How do you help your friend with their obsessive compulsive disorder?

Answer 1

The more viable option is the have them examined to see if it is in fact Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or another anxiety or obsessive disorder such as Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa which has yet to fully manifest itself.

From there seeking medical and psychiatric help would be the best option for them. Such therapies as CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) have been shown to be quite affective when treating anxiety disorders.

Answer 2

There are many ways that you can help someone with OCD. Here are some ideas:

1. Be supportive - Your friend will be going through a hard time in their life and they will appreciate it if you are there for them.
2. Be Consistent - Don't get annoyed with them or leave them out because they have OCD but don't treat them differently. Your friend probably doesn't want thing's to be any different or change now that they have OCD.
3. Be patient - Keep your cool and remember to be patient. Your friend will not be able to help her habits that to you may seem annoying or weird but to them and other people with OCD find very normal and plausible.
4. Be Positive - Insure your friend that they can get through it and that you'll be there for them no matter what.
5. Learn - the more you know about OCD the easier it will be for both you and your friend.
6. Make sure that they have access to information needed - whether it be about therapy or techniques to help them or how to tell other people.
7. Keep life as normal as possible do not put of things because your scared it might upset your friend. Involve them in activities it will make them feel a lot better about their condition.
8. Be aware of your friends feelings is there anything that you could do to help.
9. Be aware of whats going on around your friend is there anything that could upset them.
10. Ask don't do - If you think they need help with something ask don't just do it because they may not need or want it.
11. Ask if you could go along to therapy with the friend once they start so that you can learn more and also support them. If they say no however don't push the idea.
12. Tell someone if they can't - It may be to much for you to handle on your own and for the friend to handle so advice them to tell a teacher or guardian and if they won't then it might be necessary for you to.
13. Monitor them - If you can see that something is upsetting them then tell a teacher.
14. Make sure that they are taking there medication if they have any - It is important that your friend takes medication if they need it so if you are in school or out with them just make sure that they are taking it and if they aren't then tell someone.
15. Don't spread it that they have OCD if they want to tell someone they well. The only people that you need to tell are teachers if your friend isn't coping or your friends parents if she's not telling them something or your parents for when your friend comes round to your house. (Check with your friend first though)
16. Remember the good times and put the bad to the back of your mind - Your friend will have bad days as well as good so its important to remember the good days and not the bad days (remember the fun times that you have together not the bad ones). You could make a scrapbook of all the good moments that you have had together or get all of her family members friend and teachers to right a nice comment about her in a book or something so that when they feels down they can look at it and remember that everyone loves them, they have support and most importantly they can get through it.
17. Encourage them to reach their potentials and not let the OCD get them down.
18. Encourage them to write down their feelings, habits, obsessions and compulsions and put them into a box. They could either throw each one away after they have conquered them or hide them somewhere and when they have completed their therapy and look back at everything that they have accomplished.
19. Defend her - As their friend they will rely on you to defend them if people make fun of them.
20. Don't go along with or encourage the OCD. Helping the sufferer with rituals will only reinforce the behavior. Support the person, not their rituals.

I hope this has helped you. The most important part is that you give them support. They will understand if you find it a bit awkward at first but will appreciate that you are there.

If you need any more help feel free to write on the discussion page!! Stay Strong

Thanks!! Zoe xx