain, of course, is more complex than this, but overall the above is true in most cases, all other things being equal.

In terms of medication, those that increase serotonin could help (Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Luvox), though this is of course a doctor's call. Though I know something about these medications, I am not professionally qualified to diagnose these things, and add this information only because it is something I have recently learned and pass it on as a friend. I am not by nature disposed to recommend drugs as a treatment anyway, though in some cases the suffering is enough that the drugs are a good temporary solution. Again, it is a doctor's call.

I am beginning to believe, by the way, that one of the things that Holosync does is to balance basal ganglia function (which means that continued use of Holosync should help--I have seem many people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder recover as a result of using Holosync), regulating the relative production of dopamine and serotonin in the brain.

I am told that a high-protein, low-carb diet (like Atkins or the Zone Diet) are good for those with over-active basal ganglia, though be sure to see my other dietary comments below.

The other part of the brain affected is called the cingulate gyrus, which runs down the middle of the brain from front to back, as if to slice your brain into left and right halves. The cingulate gyrus has a lot to do with a person's ability to shift attention, be cognitively flexible, to adapt to circumstances, to move easily from one idea to another, to "go with the flow," and to be cooperative.

Since these are qualities we see pretty universally in those who have been in the program a while, I also am of the opinion that research will show that Holosync modulates and balances over- or under-activity in the cingulate gyrus. This is the part of the brain responsible for much of what I have extensively spoken and written of as "resiliency."

When you get stuck on a thought and can't get it out of your head, when you worry, or when you have trouble switching a behavior that isn't working, the cingulate system is not working properly.

Seeing many people who are stuck on thoughts (I was one of them) get over this as they use the program, I am very certain that Holosync also balances function in this part of the brain.

Here are some ways to deal with OCD, based on recommendations from Dr. Daniel Amens, a prominent expert in the use of SPECT imaging to diagnose and treat many mental and emotional problems:

• Notice when you're stuck, distract yourself, and come back to the problem later. Go do something else for a while and then come back to the problem. Sing a song, listen to music, take a walk, do a chore, play with a pet, meditate.
  
  
• Write out options and solutions when you feel stuck. Writing things down makes them more concrete and lessens your ability to blow them out of proportion mentally. Write down a description of the problem in one sentence, then write out a list of things you can do about the program, then make a list of the things about the problem you can't do anything about. then take action on the things you can do something about and forget about the things you can't.
  
  
• Try St. John's Wort, which has been shown to mediate cingulate problems (usual dose is 300 mg a day, though sometimes it can be a much as 900 mg a day). Again, I am not a qualified medical practitioner, so please refer all suggestions for herbs or medication to someone who is qualified. I am merely acting as a resource, telling you what I have read.
  
  
• Though high protein, low carb diets are good for overactive basal ganglia, they can make over- active cyngulate problems worse because they are low in l-tryptophan. Foods containing l-tryptophan include chicken, turkey, salmon, beef, peanut butter, eggs, green peas, potatoes, and milk, so you would think that a high protein diet with these foods would work. However, when you eat a high protein diet, because l-tryptophan is a relatively small amino acid, the larger amino acids compete more successfully to get into the brain, causing lower levels of brain serotonin. Dr. Amens recommends supplementation with 1000 to 3000 mg of l-tryptophan taken at bedtime. Other studies have shown that 12-20 mg of inositol, a B- vitamin, helps with problems of over-focus. Exercise also increases brain levels of l- tryptophan.
  
  
•  Keep using Holosync. If you can handle it, add an additional half hour each day. Over time, it will balance everything.

It's not the things you are worried about that are the problem, but the worrying itself. You can see around you what most normal people are doing. Are they watching every word they say to make sure they don't phrase what they say to themselves incorrectly? No. and you don't need to, either.

Just as a general rule, focus on, and think about, what you want for yourself, and when you notice yourself thinking about something you don't want or are worried about, distract yourself and then end by thinking about and focusing on what you want. All the rest are just details, and since you tend to get hung up on the details right now, I'd say forget about them.

You'll get through this just fine. Just keep going. I was pretty messed up myself, and now I'm very happy and very peaceful pretty much all the time and most of whatever I do works out the way I planned it to work out. It can be the same for you. So learn to 1) notice when you are worrying or thinking about something you do not want, 2) distract yourself for a few minutes, 3) think about what you want.

I suspect you want to be happy, peaceful, prosperous, have friends who care about you, have a loving relationship, have something engaging and challenging to do with your time. Start by imagining and thinking about those things whenever you find yourself worrying. Time will pass, you'll get better and better at it, and since what you think, you are, you're creating your future all the time.

Regards,

Bill Harris
Director