Originally Posted by
MyNameIsTerry
Compulsions strengthen the need for the obsession. They are a feedback to the process, part of the cycle. Each time we do them we tell the subconscious that obsession has validity.
Compulsion replacing is tricky. My take on this is it may help if you are able to substitute for one that you can then eliminate. But the goal must be elimination.
For instance, I struggled with light switches & roadside railings. I was struggling with elimination. Instead I would touch the object for longer than normal whilst thinking "I'm choosing to do this and not being forced into it by my anxiety". This allowed me to feel I was taking over control. Prior to this I would be re-touching those objects over & over until it "felt right". This way I could also eliminate my symmetry issues which had me counting the times touched in odds or evens and multiples of them.
It's often described that compulsions are supposed to reduce fear. Whilst this is true I also found the constant loop made me even more frustrated. That resulted in more anxiety. I think when described without lots of detail on the many nuances in OCD there can often be a formulaic representation.