How to Live with OCD
If you suffer from OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), you already know how frustrating it can be. OCD can make simple tasks in your everyday life difficult. Trying to ignore unwanted thoughts and spending minutes (and even hours) performing compulsive rituals you can't control can really disturb your day. With all the avenues of help available, though, you can learn how to live with OCD in a productive way.
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Instructions
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Learn to Live with OCD
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Recognize that you are not alone. Nearly 2 1/2 percent of people in the world live with OCD. Since most sufferers try to hide their conditions, you may not think you know anyone who has it.
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Get a good book about OCD to help you manage your symptoms. "The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free From Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder" by Bruce M. Hyman, Ph.D. and Cheryl Pedrick is an excellent source to start with (see Resources below). It offers a step-by-step plan for getting well that is easy to follow.
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Join a support group for people who suffer from OCD at Support4hope.com (see Resources below). Being able to talk openly about your condition with other people who have it too can be extremely beneficial. Not only can you get tips for dealing with OCD from others, you can see first hand that having OCD does not make you weird, different or crazy.
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Find a good psychologist who specializes in cognitive therapy (also known as talk therapy). Cognitive therapy involves talking your way past obsessions and compulsions through subtle re-training. It has been shown to be very effective in helping OCD patients manage their symptoms and sometimes overcome them.
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Consult with a psychiatrist if your symptoms are severe. You may need medication. Psychiatrists specialize in knowing what medications to prescribe for mental disorders such as OCD.
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Tips & Warnings
Understand that having OCD does not mean you are crazy. OCD is an anxiety disorder, not a psychosis. Having OCD simply means that you have developed irrational stress and worries and your mind has come up with rituals to help you cope with this.
Don't try to fight your obsessions and compulsions through sheer force of will. This rarely works and will probably end up causing you more stress. Following a well-defined therapeutic recovery program is your best option for long-term relief.
