4 Ways to Help People with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be very frustrating and difficult for the sufferer's friends and loved ones to understand. People with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder have certain obsessions, namely persistent and recurring thoughts, usually about something unpleasant. These thoughts trigger compulsions, which are repetitive actions or rituals intended to follow up on the obsession. Oftentimes, people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder feel that something fatal will happen if they fail to perform and complete their compulsive actions. However, you can help a friend or loved one with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by being supportive, not facilitating the disorder, providing encouragement and participating in the treatment process, and learning more about the disorder.

Step

Be Supportive

1. Provide emotional support to loved ones. Emotional support is very important because it can help people feel connected, awake, and loved. This is especially important for loved ones with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

   

   • Even though you may not have an educational background in mental health or feel unable to "cure" this disorder, your support and affection for a loved one with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder makes him feel much more accepted and confident.
   • You can also show your loved one support by simply being with them when they want to talk about their thoughts, feelings, or compulsive urges. Just say, "I'm right here with you, just in case you want to talk about something. We can chat over coffee or have a snack."
   • Try to explain to your loved one that you want the best for him or her and ask him or her to tell you if there are certain things you said or did that made him or her feel uncomfortable. This will help him open up to you because he feels you can be trusted.

2. Use your empathy. Empathy is a common practice in therapy because it helps people feel connected and understood. These things are very important when communicating with someone with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Try to understand what your loved one with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is going through.

   

   • Empathy will be much better if it is accompanied by understanding. For example, imagine that your partner needs to arrange food in a very specific and specific pattern before each meal. At first, you will find it strange, and tend to try to stop or criticize the behavior. But after a while, when you understand the deeper reasons and fears behind your partner's behavior, you're more likely to empathize.
   • An example of an expression of empathy that you can show in a conversation is, "You did your best, and I know how painful it is when you try your best but the symptoms don't go away, especially when you can't completely control the symptoms. I understand. that you've been getting angry and frustrated lately. Maybe you're not even just feeling sick, but angry too that you can't get out of this nuisance state."

3. Use a supportive communication style. When communicating with a loved one who has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, you need to be supportive without approving or justifying their behavior related to the disorder.

   

   • Make sure that your comments focus on the person with the disorder, for example, "I'm sorry that you're going through this right now. Why do you think your symptoms are getting worse now? I'm here with you, to support you and listen to you. I hope you get better soon."
   • Help your loved one re-evaluate how bad the disturbing thoughts are.

4. Don't judge or criticize the person. Whatever you do, always avoid judging and criticizing the obsessions and compulsions of the person with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Judging and criticizing is very likely to actually encourage your loved one to hide his annoyance, and this makes it even more difficult for him to get the right treatment and a rift in your relationship with him. Maybe he'll feel better talking to you if you show acceptance.

   

   • An example of a reproachful sentence is, "Why can't you just stop all this nonsense?" Avoid these kinds of personal insults to ensure that you don't make him feel isolated and lonely. Remember that people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder often feel like they can't control their disorder
   • Constant reproaches will make your loved one unable to live up to your expectations. This can make him shut down and fortify himself from interacting with you.

5. Change your expectations to avoid frustration. If you feel frustrated or start to hate your loved one, it will be more difficult for you to provide adequate and helpful support.

   

   • Understand that people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are usually very difficult to change, and sudden changes can trigger the symptoms of this disorder to "explode."
   • Remember to measure the person's progress against his own condition beforehand, and encourage him to challenge himself. However, don't force it to function perfectly, especially if it's still beyond its capabilities at the time.
   • It's never helpful to compare your loved one to others, as this will only make him feel worthless and even more defensive.

6. Remember that everyone changes for the better in their own time. There are so many different levels of severity of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder symptoms and there are many different treatments available.

   

   • Be patient if your loved one is undergoing certain treatment for their Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
   • Slow but gradual progress is better than too fast but "up and down," so make sure that you stay supportive and don't discourage him by showing your frustration.
   • Avoid "yesterday vs today" comparisons, as they don't represent the big picture.

