Cutting releases chemicals, such as endorphins, which are what leads to the feeling or suppression of uncomfortable feeling...as the case may be. One can become addicted to those chemicals...much like a runner who gets addicted to the "runners high" (a much healthier addiction).

I really do not know, but I wonder if sexual addicts are actually addicted to the chemicals released? I do know that food addicts have a combination of emotional issues and chemical addiction...and that it is said that the chemicals released during sex are similar to those that are released when eating pleasurable foods (chocolate comes to mind).

Are chemicals released when people with OCD are "checking"? Again I do not know. Maybe this is the difference. Or, maybe there are chemicals released causing an addiction as well, and that would then make OCD an addiction instead of a behavior!

Maybe a new area of research to pursue. Right now I am focused on research...so everything becomes a new area, but this really seems a worthwhile and perhaps needed area!