Paul Hollywood health: Bake Off star’s compulsive behaviours affect his baking

Paul Hollywood is renowned for his bread baking abilities, and has worked his way up from his father’s bakery to head chef at some of the best hotels in Britain and abroad. Despite all his successes, Hollywood reveals that he suffers with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) which affects not only his baking but his personal life too.

The 55-year-old revealed how he struggles with the condition in a BBC Two programme about his motor racing career, which he branched into in 2015.

The star said: “I’ve got it in the bakery and now I’ve got it with the car.”

Talking about his beloved Aston Martin DBS Volante, which is a convertible model of James Bond’s car from Quantum of Solace and Casino Royale, the chef said that he repeatedly cleans it every “couple of hours.”

“I wonder if I love it a little too much,” Paul said. “You look for little nicks and if I see one my heart misses a beat. It (the nick) is just sitting there winding me up – it’s ruining the car. It is OCD. I’m obsessed with my Aston.”

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OCD is a common mental health condition where the individual has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.

Behaviours like the one Paul displays are known as compulsions. This compulsive behaviour temporarily relieves the anxiety, but the obsession and anxiety soon return, causing the cycle to begin again.

The condition can affect anyone, with some people suffering from symptoms early – often around puberty. These symptoms can be so distressing that it interferes with individuals’ daily lives.

In addition to compulsions, the NHS describes OCD as having two other main elements – obsessions and emotions.

Obsessions – where an unwanted, intrusive and often distressing thought, image or urge repeatedly enters your mind
Emotions – the obsession causes a feeling of intense anxiety or distress.

It is possible to just have obsessive thoughts or just have compulsions, but most people with OCD experience both.

How do I know if I have OCD?

In Paul’s example, the compulsive behaviour is very specific. However, many people who suffer with the condition repeat a common activity.

For example behaviours like hand washing, counting, repeating words in your head and checking doors are locked or things like the gas is off are all common OCD compulsions and might not be obvious at first thought.

Similarly, obsessive thoughts can be harmless but they can also cause the individual to feel fear, and can be violent or of a sexual nature.

If you are experiencing fears of harming yourself or others by mistake, becoming fearful of contamination by disease or have an unrelenting need for symmetry or orderliness this could be a sign of OCD.

People who suffer with OCD are often reluctant to seek help because they feel ashamed or embarrassed. However, there are plenty of ways to seek help for the condition.

Firstly consulting your GP is always a good place to start. They can then refer you to a local psychological therapies service if needed.

Therapy can help reduce the impact that OCD has on your life. The main form of therapy that many OCD sufferers partake in is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

The NHS explains that the main aim of CBT is to help individuals face their fears and obsessive thoughts without “putting them right” through compulsions.

Alongside therapy, medicines can be taken to alter the balance of chemicals in your brain. The most common medication is known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Those with OCD have the potential to develop other serious mental health problems including depression, eating disorders and a hoarding disorder. Therefore if you think you or someone you know has the condition it is crucial to seek professional help.

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