I recently attended the annual Obsessive Compulsive Foundation conference in Washington, D.C. Every year they have it in a different part of the country, and this year it was time to have it in the eastern part of the United States. Next year I hear it will be in the southwest. The best part of this conference is meeting people I've known only online. And meeting new people.
We all had one thing in common - OCD. It is exhilarating to meet people who really know what I'm talking about, people who know what it's like to obsess over minor details or feel compelled to check stuff over and over.
I went out to eat with several people from the OCD-L Internet list Saturday night, then found myself talking with three friends until 1:00 a.m.. These ladies touched my heart. They don't have OCD, their sons do. They traveled from Canada, Hawaii and Indiana to learn more about OCD. I am fascinated by their commitment to helping their loved ones. I love my son and I would do anything for him. I think I would. But would I be this dedicated?
Talking with my three new friends I realized their dedication and commitment went beyond the usual loving support. Like every other family member, they have had to make some difficult choices. It would be easier to offer reassurance when the person with OCD asks if the door is locked for the third time. It would be easier to provide a more comfortable environment as the family member's living space becomes smaller and smaller due to perceived contamination. Over the weekend I gained better insight into the plight of families of people with OCD.
So, with this long introduction, I would like to discuss OCD as it affects the family. It seems logical to start by telling family members what they can do to help the person with OCD. How can they offer support and encouragement? We'll get to that, but that's not where we'll start. First, I'd like to discuss the role of the person with OCD. How can we help our family members cope with OCD?
1. First, try to educate your family members. Print materials from the Internet, purchase a couple books about OCD. Don't rush the process. It takes a while to even begin to understand OCD.
2. Avoid blaming others for OCD. And don't blame yourself either! It is no one's fault. It's a brain problem that is very treatable and can be coped with. And you are not your OCD. You are a wonderful person with great potential. You just happen to have OCD.
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