Dr Elaine Ryan

  • Challenges of being in a Relationship with Someone with Relationship OCD

    Challenges of being in a Relationship with Someone with Relationship OCD

    Relationship OCD, ROCD, is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder that causes people to experience intrusive thoughts and behaviours that interfere with their romantic relationships. Symptoms of ROCD include constantly questioning the relationship, comparing it to past relationships or idealized versions of relationships, seeking reassurance from their partner or others, and engaging in compulsive behaviours like…

  • Similarities and Differences Between ROCD and Other Forms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

    Similarities and Differences Between ROCD and Other Forms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

    What is ROCD? ROCD stands for Relationship Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and is a subtype of OCD. It involves both obsessions and compulsions regarding a person’s romantic relationships, including doubts about the suitability of the relationship, feelings of not experiencing ‘true love’, questioning one’s partner’s loyalty, morality, ethics, and other attributes, and worry over past and…

  • Signs you are in an emotionally abusive relationship

    Signs you are in an emotionally abusive relationship

    Emotional abuse creeps up slowly and can be hard to spot, let alone realise it is happening to you. My own experience was learning my relationship was fraught with arguments and that I felt confused to the nth degree regularly, but not once did I think I was being emotionally abused until a used the…

  • The Relationship Between Anxiety and Sleep: How Lack of Sleep Impacts Anxiety

    What is anxiety? Anxiety is a hard-wired response in the nervous system meant to alert the body to environmental dangers. Anxiety is helpful in many instances, but you might have an anxiety disorder when it starts interfering with your daily life. One of the things that can help with anxiety when it is hurting more…

  • Passive aggression

    Passive aggression

    What is passive aggression? Passive aggression is a subtle non-direct expression of anger, often denied as anger by the perpetrator. I find MayoClinics example where they state a distinct difference between what the person says and what they do, is very helpful. People who use passive aggression, even though they may deny being angry, still…

  • Low cost counselling: How to Find Affordable Therapy

    Low cost counselling: How to Find Affordable Therapy

    What is low-cost counselling? Low-cost counselling is talk therapy offered at a lower price than usual. The service may be provided by a trainee therapist working under the direct supervision of an experienced registered practitioner or a reduced fee offered to those with less ability to pay. Examples of low-cost counselling Trainee Set price Online…