- Date posted
- 3y ago
- Date posted
- 3y ago
You are right. If he's not ready to start treatment. I am not a therapist just someone who struggles with OCD. Here are some tips. 1. Educate yourself about OCD. If you don't have it yourself, it can be hard to understand why people with OCD think and act the way they do. A good book is OCD Travel Guide by Michael Parker. He does a good job explaining obsessions and compulsions. It is common for people with OCD to rope others into doing compulsions with them. Especially if they are dealing with contamination OCD. Don't let him do that. It is also common for people with OCD to seek reassurance. Do NOT give reassurance. It will relieve his anxiety for a short time, but ultimately, it will only make his OCD worse. Treatment for OCD is not fun or easy. There is no quick fix. Recovery is possible, but it takes time and hard work. Seeking treatment is scary. But you can't just wish OCD away. The longer it goes untreated, the worse it will get. I would ask your son if he wants to spend the rest of his life feeling and living the way he is right now? Unfortunately, some people have to hit rock bottom before they are willing to change. Hope this helps.
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Hey I made long reply but it got deleted so just ask me any question and I will answer.
- Date posted
- 3y ago
I agree with most of what Lms526 said, but I differ in opinion when it comes to prompting someone to imagine a lifetime of despair in the hopes that they'll see a therapist. I can see how that might be a useful exercise for certain individuals, but it might be unhelpful for others. Speaking from personal experience, it's not uncommon for some of us with ocd, myself included, to regard themselves through a perfectionistic lens. My tolerance for personal inconsistency used to be a lot lower, and I'd beat myself up any time I failed in the smallest way. I was also deathly afraid that I'd never really get better, because how could I when I was still able to fail so easily? Accepting my flaws and the possibility of failure was incredibly liberating because it gave me the freedom to work toward a better life without feeling as afraid of setbacks or as devastated at minor mistakes. For the first time, I was motivated by a desire for a better life rather than my fears of a terrifying one. So I think it can be helpful advice, but part of that depends on the person it is being given to, what motivates them best, and where they're at in life.
- Date posted
- 3y ago
That is a very good point. 100% agree
Related posts
- Date posted
- 14w ago
Specifically how can my fiance best support me without offering reassurance? I'm trying to encourage myself to grow and keep trying ERP, but I'm not sure how I can include my partner in a healthy way. I plan on talking to my therapist about it soon, but I wanted to hear thoughts from people who have been dealing with it themselves.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 12w ago
Hi everyone, I’m Cayla. I’m a mom that’s lived with OCD since childhood, but my breaking point came more recently after having my son. I was consumed by terrifying thoughts—What if I hurt him? What if I did something awful without realizing it? I was so afraid of my own mind that I couldn’t be alone with him. The shame and exhaustion were unbearable, and I convinced myself I was broken. In 2024, I finally sought help. ERP therapy at NOCD was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it saved my life. Even now, I have tough days, but I know I don’t have to be ruled by OCD. When my 12 year old daughter began showing signs of OCD, I felt overwhelmed with guilt. I never wanted her to go through what I had, but I knew what to do. I told her that I have OCD too and made sure she knew it wasn’t her fault—and that she wasn’t alone. One of the hardest parts of this journey was trusting someone else with my daughter’s OCD. I knew how vulnerable it feels to share intrusive thoughts, and I wanted her to feel safe. Her NOCD therapist was able to establish trust and genuine empathy from the start, and that relationship gave her the confidence to face ERP head-on. Seeing her build that trust made me certain she was in the right hands. ERP has helped both of us reclaim our lives, and it is beautiful to see my daughter managing her condition and making visible progress. Parenting with OCD while raising a child with OCD isn’t talked about enough, but I know so many parents are struggling with these same challenges. If you have questions about managing OCD while parenting, helping your child through ERP, or breaking cycles of guilt, drop them below—I’d love to share what I’ve learned. I’ll be answering all of the questions I receive in real-time today 4-5pm ET.
- Date posted
- 6w ago
Hey guys! My boyfriend has said recently that he doesn't know if he's strong enough to continue with our relationship because of my OCD. He wants to see me overcome my symptoms and learn to live a healthy life with OCD, but my anxieties and obsessions are starting to really affect his life. I understand his reasoning, it's hard to see someone you care about struggle with OCD, especially when it starts to affect you too. I'm asking for tips to deal with my compulsions in the relationship. I HAVE to know the answer to things and sometimes that leads into arguments because even with apologies and discussions I can't let things go, even if they genuinely don't matter or are miniscule issues we have. It's a healthy relationship otherwise but I feel horrible because it's impacting him so negatively, that's the absolute last thing I want to happen. I care for him deeply and he cares for me too, so I don't want my OCD to be a reason we break up but I fear it's headed in that direction. I'm starting therapy soon, but until then what are some things I can do to stop my ROCD from impacting him? I know sitting in the guilt and anxiety of not completing my obsessions will help, but I'm wondering if there are other things I can do to maybe remedy some of the damage already done.
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