According to a health study carried out by BBC, 1 in 50 Americans suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Despite this mental disorder being so common, we tend to stigmatize it, leading to people feel isolated or alone.
Knowledge of this mental disorder is critical when it comes to understanding what sufferers go through. This is why I have underlined suggestions that can help people deal better with individuals with OCD.
Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
While technically a brain disorder, OCD is often considered a mental illness that causes obsessive worries or doubts to surface in the sufferer.
It’s essentially a mental hiccup which makes their brain fixated on a single event (e.g. hand washing) which is hard to let go off. This results in sufferers repeating the action over and over again.
People diagnosed with OCD often suffer a severe deterioration in their quality of life, probably due to not being given the support and attention they need. Friends and family can pay a large role in treatment of OCD or at least slight reduction in symptoms. However, understanding the real issue in important.
First Rule of Treatment: Don’t Reinforce Obsessive Compulsive Behaviors
Reinforcing this behavior or ‘normalizing’ them will lead the sufferer to think it’s acceptable to act or react like a certain way. Instead, family members can:
Talk Openly About Behaviors
Open dialogue should be friendly and not accusatory. This can trigger aggressiveness in the individual suffering from OCD. Family members and friends should come up with creative ways that reduce their participation in rituals but make sure to explain why they are doing so.
Setting realistic goals where further improvement is guaranteed, is encouraged.
Maintain Normal Household Routines
Work on strengthening family, social and emotional connection with each other. Also maintain positive occasions and traditions (birthday celebrations, anniversaries, etc) as doing so will reinforce stability. Positive communication and behavior needs to be encouraged, not only for the sake of the individual but those living with him/her.
Encouragement in the form of accompanying the individual for hypnotherapy or another treatment also comes under the list of what can be done. This simple act will increase positivism in the individual, that “Yes, my OCD will get treated”.
Everyone wishes to live a happy and quality filled life. Why should you want anything different? Schedule a free consultation with Rekha Shrivastava today.
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