OCD and Addiction: A Parallel Approach

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is defined by intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors—patterns that can feel impossible to break. But in his book Brain Lock, Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz outlines four critical steps that help individuals reclaim control:

1.   Relabel – Identify what is real and what is not. Train yourself to recognize intrusive thoughts and urges for what they are—false signals trying to mislead you.

2.   Reattribute – Understand that these thoughts are just mental noise—misfires in the brain, not truth.

3.   Refocus – Rather than giving in to these urges, redirect your attention toward constructive actions, no matter how small.

4.   Revalue – Over time, the desire to act on unwanted compulsions will lose its hold on you. The more you apply these steps, the more you reshape your brain chemistry—weakening the cycle of OCD itself.

Addiction: Hijacking the Brain

Addiction works in a similar way, hijacking the brain’s reward system. Whether it’s drugs, pornography, alcohol, or other compulsive behaviors, addiction manifests as:

Craving—an overwhelming desire for the object of addiction.
Loss of control—an inability to stop, despite wanting to.
Persistence despite consequences—continuing the habit even when it causes harm.
Harvard University researchers describe addiction as a learned process, driven by the brain’s reward system. Addictive substances flood the nucleus accumbens with dopamine, reinforcing patterns that become ingrained. The hippocampus locks in memories of instant gratification, while the amygdala conditions the brain to crave more under certain stimuli.

But what if the same four-step method for OCD could be applied to addiction?

Rewiring the Addicted Mind

Accept what you cannot change—you are an addict. But what you can change is how you respond to addiction.

Your body reacts to signals from your brain:
"We need this. We can't function without it."
But that’s just a habit speaking. Habits create actual pathways in the brain—patterns of repetition that feel automatic. Addiction is just another pathway, reinforced through repeated behavior. Together, these form a cycle that feels unbreakable—but it is not impossible to change.

The Path to Recovery

Breaking addiction requires work, determination, and a willingness to step outside your urges. It starts with training your mind to challenge every impulse:

Relabel – Recognize that is just my addiction talking. I don’t have to listen.
Reattribute – Accept that these cravings are false signals, not truths I must obey.
Refocus – When the urge comes, choose a different action—replace the destructive habit with something constructive.
Revalue – Over time, addiction will lose its hold, because I no longer give it power.
I’ve lived this journey myself—30+ years free from cigarettes, alcohol, and more. Whatever your addiction is, the truth remains: You can beat it.

And it starts with retraining your brain—one step at a time.

 

Addiction hijacks the brain

Published: July 2011 Harvard University health

 

“Desire initiates the process, but learning sustains it.

                      

The brain's reward center