- Username
- Mai
- Date posted
- 6y ago
The best thing to do is to distract her by speaking to her or getting her a fidget! I have a fidget cube and it certainly helps me a lot and I know how your little sister feels!
How old is she? I first noticed signs when I was 4 or 5 and had a very rough time starting at 7, diagnosed at 19. You’re a good sister, especially for looking out for signs. It’s really tough when you’re young going through it. Best thing is to not give reassurance. If you think she’s too young to understand, maybe reword things to not say why she’s feeling that way but just that distraction is helpful. Another good thing my therapist told me for my checking locks was to check once and make a clear mental note that it was definitely locked and then after that stop and resist the compulsions
Maybe telling her she just feels high anxiety and that her OCD about different things such as her dog dying etc and reassurance seeking is just her brain trying to rationalize the anxiety....but if she were to deal with anxiety, like meditate, journal, etc that that would help her. That’s what I would say; hope she gets better!
I definitely think some mindfulness exercises will help like meditation and breathing techniques. Maybe you can do them with her! Also, as hard as it may be, it’s best to try not to give reassurance like Smiley said.
Thank you for replying! These suggestions are all really helpful. I think I will try doing meditation/relaxation with her and distracting her. She is still too young to understand why she is having these thoughts but I will explain that to her over time. Luckily she has a large selection of fidgets so that is useful! I’m hoping that the paediatrician will pick up on it when she goes for ASD and ADHD diagnosis and she will get the help she needs.
@smiley She is eight now, I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for her because she has no idea why she is doing it. Thank you for the suggestion, I will help her to do that ☺️
Any advice..? My girlfriend had OCD, specifically OCPD. What can I do to comfort her when she’s feeling anxious/ out of control, dealing with intrusive thoughts, wanting to act on her compulsions etc? I can’t physically be there for her when she breaks down, talking to her through texting and calling for comfort doesn’t help too much sometimes. I want to help her and make her feel as loved and safe as possible, but I need help to make sure I can provide her with that
I have a question.. I think my friend has ocd.. but obviously I don't want to diagnose or like make her uncomfortable but she does ask me for ALOT of reassurance i noticed of whether she is a good person and /or whether the thing she did will make her sick.. and her hand washing has reached a point where her skin is cracking... What is the right thing to do here? I am happy to reasure her if that's what is good for her but I do clearly from the outside see that she's in a loop... So am i enabling her? .. I obv don't know if even she actually has it.. cause she's never been diagnosed or even thought about it.. But I don't want to cause more harm.. idk.. I'm just getting concerned.. shes been living at her parents who are not the best people.. and has not gone outside even in her yard for fear of the neighbours breath coming in her yard.. and i feel like she's getting worse... Idk what to do.. feels like it's none of my business except that she always gets her reassurance from me.. o.o Thoughts?
Hi! I’m new here. I have OCD but nothing to the extent that my young daughter does. I’m struggling so bad to watch her go through this and see the distress and panic in her face when she can’t seem to stop the compulsions or quiet her head. I feel like so many different types of OCD might be easier to battle with ERP. She has many different types but the one that’s hitting her the hardest and I’m struggling to find ways to help her with is the fact that her brain is telling her that if she doesn’t do this and do that and touch this this many times etc etc etc then someone (usually me) is going to die. She won’t say this out loud either because she’s afraid of speaking it into existence. How do you do an exposure for something like that? It has to be so hard when you think someone you love might die because you don’t touch something a certain way. I’d love to find someone on here who has ever experienced the same thing. Does this type of OCD have a name?
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