How can you help a person with obsessive compulsive disorder?

India
December 2, 2007 11:44am CST
Imagine a person with obsessive compulsive disorder. That means, the person has irrational thought patterns over which he does not have much control. For example, the person I am talking about thinks everything is dirty. He doesn't touch anything or anyone because it is dirty. Thankfully, he eats well, and doesn't feel that food is dirty. But he washes his hands for long hours, has an inferiority complex, and depression patterns. Like all people with mental disorders, the person feels he is normal and the world is mad. He refuses to accept help of any nature. He is born in a country where psycotherapy has not developed and the only cure for such ills is supposed to be prayer or punishment, both of which doesn't work. So, how do you help such a case? Where is the help for such a person? Can the people at home do something to cure him, at home and without professional help? I hope I get some help from people who know about OCD.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
3 Dec 07
Not all people who mental illness think that they are normal. But, if this person is to get help, he hast to admit that there is a problem and that he wants help. There is little that you can do at home. But, if you are his wife or mother and things get too bad at home, you can have him put into a Psychiatric Hospital for a time. But again, he hast to realize that there is a problem and that he needs help. No one can force him to seek treatment. One approach that make work at home is to challenge his thinking about what is normal and what is not normal. It may call for a bit of tough love to accomplish it, but it should work if you are persistant.
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
3 Dec 07
Maybe you can get someone to come to where he is and talk to him. A lot of times we are more receptive to things when they come from the outside and not from family or loved ones.
• India
5 Dec 07
Thanks for the link, weblinks! It is really useful. :)
• India
3 Dec 07
We have a neighbor lady, and she is having the OCD, which we speak here. She will often wash her hands, and will mop up the floor, sweep the floor even though it is clean, and repeats this process many times a day. She continues to perform this till this date, but never accepts that she is having OCD. The irony is all her four children are Doctors and even they disagree, that their Mom has OCD. Only proper counselling will help to find a first step in solving this problem. Take care and have a nice day friend:)
1 person likes this
• India
4 Dec 07
I really do feel sorry for her. Imagine being compelled to clean up several times a day throughout life. Phew!! It makes me feel tired just to think of it.
• India
19 Aug 08
It is Worth a wait for Sai.. 9 months.. and finally BR from my Dear friend.. hahaha.. It is time to rejoice...
@mywords18 (645)
• United States
2 Dec 07
Try this one time .Do exactly he/she is doing to make him / her comforatble that cleaning is really good and by doing this you can gain his faith in you and he/she start looking after you for advice as you took his advice then slowly you can make him/her understand extra care is also not good. But try this after you gain his faith in you.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
3 Dec 07
I am not an expert nor know much about it, but perhaps if we don't treat them unkindly, and we don't discriminate them, they also would feel normal to some extent. Maybe we can get our message through them by talking in a sensible manner and not in a scolding way. It will be a long process for progress, but maybe we can help them by being the example of how it is to be normal. It will be everyone's effort in the family to help someone with this illness or rather any illness! Hope you will get the answer that you want to hear!
1 person likes this
• India
5 Dec 07
yeah, you are right. Kindness really helps such people. It makes them feel accepted and at peace. But, unfortunately, it does not help them to stop their rituals. Thanks for your response, my friend.