Systems thinking indicates that mindfulness could be useful in treating Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD). Effective systemic intervention often consists in weakening or breaking links in feedback loops that could worsen or perpetuate an undesirable situation or in strengthening links in feedback loops that have beneficial effects. This simple model illustrates the dynamic that could drive compulsive washing of hands and shows how mindfulness could plausibly be used to weaken some of the links that produce the compulsive behaviour, and thus have a beneficial effect on this disorder.

Please note that psychological treatment for this disorder already exists. Therefore this model is primarily intended to promote discussion and investigation of mindfulness as an additional tool for treating OCD. Here is information on OCD that describes the vicious circle that can affect sufferes.

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/obssessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd.htm

Fear creates several reinforcing loops that support the gap between performance/results and the shared goal.  Mindfulness undercuts fear, thus decreasing the gap and supporting movement toward the goal.

Systems thinking indicates that mindfulness could be useful in treating Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD). Effective systemic intervention often consists in weakening or breaking links in feedback loops that could worsen or perpetuate an undesirable situation or in strengthening links in feedback loops that have beneficial effects. This simple model illustrates the dynamic that could drive compulsive washing of hands and shows how mindfulness could plausibly be used to weaken some of the links that produce the compulsive behaviour, and thus have a beneficial effect on this disorder.

Please note that psychological treatment for this disorder already exists. Therefore this model is primarily intended to promote discussion and investigation of mindfulness as an additional tool for treating OCD. Here is information on OCD that describes the vicious circle that can affect sufferes.

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/obssessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd.htm

This simple graph explains how a technique used in Mindfulness Meditation Practice can help to quell the anger that all too easily flares up inside us. To read the graph, just follow the arrows. If you start with the green top rectangular square, then you can see that an annoying event produces a sensation of anger. This is followed by the application of Mindfulness to try to manage it. The application of the technique makes the sensation of anger being felt in a less acute manner. Less acutely felt anger then helps to control a spontaneous unconsidered reaction, which anger often prompts.  This in turn reduces the total level of anger.

Those who can use this tool will make their lives more pleasant and less stresful.