![]() ![]() Acknowledge improvements, however small, and encourage the person to reward themselves for their progress.Support the person with OCD to share their experiences with family and friends – this will help to break the secrecy about OCD. Encourage discussion about OCD as a common and treatable anxiety condition that is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of.If the OCD has involved you or other family or friends extensively in rituals and avoidance behaviours, you will need to know the best ways to modify your involvement so that the treatment can be as effective as possible. You can assist in locating an experienced therapist and offer to be involved in their treatment program. OCD is generally not a condition that will go away without treatment. Encourage the person to seek professional help.Encourage the person to talk about the disorder so that you can learn how it affects them and how you can be more supportive, but don’t engage in discussions about the logic of OCD as most people with OCD know their obsessions and compulsions are excessive and irrational.It is important to communicate clearly that you understand the difference between the behavioural symptoms of OCD and the person: ‘I know this is not you, this is your OCD.’ This will help to diminish the person’s feelings of guilt and low self-worth and reduce their levels of stress and anxiety. Offer support and understanding to people you know with OCD These include books External Link, podcasts External Link, and websites with information about specific aspects of OCD (such as hoarding External Link, obsessional thinking and hyper-responsibility) and community resources such as telephone helplines and support groups External Link. There are many OCD resources External Link available that can help resolve misunderstandings and concerns about this disorder. Many OCD behaviours that are irritating and demanding are actually symptoms of the condition. Assumptions like these lead to blame and guilt. Many people with OCD experience intense fears of something terrible happening to themselves or others, have constant doubts about their behaviour, and frequently seek reassurance from others.Ĭommon misconceptions include that OCD is caused by laziness, lack of willpower, bad parenting or trauma. When family members and friends are more informed about OCD, it is easier to be supportive and understanding. People with OCD often feel frustrated and distressed about their need to act compulsively. OCD can take up many hours of a person’s day and may severely affect work, study, and family and social relationships. People with OCD are usually aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational and excessive, yet feel unable to control or resist them. ![]() This can cause distress and disruption to all members of the family. Family members and friends may become deeply involved in the person’s rituals and may have to assume responsibility and care for many daily activities that the person with OCD is unable to undertake. ![]() It can be difficult, demanding and exhausting to live with a person who has OCD. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterised by recurring unwanted and intrusive thoughts, impulses and images (obsessions), as well as repetitive behavioural and mental rituals (compulsions).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |