How to Help Someone With OCD and Anxiety

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The statistics around anxiety are significant–nearly 1 in 5 adults experience an anxiety disorder each year, and almost a third of U.S. adults will experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), while less prevalent, is estimated to affect more than 1 out of 100 adults each year. The possibility that we know someone with one or both of these diagnoses or have them ourselves is very real. The purpose of this blog post is to provide a few practical ways to support a friend or loved one who may be dealing with OCD and anxiety.

Educate Yourself About OCD and Anxiety

Knowledge is power and perhaps the key to unlocking empathy. A great first step to help someone with OCD and anxiety is to learn as much as you can about both disorders. What are the most common symptoms? What are some common misconceptions? What can cause these symptoms to manifest? Spend a good amount of time researching both diagnoses, and be sure to use reputable sources for your information, such as NIMH (the National Institute of Mental Health), SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), or NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Read as much as you can, take a seminar or webinar, and listen to a podcast or two.

Once you have learned more about the basics of OCD and anxiety, observe your friend or loved one through this new lens of knowledge. What symptoms do they personally experience? Are there events that seem to exacerbate or make their symptoms worse?

Finally, consider talking with your friend or loved one about their disorders if appropriate. They can share insight into their experience, particularly if you can create a safe, supportive listening environment that is free of judgement. Depending on how well you know them, you may need to earn their trust or express genuine interest more than a few times. One note of caution–avoid acting like an expert with your new information.

Create a Supportive Environment 

Becoming more informed about OCD and anxiety diagnoses will help you listen more patiently and with empathy–a really great gift you can give to your friend or loved one. A few other things you can do to create a supportive environment are to encourage healthy coping strategies such as mindfulness or light physical activity and to validate their feelings. A few phrases that might help someone with OCD and anxiety to validate their feelings are “I’m here for you” or “That sounds difficult” as opposed to a phrase such as “Relax, don’t worry about it.” Finally, depending on your relationship, you may need to set and keep some boundaries, such as not engaging in any rituals or compulsions that could reinforce OCD behavior. Redirecting them to some coping strategies they have learned in therapy is another good tool to consider when creating a supportive environment.

Remember to Take Care of Yourself

Helping someone with OCD and anxiety can be difficult emotionally at times, and it is important to recognize this. There is nothing wrong with prioritizing your self-care, and it is an important step to avoid burnout. Setting healthy boundaries will help you stay engaged long-term. Remember it is okay to take breaks when you need them. Finally, there are often support groups for family members of individuals with mental health conditions. You may find it helpful to talk with other people in a similar situation to yours, and sharing your experiences and tips for success can help you remember you are not alone and also give you some new strategies to try.

Dual-Diagnosis Treatment Programs at Parkdale Center

Parkdale Center provides dual-diagnosis treatment programs that treat addiction and mental health disorders such as OCD and anxiety. The connection between co-occurring mental health disorders and substance use disorders (SUDs) is well-documented, and treating them together is critical to long-term recovery. Our team of treatment providers and staff are dedicated to providing judgement-free support with empathy. If you or a loved one are looking for support with addiction or a mental health disorder, contact us today to discuss what treatment options might be most helpful for you.

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