Inside the Mind’s Loop of Obsessive Thoughts and Compulsive Patterns
- Brainz Magazine
- 56 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Written by Agnes Chvojka, Rapid Transformational Therapy® Hypnotherapist, Mindset and Confidence Coach
Agnes Chvojka is a Rapid Transformational Therapist® and mindset coach based in Ireland, working remotely worldwide. She helps women break free from self-doubt, shed emotional weight, and rewire deep subconscious blocks to reclaim their voice, embrace their power, and live with confidence and joy.
Living with OCD can feel like being trapped in an endless loop of fear, control and anxiety. In this diary entry, RTT hypnotherapist Agnes Chvojka shares how understanding the emotional roots of obsessive and compulsive patterns can open the door to lasting freedom, healing and inner peace.
A diary from an RTT hypnotherapist on OCD and anxiety
As I sit down to write today, I find myself reflecting on the journeys I’ve shared with my clients, many of whom have struggled with the suffocating grip of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It’s a condition that’s often misunderstood, not just by the outside world, but by those living with it.
While there are many layers to OCD, one truth remains: for those who experience it, life often feels like a prison. A trap built on deep-rooted limiting beliefs and a desperate need for certainty, control, and emotional safety.
But is there a way out? Absolutely! If we can grab hold of the starting point of the loop. If we can dig deep enough to uncover the true source of the obsession.
At Happy Minds Therapy, I use an integrated approach of Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT), blending in hypnotherapy, CBT, psychotherapy and somatic awareness to support people in breaking free from these cycles. The key isn’t simply managing symptoms or focusing on surface behaviours – it’s about understanding the root cause, the purpose, and the unmet need behind the compulsive patterns. That’s where real, lasting healing begins, where intrusive thoughts fade, and rituals are no longer needed to feel safe, grounded, and free.
What is OCD? A loop fuelled by anxiety and the need for control
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a mental health condition marked by a cycle of intrusive, unwanted thoughts, known as obsessions, and repetitive behaviours or mental rituals, known as compulsions. These compulsions are the mind’s way of attempting to calm the fear triggered by the obsessions.
While OCD is often portrayed as an obsession with cleanliness or order, it runs far deeper. It can manifest through checking, counting, repeating, avoiding, or mentally replaying past actions or worrying about future outcomes.
At its core, OCD is not about neatness, it is about trying to reclaim control in a world that feels emotionally unsafe. These compulsions are desperate attempts to soothe fear, prevent imagined disasters, or neutralise discomfort.
"When you cannot manage your emotions on the inside, your mind will find ways to take control of everything on the outside."
OCD and anxiety are closely linked. When we do not feel safe to experience or express our inner emotions, the subconscious mind can redirect that emotional energy into obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviours. It becomes a loop; the more we try to control the outside world, the more anxious we feel inside, and the more trapped we become.
Breaking the cycle: How happy minds therapy can heal the roots of OCD
OCD is often a desperate attempt to control overwhelming emotions triggered by deep-seated fears and unresolved issues. But where does true healing begin? With my clients, I focus on more than just the rituals. Together, we explore the foundational beliefs that drive these compulsions, beliefs often formed in childhood or other formative experiences, times when the mind sought safety and control in an unpredictable environment.
Through methods rooted in RTT and advanced hypnotherapy, we guide the subconscious to reinterpret these deeply held beliefs. Clients come to realise that the rigid control mechanisms, manifested through obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours, are no longer necessary in their adult lives. The therapeutic journey centres on fostering a renewed sense of safety that does not rely on controlling external circumstances.
Together, we uncover the emotional landscape beneath the surface, releasing long-held tension and replacing restrictive patterns with more adaptive responses that nurture confidence and inner peace.
Healing begins when clients recognise that OCD is not just a collection of symptoms, but a subconscious protection and controlling strategy. By guiding them to connect with the part of themselves that originally developed these patterns, we unlock deep insight. This process gently accesses early emotional memories and reframes them through adult understanding.
