Family member support for OCD diagnosis

[Family_OCD]

Our son has been diagnosed with OCD and is house bound with obsessive thoughts concerning germs(covid) and long term OCD symptoms only recently recognized. He is 37 lives with his partner with two young children. Myself and partner are actively
involved in his journey and we are trying to understand and help him and his family. Please can we share information and actions we can use to support each other.

[Jacrosie]

Hi Family OCD, a great new website resource has just been launched in Australia called SoOCD, developed by Penny Moodie, wife of Hugh Vancuylenberg of the resilience project (she also talks about her OCD diagnosis in one of their podcast episodes on "The Imperfects"). It's developed for Australians living with OCD, by Australians living with OCD - so the supports and resources are specific to Aus.

https://soocd.com.au/

This could be a good starting off point and they have a "contact us" page too.

I wish you all the best on this journey, supporting a loved one through a new mental health diagnoses is hard at the best of time, but there are supports out there.

[missep123]

Hi Family OCD,

First of all I would like to say that I think it is absolutely fantastic that you are wanting to support your son through this. I know a lot of people who aren't so lucky and don't have familial support so I think that is really great you are willing to learn.

One thing that a lot of people have told me that they found helpful was to listen/watch lived experience to truly understand what people experience with OCD. Although everyone's experience is unique this might help to provide a new insight.

I like to search 'OCD Ted Talk' or 'OCD" on Youtube and a lot of informative and helpful videos can come up.

Again, I think it's really great that you are supportive! We are definitely here to help you through this journey also.

[Petal22]

Hi Family OCD,

Wellcome to our forums!

Id like to say congratulations to your son for getting a diagnosis.

I also suffered with severe anxiety OCD it was a very hard cruel disorder to go through. I wouldn’t have wished it upon anyone.

I have now recovered from this condition.

OCD is vicious cycle but it’s a vicious cycle that you can learn to break free of. It really is possible and once you learn how to do this you will begin to fly…….. your son can learn to fly just like I have, if he gets the “ correct “ help.

Is your son currently receiving professional help for his condition?

My recovery started from seeing a gp who put me on a antidepressant to help me to manage my anxiety we did a mental health plan together, I also saw a clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist who diagnosed me.

This then led me to a clinic that specialised in OCD, I did a group therapy there it was an intervention into the OCD the therapy I did was meta cognitive therapy…. This therapy changed my life! It took perseverance and practice to master the skills I was taught but they now come easy to me and if needed I can disengage from the OCD cycle. I highly recommend this therapy.

I was also plagued with horrible intrusive thoughts that were relentless they played over and over again repeatedly ….. my anxiety level was at severe levels. I felt like I was living in an internal hell.

I have been recovered for 4 years now going strong.

Life on the other side of OCD is amazing, I no longer have severe anxiety and I am no longer stuck in the vicious cycle of OCD .

I learned that I had mental compulsions as well as physical compulsions these compulsions kept me stuck in the OCD cycle…… one of my compulsions was reassurance seeking I no longer do this…. I would constantly ask for reassurance from my loved ones and I’d constantly tell my loved ones my thoughts… I’d question my thoughts and analyse them…. I no longer do this……. It was part of the OCD cycle…..

My intrusive thoughts would send me into panic mode and I’d have panic attacks…. I no longer do this.

Id find myself phoning my psychiatrist for re assurance…. I no longer do this..

I think it’s important for loved ones to know that re assurance seeking is part of the OCD cycle and to the loved ones please try not to give the re assurance because it holds the sufferer in the cycle.

My anxiety would stay high for not getting the reassurance but I learned to just sit with it and let it be there and fade away.

Please ask me any thing

[Petal22]

I have also written two threads that you may be interested in reading.

From someone who had OCD and recovered

Effective treatment for OCD Metacognitive Therapy

Please know that I am here for yourself and your family…. If your self or your son have any questions please ask me anything 😊

Id like to say to your son…… hang in there things will get better…… if I can recover there is hope that you can aswell. ❤️🙏

[Summer Rose]

Hi FamilyOCD

Welcome to the bb forum.

I’m sorry to learn that your son has disabling and chronic OCD. My daughter fell ill with OCD when she was just 13 and I am her primary support person and have been for the past ten years. I understand what you are going through and it’s really tough.

She was also housebound for a time, which eventually led to hospitalisation, and it was a huge challenge for her to work through her treatment program toward recovery.

The word recovery means different things to different people. For my daughter, it meant returning to a functioning life because she was able to learn to manage her OCD. It is an ongoing process.

When someone in the family has OCD it affects everyone in the household. And everyone in the family can play an important role in helping their loved one to heal.

I encourage you to learn as much as you can about this condition. OCD is very misunderstood in the community, even among professionals, and you really need to build your knowledge from trusted sources.

I also encourage you or his wife to get involved in working with your son and his mental health practitioner, if he will consent. The more you all know about what he is working on, the more you can support him to ensure success.

I attended all appointments with my daughter and was allowed in for the last ten minutes so they could share information about current goals. I often independently went to speak to the doctors, with my daughter’s consent.

I also engaged a mental health practitioner to work with me. I would tell her what was happening at home in real time and she would guide me to an appropriate and helpful response.

There are two things that I think it’s important for you to know at this stage of your support journey.

First, this is really hard for your son. Unbelievably hard. And it hurts. He needs unconditional love and understanding.

Second, you and his wife need to practice self-care to look after yourselves. Do something nice for yourself each day. You have to make sure your “oxygen mask” is on first before you can help someone else.

Please post anytime to let us know how you are going.

Kind thoughts to you