My family member doesn't understand my OCD and makes it worse on purpose

[Penguin_fan08]

I share a room with my family member who is a year younger than I am. I have very bad OCD and anxiety (which she knows) but she does things to upset me or make me panic. I have a phobia with germs, so I ask her kindly to please not do things on purpose to upset me such as; using my bedhead as a table for her food, leaving her clothing everywhere, messing up the rug (which really upsets me). (She kicks the rug all the time to make me upset). This morning, I was making my bed when I noticed she'd dropped a licked Popsicle stick on my blanket. I freaked out and told her to take it off and she said it wasn't hers as a joke. When she finally took it off, I was almost in tears, to which she replied 'I'm not a germ, so stop treating me like one!'. I said again, I've never called her a germ. I only ask she is respectful of my issues as I am of hers. She doesn't understand and if I tell on her about it, I'll get in trouble because she will start (fake) crying...

I'm a new member, so I apologize if this is hard to read. What should I do?

[geoff]

Hello Penguin_fan, I want to welcome you and thanks for a post that is a very difficult one for you, as you have OCD.

I also have OCD and can relate to what you are saying, this always happened to me by my older brother who always teased me, so I know exactly what you have said, but it makes us feel terrible, it's not your fault and certainly not mine.

Unfortunately, OCD is something other people don't understand, they don't realise why we have to do this or know why it's an obsession that compels us to think this way.

An example, if a person wants to wear a red dress and you tell her to wear a blue one, but she insists that she has to wear that red dress, isn't OCD, and I think that's confusing for people to understand.

I'm about to log off as I start very early in the morning, but will get back to you tomorrow.

Please never feel you are alone, I've been through what you have.

Take care.

Geoff.

[quirkywords]

Welcome Penguin_Fan,

Thanks for sharing your story. It is well written.

It must be so frustrating for you having to cope with your OCD and having your younger family member continually annoying.

Unfortunately members of ones family like to tease and upset other members.

I know this is difficult but alas the more you show her you are upset the more she will do things to tease you.

Is it possible to talk to your mum or dad, about what this younger member is doing to you.

It is hard to share a room is it possible to divide the room into your section and her section so she would not need to go into your part of the room.

Thanks again for sharing your story. Feel free to post here as much as you like.

Quirky

[Penguin_fan08]

Greetings Quirky,

Unfortunately, even if I show little reaction she will continue.

I live with my older sister and I believe she would stand up for my family member as she did last time.

We are unable to divide the room because of the layout, and family member in unwilling to change said layout.

We will be moving next year so I should be okay till then.

Regards, Penguin

[Penguin_fan08]

Hello Geoff,

Thank-you for your kind words. I apologize that your brother also teases you. I hope some day OCD will be accepted more and understood.

Have a lovely day,

Regards, Penguin

[geoff]

Hello Penguin, yes I also hope it is.

Take care.

Geoff.