Any advice on OCD coping mechanisms?

[friendindeed]

I have a close family member who is in hospital for second suicide attempt. Her OCD is so severe that she felt she needed to do this despite having an amazing support network, husband and child. She has a phobia about contracting diseases and blood and when she is anxious, this phobia is heightened. She has been in hospital for 3 months now and is in rehab (the extent of her attempt) but my husband and I feel at such a loss because we don't know how we can help her other than visiting and calling her frequently and generally letting her know we are here for her. I'd like to know if there are some coping mechanisms for when her phobia kicks in so we can remind her of what she needs to do. She gets so distressed she can't remember what they are. Would it be seen as interfering if we asked to speak to her psychologist or would we not be permitted to? Any other advice you can offer would be appreciated. It makes us so sad to think if she finally gets out of hospital and is physically fit again, she may try again. We just want to do whatever we can to help her see the positives in her life and help her manage her OCD so she can try and resume some kind of 'normality'. It does seem somewhat of a hopeless situation so if anyone has a similar story and is managing their OCD well, please feel free to share your inspiring story. Thank you.

[geoff]

hello dear friend, before I go on google this 'how to stop phobia and OCD for contracting blood disease', and it categorises OCD into 4 parts, it's very informing and well worth a read.

I thank you for taking so much care and interest with your family member and appreciate how serious this is.

No one knows if or when somebody is going to commit suicide, and they may seem to be going along as though nothing is wrong with them, and are horribly devastated when they may try it again.

You would only be allowed to speak to her psychologist if she gives you approval, or go with her for a consultation, however it won't be for free, but I know that this would not be of any concern.

Her psychologist I think should be teaching her desensitisation technics, however this can be a long process, and it maybe OK in therapy, but after this she will need help to teach herself how to utilise what she has been taught.

It would be best to start with something small and not go for the big one, only because this will create anxiety, therefore more OCD.

Google ' desensitisation', and say for example how people train themselves how to eventually be able to hold a spider, whereas once before they couldn't even be in a room with one.

I would really love to hear back from you, and if you haven't read other posts, I have had OCD for as long as I can remember, probably 50 years.

Again I want to thank you and your husband for being so caring. L Geoff. x