7. Find small progress and give encouragement for it. Acknowledge even the smallest accomplishments to let your loved one know that you are watching their progress and are proud of them. This is a very effective way to encourage your loved ones to keep trying.

   

   Just say, "I see you don't wash your hands as often today. That's great!"

8. Provide distance and space between you and your loved one if necessary. Don't try to stop the behavior of the person with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by keeping a close eye on him at all times. This is neither healthy for him nor for you. You need some personal time to freshen up in order to remain supportive and understanding.

   

   Make sure that when you are around your loved one you talk about things that are not related to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or its symptoms. You don't want Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to be the only thing connecting you with your loved one, do you?

   Reducing Behaviors that Facilitate Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

   1. Don't confuse support with unhealthy facilitation. It's important that you don't confuse support with unhealthy facilitation. Unhealthy facilitation means that you accommodate or help the person with compulsive compulsions and perform their rituals. This can make Obsessive Compulsive Disorder symptoms worse, because you are reinforcing the compulsive behavior.

      

      Support doesn't mean agreeing to the person's compulsive urges, it means talking to him about his fears and being understanding, even if you think his behavior is odd

   2. Do not reinforce the behavior of the person with unhealthy facilitation. It is common for families with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to accommodate or even imitate certain behaviors, with the aim of protecting and helping the person with the rituals continue. For example, if your best friend or family member has a compulsive urge to separate the different types of food on your plate, you might do this for the food on their plate. You may think that this is helpful and supportive, but it's actually quite the opposite. This kind of thing actually becomes unhealthy facilitation and strengthens his compulsive urges. Even if the goal of your natural reaction is to "share the burden," the person's entire family or circle of friends will actually be "infected" with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, because now everyone is participating in the person's compulsive impulses.

      

      • Helping a loved one to follow his compulsive urges shows that his irrational fears are justified and he is okay and even should continue his compulsive behavior.
      • No matter how difficult it is, you should continue to try to avoid unhealthy facilitation of loved ones with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, as this will only make your compulsive condition worse.

   3. Don't help him avoid certain things. Don't constantly help your family member or friend avoid things he or she doesn't like, especially if these things are an integral part of everyday life. This is actually another form of unhealthy facilitation behavior or accommodating compulsive urges.

      

      For example, don't help him avoid dirty things by never taking him out to eat

   4. Do not facilitate behaviors or rituals related to the symptoms. Don't do anything for your loved one to make him or her return to the behaviors associated with the symptoms of the disorder.

      

      An example is buying a cleaning product that he wants because of his obsession with cleanliness

   5. Avoid changing your routine. If you change your routine to accommodate the symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, it will change the behavior of the entire family to accommodate the underlying behavior of the disorder.

      

      • One example is delaying the start of dinner until the person with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has completed the ritual.
      • Another example is struggling to do more household chores because your loved one's condition Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder makes it difficult for him to complete his part of the task on time.

   6. Develop an action plan to help yourself and others stop accommodating the symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. If you have been helping a loved one with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder a lot and you realize this is your fault, then slowly step back from this bad behavior while still monitoring the sufferer.

      

      • Explain that your involvement only makes the problem worse. Be prepared that your loved one may be disappointed by this, and deal with your own emotions as a result of the hurt. Stay strong!
      • For example, a family plan for families who usually often accommodate Obsessive Compulsive Disorder behavior by waiting until the person with the disorder completes his rituals before starting to eat together is changing and no longer delaying the start of eating together and no longer washing hands when the person with the disorder washes their hands.
      • Whatever your plan of action, make sure that you stay consistent.

      Suggest Handling Steps

      1. Help the sufferer by providing encouragement so that he undergoes the treatment steps. One way to encourage a loved one with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is to help them recognize the benefits and drawbacks of the change. If the sufferer is still having trouble maintaining his motivation to undergo special treatment, you can do one of the following:

         

         • Bring like-minded reference material.
         • Encourage the sufferer that this special treatment step will help alleviate the problem.
         • Talk about how in many ways you have accommodated the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder behavior in him.
         • Suggest her to join a support group.