When clients witness how their mind constructed these coping strategies during times of perceived threat, they often experience a transformative shift. The body begins to release stored tension, and clients realise these outdated adaptations have outlived their purpose.
Using a blend of relaxation techniques, positive suggestion, and guided visualisation, we help rewire both neurological pathways and somatic responses. This holistic approach addresses both thinking patterns and physical manifestations, allowing clients to return to their lives with clarity, resilience, and freedom.
A journey of transformation: Client stories and breakthroughs
One of the most rewarding parts of this work is seeing clients break free from the anxiety that drives OCD. Beneath the compulsions are layers of overthinking, shame, guilt, and fear of judgment, emotions that can leave people feeling isolated and exhausted.
One client, Sarah, had spent years checking the lock before leaving her home, tapping the handle and counting “1-2-3-4,” convinced that if she did not, something terrible would happen. She could not skip a single ritual. In addition, she took long showers and performed toilet rituals that added hours to her day. These compulsions led to heightened anxiety and made it difficult for her to attend social events or connect with others, as she was consumed by the need to complete her rituals before feeling "safe."
“If I do not repeat this action, something bad will happen. Control is the only way I know how to feel safe, wanted, and connected.”
When Sarah came to me, she was seeking relief from these exhausting rituals. She wanted to stop overthinking, build confidence, clear her mind, and shift her focus to daily habits that felt meaningful, not obligatory.
What she did not realise was that her checking rituals were coping strategies for a deep, unresolved fear of abandonment formed during childhood. These rituals had become a way to manage emotional pain that she had never learned to process.
Through a blend of RTT, hypnotherapy, energy healing, and mindset coaching, Sarah accessed the emotional memory connected to this fear and reframed it. She realised her compulsions were not keeping her safe, they were repeating outdated survival responses.
After just one deep hypnosis session and follow-up support, Sarah stopped her checking behaviours. For the first time in years, she left her house feeling calm and grounded without the ritual and without the fear.
We then anchored that new sense of safety physically. She created an “inner cheerleader,” a supportive inner voice she could rely on when feeling uncertain or anxious. Her mind no longer defaulted to fear. Her rituals lost their grip. She took back control and left the cycle behind.
The power of happy minds therapy: A step-by-step shift
Here’s how my approach helps clients break free from OCD:
Identifying root causes - I help my clients uncover the deeply held beliefs and emotional experiences driving OCD patterns.
Reframing limiting beliefs - Once we’ve found the root, we guide the subconscious to shift from fear to safety and empowerment.
Somatic healing - We connect mind and body, helping you release tension and regulate your nervous system.
Transformation: Rewiring - Once we’ve reframed the old behaviours and planted a new belief system, my hypnotic transformation audio recordings – fully customized to each client’s needs – will rewire the subconscious mind, ensuring lasting transformation.
Mindset tools for the future - After releasing old patterns and creating new meaning, my clients will leave with practical tools to support long-term growth and navigate life without slipping back into old OCD habits.
The journey to freedom: Taking the first brave step
If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, know this: healing is possible.
Happy Minds Therapy offers a compassionate and transformative approach that addresses the emotional root of OCD, not just the behaviours. You can break free from the exhausting loop of obsessive thoughts, compulsive actions and anxious feelings and reclaim a life filled with peace, clarity, and self-trust.
Are you ready to take the first step?
Let’s explore how this powerful method, RTT can help you unlock lasting freedom from OCD and anxiety and rediscover the confident, calm self that’s always been within you.
Read more from Agnes Chvojka
Agnes Chvojka, Rapid Transformational Therapy® Hypnotherapist, Mindset and Confidence Coach
Agnes Chvojka is a Rapid Transformational Therapy® Hypnotherapist and mindset coach specializing in deep subconscious reprogramming and emotional healing. Passionate about helping women overcome self-sabotage, fear, and limiting beliefs, she guides them toward confidence, freedom, and self-empowerment. Her unique approach combines hypnosis and mindset work to create lasting transformation. Based in Ireland, she works with clients worldwide. Learn more here.
