Link Between Trauma, MS, Financial Stability & OCD

Disclaimer: This article is based on personal experience and reflection. It is not intended to provide medical, psychiatric, or therapeutic advice. If you are living with OCD, MS, trauma, or financial-related stress, please consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and support tailored to your needs.

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Living with OCD in Silence

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is often misunderstood as nothing more than a quirk, a preference for neatness, or an obsession with hygiene. The reality is very different. OCD is an invisible disability that can dominate a person’s thoughts and behaviours to the point of exhaustion. For many, including myself, it is rooted not just in biology but in trauma, stress, and financial instability.

For over 30 years, I have lived with OCD. What may look invisible on the surface becomes noticeable in moments when I greet couriers wearing disposable vinyl gloves, or when visitors catch the distinct smell of bleach and Dettol throughout my home. Behind these small glimpses lies a daily battle with intrusive thoughts and compulsions that can feel relentless.

Trauma as a Trigger

Traumatic experiences can act as fuel for OCD. For some, trauma creates a heightened sense of vulnerability, and OCD becomes a way of trying to regain control in an unpredictable world.

• Abuse, bullying, or relationship breakdowns.
• Bereavement and grief.
• Accidents or sudden health scares.
• Childhood trauma or neglect.
• Domestic violence or betrayal.

Each unresolved trauma is stored in memory, resurfacing in different ways. For me, if I could reboot my brain and delete bad memories, I am certain my OCD would ease. Unfortunately, the mind does not work like a computer, but the longing for a clean slate is very real.

Financial Instability and OCD

Money is often overlooked as a factor in mental health, but financial instability can exacerbate OCD in powerful ways.

• Housing insecurity can create constant worry about safety and cleanliness.
• Debt and poverty feed compulsions, as the mind seeks something to control when finances feel out of reach.
• Unstable employment adds to anxiety, especially when income is linked to survival.
• Caring responsibilities for a dependent, in my case, my daughter, who lives with Multiple Sclerosis, add pressure to remain financially stable, even while battling OCD.

When finances are uncertain, OCD can escalate. Compulsions, like repeatedly cleaning or changing clothes, become coping mechanisms to manage uncontrollable external stress.

Triggers That Can Worsen OCD

OCD does not have a single cause, but it is often triggered or made worse by certain experiences and environments. These include:

• Stressful life events.
• Trauma or abuse (past or ongoing).
• Financial insecurity.
• Health worries (for yourself or loved ones).
• Relationship breakdowns.
• Work-related stress.
• Lack of sleep or poor rest.
• Overexposure to germs, dirt, or environments that feel “contaminated.”
• Feeling judged or misunderstood by others.
• Media or news stories that reinforce fear and anxiety.

For me, a recent example was changing clothes six times in one day before my mind allowed me to feel at ease. It is not about vanity or preference; it is compulsion-driven by intrusive thoughts that won’t stop until the cycle is completed.

Therapies and Coping Mechanisms

Over the years, I have tried many approaches:

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): challenging, but helpful at times.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): useful in reframing thoughts, though not a cure.
• Meditation and Journaling: tools that provide some calm, but the thoughts persist.

None of these therapies has completely eradicated OCD, but they offer degrees of relief. They are tools in a lifelong battle, rather than cures.

The Link Between Multiple Sclerosis and OCD

Trauma, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) may seem like separate challenges, but growing evidence suggests they are interconnected in complex ways. Trauma can change the brain’s wiring, MS physically damages it, and OCD often emerges as both a psychological and neurological response. Together, they form a cycle that can deeply affect daily life, mental health, and long-term well-being.

Trauma and the Brain

Trauma is more than an emotional scar. It alters the neurobiological structure of the brain, particularly areas responsible for fear, threat detection, and control. When someone experiences abuse, neglect, bereavement, or life-threatening events, their brain becomes conditioned to remain in a heightened state of alert.

This constant vigilance can trigger:

• Intrusive thoughts
• Hypervigilance
• Compulsive behaviours as a means of regaining control

For some, trauma becomes the root of OCD, where rituals or repetitive behaviours act as a coping mechanism for overwhelming memories and anxieties.

Multiple Sclerosis and OCD

MS is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the central nervous system, damaging the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibres. This damage leads to physical symptoms like muscle weakness, fatigue, and pain. But MS also impacts mental health.

Research shows:

• MS lesions in the frontal lobes and basal ganglia overlap with brain regions involved in OCD.
• People with MS have higher rates of OCD than the general population.
• The unpredictability of MS, relapses, progression, and disability can increase anxiety, which in turn worsens OCD symptoms.

Trauma, MS, and OCD: The Overlap

When combined, trauma, MS, and OCD form a reinforcing cycle:

1. Trauma alters the brain and creates a need for control.
2. MS damages brain areas linked to OCD and creates chronic uncertainty.
3. OCD develops or worsens, as compulsions temporarily reduce anxiety caused by both trauma and MS.

Shared triggers include:

• Stressful or traumatic life events
• Fear of illness progression
• Financial instability and loss of independence
• Social stigma and lack of understanding
• Exhaustion, pain, and lack of sleep

For many, OCD becomes a way of coping with the unpredictability of MS and the unresolved pain of trauma.

Living With the Triple Burden

Living with OCD and MS while carrying the weight of trauma is not just exhausting; it can feel invisible to the outside world. OCD, in particular, is often dismissed as a “quirk,” yet it may involve:

• Changing clothes multiple times a day
• Excessive cleaning or use of gloves and disinfectants
• Repetitive checking and reassurance-seeking
• Mental compulsions, such as replaying events or counting

These behaviours can appear illogical to others, but to the sufferer, they feel necessary for survival. When combined with the physical struggles of MS, daily life can feel like an uphill battle.