      2. Discuss the various treatment options to begin seeking professional help. Your support is one of the most important aspects in helping people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder experience problems, because this will help relieve some of the burden they bear and find the best way to treat them. Make sure that you plan to discuss these treatment options with your loved one, and let them know that you will.

         

         • Also make sure that your loved one knows that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is very treatable and that the symptoms and distress can be greatly alleviated.
         • You can also ask your doctor for more information about the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and a list of specialist mental health therapists in your area.
         • Don't force anything on him, but discuss the various treatment methods available and which one is most appropriate for his specific condition. These methods include medical treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, and family support and learning. Several types of drugs have been shown to be successful in alleviating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and are useful for controlling its symptoms, although they cannot completely cure it.
         • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and response prevention, are the treatment methods of choice, with or without medical treatment. In the case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, exposure therapy with response prevention is beneficial for controlling the symptoms. This form of therapy gradually helps the sufferer stay away from the act of performing the rituals. Another treatment method that will also benefit the whole family is family therapy. This method will be a safe place for the whole family to talk about their feelings and offer support.

      3. Accompany loved ones to visit a psychiatrist or psychologist to undergo effective treatment methods. To find the most effective treatment, you need to find a psychiatrist (for example, with an "MD"), psychologist (for example, with a "PhD" or "PsyD"), or a counselor (for example, with an "LPC" or "LMFT" title. "). Family involvement in this process has been shown to help relieve the symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

         

         We recommend that you choose a therapist who specializes in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or at least has experience dealing with this disorder. During the process of choosing a therapist or doctor, make sure that you ask the therapist/doctor's experience in dealing with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

      4. Involve family members in this treatment process. Research shows that family involvement in treatment methods or behavioral interventions for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder helps reduce symptoms.

         

         • Family therapy can help promote a fruitful communication process while reducing anger levels.
         • You can help your loved one keep a diary or record their thoughts, which will help them track their obsessions and compulsions.

      5. Support her medical treatment as prescribed. While it can be hard to imagine that your loved one has to take psychiatric medication, make sure that you support the doctor's results.

         

         Do not break the medical treatment instructions that have been given by the doctor

      6. Get on with your own life if a loved one refuses to take action. Don't try to control the life of your loved one. Realize that you've done everything you can and that you can't completely control or help a loved one heal on their own.

         

         • Self-care is very important when trying to care for others. There's no way you can take care of others if you can't take care of yourself.
         • Make sure that you don't endorse the symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but keep reminding him that you're here to help him when he's ready.
         • Above all, remember that you too have a life of your own and deserve to live it.

      Learn More About Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

      1. Get rid of your misconceptions about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in order to understand the perspective of a loved one. Enriching perspective on this disorder through learning is very important, because there are some common misconceptions about it. It is very important that you rethink this misconception, because it usually hinders your good relationship with loved ones.

         

         One of the most widely believed misconceptions is that people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can control their obsessions and compulsive urges. In fact, the opposite is true. For example, if you believe that the person with the person can change their behavior whenever they want, you will only become frustrated when they don't

      2. Learn Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to accept the condition of a loved one. Learning about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can help you more easily accept the fact that a loved one has it. This process can be painful, but when you know the truth, it will be easier for you to be objective rather than emotional and pessimistic. Acceptance will make you more productive and turn your attention to further treatment options.

         

         • Understand common types of rituals and compulsive compulsions, such as hand washing, religious rituals (such as reciting a rote prayer exactly 15 times to prevent something bad from happening).
         • Young people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder are more likely to abandon activities or avoid them altogether because of a fear of obsessive or compulsive behavior. Young people may also have difficulty in various activities of daily living (eg cooking, washing, bathing, etc.) and experience higher levels of overall anxiety.

      3. Continue to study and seek a deeper understanding of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to help your loved one effectively. To be able to help people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, it can be useful if you try to understand this disorder inside and out. You can't expect to help someone with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder until you know and understand a little about their condition.

         

         • There are many books and information online dealing with this topic. Just make sure that your reading material comes from a credible academic or medical source.
         • You can also ask your doctor or mental health specialist for clarification.
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