Ever since it was first documented in the late 19th century, obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD has become a mental health concern that requires both professional intervention and family support. About one in 40 adults worldwide is diagnosed or will develop the condition at one point in their lifetime, according to the International OCD Foundation, while in the United States alone, about 2.5 million adults are living with it. Many would still live normal, fruitful, and productive lives, while others would develop severe symptoms that interfere with their well-being and disrupt their relationships, even among loved ones.
Still, family members and friends play a vital role in helping an individual with OCD cope with the condition and help them manage their everyday activities. Emotional and social support complements OCD treatment plans, so loved ones need to become more aware of what to do and avoid in their capacity as immediate caregivers. For the most part, it’s not a simple process, especially if you’re dealing with the symptoms of severe OCD. Being informed will enable you to provide genuine care, so here’s a quick guide to keep in mind:
1. Do Away with Misinformation
Popular culture is never accurate in its depiction of OCD. Movies and other media paint the condition simply as an obsession for orderliness, but they often confuse this with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, which is far different from OCD. It also doesn’t help to rely on social media influencers who are unqualified to give any effective advice about the subject. True awareness comes when you learn from authoritative institutions like the American Psychiatric Association, which describes OCD as a disorder involving recurring and unwanted patterns of thought and action, and not necessarily an obsession towards orderliness.
What’s more, it matters to consider that some obsessive behaviours are not indicative of OCD, such as the impulse to collect or hoard certain valuables and being a pathological liar. Rather than pleasure, OCD brings discomfort and unease to your loved one as they try to correct their behaviour and yet remain unsuccessful in doing so. In any case, learning this much about the condition will help you avoid doing anything not grounded in evidence or believing unfounded claims about OCD online.
2. Work Closely with Professionals
Cases of severe OCD are better handled by licensed practitioners specialising in this area. You can’t count on yourself to make decisions for your loved one, especially if the condition calls for extensive therapy that may also include the use of prescription medication and other approaches to ease the symptoms and their effects. Building a united front in dealing with your loved one’s OCD will lead to better outcomes and allow them to perform daily functions normally.
In case your loved one hasn’t been checked yet, consider reaching out to a local clinic that has a good track record in providing psychiatric interventions to OCD patients and their families. You won’t have to look far, considering that many mental health clinics and centres near you are capable of handling even the most severe cases. For instance, if you’re in Sydney, you can find OCD support at the Anxiety Clinic, which uses evidence-based therapy suitable for adults, teens, and younger children. You just need to be present and ask the provider about what you can do to help at home.
3. Know the Symptoms and How to Deal With Them
At some point, having to address your loved one’s urges and obsessions could become frustrating on your part. You might even find it difficult to help ease the effects of their symptoms, but it pays to bear in mind that they also have a desire to overcome these effects. Therapy is the cornerstone of their treatment plan, but you play just as crucial a role in encouraging your loved one to follow through with the process.
The first step is recognising patterns in their behaviour, such as noticing repetitive actions and verbal cues that suggest obsessive thought patterns. More severe cases would see the person spending too much time “perfecting” routines and having difficulties focusing on more significant tasks. This might suggest a personality disorder, but if committing to these rituals becomes disruptive to normal living, then you will have to step in instead of dismissing these as quirks.
4. Show Compassion and Understanding
It also pays to know that OCD could also manifest in socially destructive ways. Self-isolation is common, but there are instances when your loved one could feel disturbed at even the smallest details. They would also constantly ask for reassurance that nothing bad has happened or will happen. Sure enough, giving reassurance gives them a license to normalise the behaviour, thereby complicating the process of overcoming their urges.
This doesn’t necessarily mean confronting your loved one aggressively, thinking that putting your foot down will instantly correct their behaviour. Demonstrate compassion and a willingness to make yourself available to them when they need help. Never dismiss these symptoms as mere annoyances.
Instead, treat them as involuntary actions that your loved one is trying to fight off. At the same time, take care not to enable their obsessions and compulsions. Since they have a desire to break from the cycle of repetitive behaviour, your best response is to avoid tolerating and trivialising their urges. In this case, you can be subtle by inviting them to take up a new hobby, or getting them to travel, or try a different path going home, as you gradually help them break from self-imposed rules.
5. Know How Their Condition is Affecting You
It gets easy to get caught up in your loved one’s fight against their obsessions and compulsions. Throughout the entire experience, you can’t deny the sense of powerlessness you might feel as your loved one reverts time and again to their rituals. You may want to be consistent in your capacity as a caregiver, but it matters just as much to acknowledge the emotional and social burden it places on you.
You can’t offer effective help if you get too involved in their treatment, so it’s important to set limits on how much support you are willing to give. That’s not to say you should give up on your loved one if you can’t see any progress in their condition. You just have to find time to reflect on the entire experience and find moments of rest. The worst you could do at any point is to act as a saviour. This will make you more likely to stop caring altogether, on top of developing burnout. Learn to take it easy and ask for advice from other loved ones.
Endnote
In helping a friend or family member live normally with OCD, preparation is the key, along with awareness and perseverance. Follow the guide above as you do your part in helping your loved one overcome.
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