What Can You Do About OCD?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a devastating illness which drives sufferers, and their family and friends, to despair. Although professional help from an appropriate therapist is often needed, and I would actively encourage this, there is an excellent ‘Four Step Self-Help Method’ which I wanted to share with you and which will aid management and recovery. It also helps us all to understand a little more about OCD. My article is below:
All of us occasionally get obsessive thoughts and sometimes engage in compulsive behaviours. However, when things reach unmanageable proportions, and our lives are negatively controlled by obsessive thoughts and increasingly strange compulsive behaviours, then we know we have a problem…..cont… Self-Help: Managing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – Schwartz’ Four Step Method
I really welcome your thoughts and comments below.
I never realised how bad OCD can be till reading the 4 steps to manage it… glad I don’t suffer from it although I do have thoughts when leaving on holiday or going away for a few days, of did I switch off the stove and lock the door… to the extent of turning around sometimes… not that I think this is OCD.. just Old age..
Hi Bulldog, glad that the article added a bit of knowledge for you – we can just never know too much! Yes, it really is a difficult illness to manage. It’s interesting you mention switching off the stove etc. I think we all do this (even long before old age!) but it’s just that this quite normal checking starts to get out of hand and a person ventures down a horrible slippery slope into being anxious and compelled to constantly check things. Good to see you here 🙂
So interesting, Ruth. It seems that many anxiety related issues can be managed by raising self-awareness and striving for mindfulness……which in turn helps one to slow down in general, and I think this is key. I suppose my question is what does one do when the individual in question refuses to participate in any positive therapy and is generally negative and may even be hostile?
Congratulations on publishing your article and thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
Hi Angela, yes, you are so right, awareness and mindfulness are keys to recovery. When a person refuses to participate it is very, very difficult. Rather like the addict who won’t get treatment. I would definitely initially let the person know that I think they have a problem. This may well yield nothing. So it then becomes about how we, as bystanders or family members, react to their behaviour. Just like with addictive behaviour try, wherever possible, not to enable a person’s anxiety and also not excuse and cover up the problems in front of others. It is so easy to do both of these things – enable and cover – out of loyalty to someone or feelings of shame, but in the long run it will worsen the person’s problems as we are effectively helping them deny that they actually have a problem. Hope this addresses your question a little. 🙂
Very informative, Ruth. The steps mentioned in your article sound like they would be very helpful and beneficial for people living with OCD. You know, we often tease my mom about having OCD, and although she has some behaviors that seem a bit OCD-ish, she really doesn’t have it in a clinical sense (thankfully), but it really isn’t anything to joke about and my heart goes out to others who are living with this condition.
Hi Julie, thanks so much, glad that you found the article informative. I think we all make these little jokes, but you are so right to say that, like all serious illnesses, it just is no joke. At least there is some help available. Thanks so much for your comment!
Ruth your article outlining the OCD highlights how often our brains differ in the processing of information. Many think it easy for a sufferer to ‘Snap’ out of their behavioural patterns, But do not understand that the signals they receive are different from the norm..
I found your article very informative and useful.. As a Support worker I find I support many with various needs, from Learning Difficulties to Mental Health issues.. I found your accounting of the four step method very interesting.. Thank you ~Sue
Hi Sue, I’m so glad that you found the article useful. Schwartz’ work is well researched and he is a person of great standing in the field of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. His ‘Four Step Method,’ that I outlined and discussed, is also recommended by the UK’s top OCD charity. Very best with all that you are doing helping people. They are lucky to have you as a great and knowledgeable Support Worker. Take good care Sue, Ruth 🙂
Bless you Ruth, thank you for that.. see you very soon, and take care 🙂 Hugs Sue x
Excellent share on managing OCD Ruth. Thank you. I do think that CBT is a very good fit for this disorder. Once one can acknowledge and recognize the OCD as an entity apart from them ~ they are often empowered to start making the changes necessary to embrace the challenge and make changes to enhance their quality of life and behaviors. Great insight and tips here ~ much love, Robyn
Thanks so much Robyn, so glad you enjoyed the article on OCD and thought it was useful. Really appreciate that. Bit of a delay in replying, I know you’ll understand. I’ll be over to see you soon! Take good care my lovely friend, love Ruth xx
Ruth,
Thank you for sharing this information on OCD and the four step method. I dealt with panic disorder for a long time. I have not had a full blown panic attack in years, but I am still sort of agoraphobic and have some social anxiety. My son is 12 and has been showing some symptoms of OCD, since he was around 5 years old. His pediatrician says not to worry unless the symptoms interfere with his daily functioning. So far he seems to be doing fine despite showing some rituals of putting items in order such as tapping his video game controller lightly on the coffee table multiple times when he puts it down. He does well in school and plays clarinet in the school band. I do my best to monitor any OCD behavior that may seem problematic.
Claudia
Hi Claudia, sorry for the bleated reply – I was out of action for a bit. I’m so glad the article was useful and had some helpful things in it for you. I’m also pleased to know that you haven’t had a full-blown panic attack for some years as they are so distressing and debilitating. I think, if we were to observe, a lot of us have rituals and compulsions. My thoughts are similar to your Doctors: it becomes a problem when it becomes a problem. If you start being unable to do things, or your life is curtailed and affected by these behaviours then action is needed. It is always good to keep an eye out, though, to check that you, or someone close to you, is not developing more harmful behaviour patterns. The earlier these things are spotted the better the outcome. Your son is very fortunate to have you watching over him with all of your insight. Take good care Claudia and I hope that you have a great week. 🙂
Ruth,
Thank you for writing that my son is fortunate. It means a lot to me. Sometimes with my busy schedule, whether I’m being a good mother. You helped me see a positive I hadn’t noticed. Thank you!
Claudia
You are so welcome Claudia. Sometimes we don’t see what others, looking on, see. That’s what friends are for! 🙂
Ruth,
Oops. I left out wonder. I meant to say — “Sometimes with my busy schedule, I wonder whether I’m being a good mother”. Thanks again!
Claudia
Thanks Claudia! 🙂