Trauma, MS, and OCD: Biological and Psychological Links

The link between trauma, multiple sclerosis (MS), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and financial stability is complex but increasingly recognized in neuropsychiatric and social research. Here’s a structured overview of how these elements may interconnect:

The link between trauma, multiple sclerosis (MS), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and financial stability

• Trauma as a Trigger or Stressor:
  • Traumatic events may exacerbate mitochondrial dysfunction in MS, potentially influencing disease onset or progression.
  • PTSD symptoms are common among people diagnosed with MS, especially during the early stages when life feels uncertain and overwhelming.
• MS and OCD Co-occurrence:
  • Studies show that people with MS are significantly more likely to experience OCD. One study found over 30% of MS patients also had OCD.
  • Shared mechanisms may include:
    • Neuroinflammation: Both MS and OCD involve inflammation in brain regions tied to behavior and mood.
    • Autoimmune Factors: MS is an autoimmune disease, and emerging research suggests autoimmune processes may also contribute to OCD.
    • Stress Sensitivity: Both conditions tend to flare during periods of high stress, which trauma can intensify.
• Clinical Overlap:
  • A scoping review protocol aims to map the clinical dimensions of people with co-occurring MS and OCD, highlighting the need for integrated care.

Financial Stability: A Crucial Mediator

• Impact of Chronic Illness:
  • MS often leads to physical disability, fatigue, and cognitive challenges, which can reduce earning capacity and increase reliance on benefits or care.
  • OCD can interfere with daily functioning, decision-making, and employment, especially when compulsions are time-consuming or distressing.
• Trauma and Financial Insecurity:
  • Trauma survivors may face disrupted education, unstable employment, or difficulty advocating for financial support, especially if mental health symptoms are stigmatized or misunderstood.
  • Financial stress can worsen both MS and OCD symptoms, creating a feedback loop of instability and health decline.
• Protective Factors:
  • Access to stable housing, benefits, and supportive networks can buffer the psychological impact of illness and trauma.
  • Advocacy, legal knowledge, and strategic planning (skills that the editor of DisabledEntrepreneur.UK excels in) are powerful tools for navigating these challenges.

Final Thoughts

OCD is an invisible disability, often trivialised by those who do not understand its weight. But behind closed doors, it can be all-consuming, affecting finances, relationships, and day-to-day living. Trauma and financial instability are not just background issues; they are powerful triggers that shape the severity of OCD.

The connection between Trauma, MS, OCD, and Money highlights how mental and physical health cannot be separated. Trauma can leave lasting imprints on the brain, MS physically damages it, and OCD emerges as both a coping mechanism and a neurological consequence.

Understanding these links is essential, not just for those who live with them, but for doctors, policymakers, and society. Only by recognising the invisible struggles can we begin to provide better care, stability, and hope.

Hope and Coping Strategies, although there is no cure for MS or OCD, and trauma cannot be erased, there are ways to manage the overlap:

• Therapy: CBT and ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) can help manage OCD symptoms. Trauma-informed therapy can address underlying pain.
• Medication: Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications may reduce the intensity of intrusive thoughts.
• Stress management: Meditation, journaling, and mindfulness provide small moments of calm.
• Support networks: Talking openly about the invisible side of OCD and MS can reduce isolation.
• Financial and social support: Stability plays a major role in reducing triggers linked to trauma and OCD.

Despite everything, I remain confident that one day I will get there, to a place of peace, where intrusive thoughts no longer dictate my life. If I could start my life anew, free of stress, I believe I would be on a different path today. But hope is what carries me forward.

My motivation is simple: to create stability for my daughter, who already faces her health battles with Multiple Sclerosis. Even if I cannot erase my bad memories, I can work every day towards building a safer and more stable future for her.

For me personally, if I could erase the bad memories and live without financial pressures, I truly believe I would be on a path towards peace. Until then, I persevere, building a stable future for my daughter, who lives with MS herself, and holding onto the hope that one day life can be free from constant worry.

For anyone reading this who is silently struggling, know that you are not alone. If you read what I have gone through in the past and I am still standing, there is hope for you, too. You may not be able to erase the past, but you can keep moving forward, one step at a time.

Further Reading & Resources:

Resources:

• Feinstein, A. (2007) – Found strong links between MS and psychiatric conditions such as OCD.
• Sacco, R., et al. (2018) – Reviewed cases showing OCD is more common in people with MS than in the general population.
• Tekin, S., & Cummings, J. L. (2002) – Explained how MS lesions in the frontal lobes and basal ganglia overlap with brain regions involved in OCD.
• Pitman, R. K. (1989) – Identified trauma as a trigger that can worsen OCD symptoms.
• Nuyen, J., et al. (2005) – Reported high rates of anxiety, depression, and OCD among MS patients.

Further Reading:

• Clinical dimensions of people with co-occurring obsessive-compulsive and multiple sclerosis: | BMJ
• OCD and Multiple Sclerosis: Causes and Connections
• The link between money and mental health
• Trauma-related obsessive–compulsive disorder: a review – PMC
• OCD and Money Problems: Is There A Link? | Psych Central
• https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/money-and-mental-health/the-link-between-money-and-mental-health/
• https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2021/04/right-now-linking-mental-fiscal-health
• (PDF) Financial Wellbeing and Mental Health: A Systematic Review
• Understanding the Mental-Financial Health Connection – Financial Health Network
• https://disabledentrepreneur.uk/?s=trauma (213 articles)
• https://disabledentrepreneur.uk/?s=ocd (254 articles)
• https://disabledentrepreneur.uk/living-with-trauma-the-hidden-battle-behind-mental-health-struggles/ (My Story)