What should I do if my husband has obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Obsessive compulsive disorder patients will not only have adverse effects on their own lives and work, but also have serious impacts on their families. Because obsessive compulsive disorder is considered a mental illness to some extent, when treating obsessive compulsive disorder, not only medication is used, but also psychological counseling is needed. Because obsessive compulsive disorder also has a great impact on others, what should a couple do if they find that their husband has obsessive compulsive disorder?

For patients

1. Take the initiative to communicate and reveal your inner feelings: Many patients with compulsive disorder do not show any problems in their outward behavior and actions, but it is difficult for them to express the pain in their hearts. However, if they do not communicate with their families, they will not only fail to gain understanding, but will also cause many misunderstandings, and even be mistaken for deliberate torture. Therefore, they try to communicate and reveal their inner feelings to gain the understanding and support of their families.

2. Don’t do to others what you don’t want others to do to you: Some patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder will transfer their obsessive-compulsive symptoms to their family members. For example, in order to confirm that he is clean, my patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder repeatedly asked his family members to participate in excessive washing against their wishes, and he himself was unable to continue working and living because of the washing. After she was admitted to the hospital, another obsessive-compulsive disorder patient repeatedly asked her to help her check supplies. For the first time, she felt the pain that her family members experienced when she was forced to do so. He told me that he would never force his family again after he was discharged from the hospital. Therefore, learn to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and don’t pass on your pain to others.

For family members

1. Learn to listen and understand patients: Learn to listen, whether you can understand or not, because listening itself is a good medicine for healing. And when you don’t understand, never speak nonsense. Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder are usually in pain, because their family members have never suffered from the disease and rarely understand the feelings of patients, so you should actively try to understand the feelings and pain of patients, and give better suggestions.

2. Treat patients as equals and respect other patients: Family members should be on the same side as other patients, and face any difficulties together, rather than being much higher than the patient and telling him what to do. Avoid harsh prohibitions and criticism without any explanation. Discussing what can and should be done with the patient in an equal manner will increase the success rate.

3. Encourage patients and urge them to live a good life: discover and affirm the progress of patients, help them build confidence in fighting the disease, let them see hope, and live a positive and optimistic life. In life, urge patients to actively participate in various social activities, actively return to society, and develop regular living habits.

4. Do not rush for quick success: No matter you are a family member or a patient, you should not rush for quick results. The formation of obsessive-compulsive disorder has certain rules and time accumulation. It cannot be solved in a day or two. It requires long-term and systematic psychological counseling and practice to make progress.

This process is indeed difficult and painful for patients and their families, but I believe that with the encouragement and support of family members and the continuous efforts of patients, recovery is just around the corner!