Things You'll Need:
- Be encouraging, helpful and keep an open mind...
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Step 1
Learn as much as you can about OCD. Knowing how and why this disorder begins, will help you understand and perhaps help one who suffers from this disorder.
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Step 2
Be supportive, patient, positive and consistent. When you engage these qualities with someone who has OCD, you help them to relax and be open with how they are doing.
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Step 3
Make sure that the OCDer has information about his or her state of health. Some people who have OCD don't know why, how or when it all began.
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Step 4
If the OCDer is in the family, try not to change the routine too much. Hold fast to your regular way of living, but let the sufferer of OCD know that you're there for him or her, if and when they need help.
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Step 5
See if therapy for the OCDer is available. Talk with them about seeing a doctor--see if they're receptive to this and if so, make an appointment for them. Better yet, see if they can make that appointment.
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Step 6
Allow the person with OCD to be who they are; try not to tell them what to do and how to do it, but let them know in a gentle way that they're doing better and keep encouraging them to be aware of their behavior, but don't belittle them or "hound" them on the "right" way to do things. They are quite aware that they have a problem and they may be doing everything they can to make progress...
