Hi I want to help my brother out with his OCD. He has many intrusive thoughts and rituals that he has to do. He washes his hands many times in the day. How do you all cope with OCD? What is some advice that you can share with me?

What might had helped me at the beginning of my OCD: - The family should learn about OCD, what is it and how can it be treated. This is really important. There are many resources on the internet about OCD, read something from experienced therapists. Why is learning so important for family members? Because people tend to use the wrong methods when trying to help people suffering from OCD. Education is really really important. - Find a good therapist. It might be necessary to go to multiple ones until you find one that is good. Go with your brother, ask the therapist about his methods and experiences with OCD. Do not choose one who is inexperienced with OCD. Find someone who knows how to do ERP. You are the objective person in this scenario. But it is important that your brother is comfortable with the therapist. The wrong therapist can worsen OCD (I have been there). - This brings me to my next point: There are so many therapy forms out there, and in my experience most of them are worsening OCD or just providing short term relief. A good therapist will use ERP and supplementive methods (journals or breathing techniques, etc.) to help with OCD. I have been to an alternative therapist before and he only tried to treat my OCD with experiencing my emotions. I will not say that it did not help a little bit, feeling your emotions and letting your body experience them can be helpful. But it did not help with the underlying issue of uncertainty and really doing ERP. - Your brother might wanna learn the basics of what OCD is and how it can be treated. This is important so to get some concept in your mind. But be aware if he starts to research really intensely, that can be avoidance or compulsion in itself. - Explain to him the basics about thoughts. Thoughts are not who we are, there are thousand thoughts coming and going, they never define us. - Start practicing mindfulness (you might start with him, because meditation is helpful for every person, there is only upside with meditation). In the beginning it is difficult, but your brother can experience the explanation from above during mediation. Thoughts are just thoughts, they are coming and going. But be aware that some people can feel intense distress during meditation if they have no guidance. It is a difficult topic and best to approach things with a therapist. Also I have recognised that during periods when I am really triggered meditation can become only rumination about all the thoughts. That is not the goal of mediation. It’s best to do this in a calm state and not when he is triggered or in an agitated state. Later on, with experience it might also be possible to calm yourself during triggering episodes. Be supportive and understanding, you don’t need to be able to imagine having OCD (it is really difficult to express what is going on during triggers). But be understanding that it is troubling him. Take him seriously and be there for him. I wish you and your brother all the best for dealing with OCD. Treatment is a wonderful thing and it is amazing that you are helping your brother. And of course don’t take everything I say for granted because I am not a therapist. Do some research and find a good therapist :)

I’ve been trying to recognize the ocd as ocd more. It’s hard when you are triggered but it can help

Helpful articles https://iocdf.org/expert-opinions/family-issues/