Obsessive compulsive disorder (DOC) is an extremely widespread disorder: about 2/3 % of the population suffers from it, without considering the dark number, that is, all those people who, out of shame, fear or non -information, coexist you without consulting mental health professionals.
Often, the doc is also hidden from family members, friends and colleagues as there is the fear of not being understood or worse still judged. In fact, ignorance (in the literal sense of the term, unawareness or incompetence), brings the people who are close to those suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder Not to understand what is happening to their dear and to judge thoughts and behaviors as something bizarre, strange or the result of a poor will.
This attitude can lead to maintaining the problem instead of help those suffering from doc. But let’s take a step back, what are these thoughts and behaviors that who is close to a person with DOC do not know, nor do you understand?
The obsessive compulsive disorder It is characterized by the presence of thoughts, intrusive and recurrent doubts, which are for the selfish, annoying, threatening and therefore cause anxiety and discomfort for the person.
So, the first thing to understand for Help a person who suffers from DOCIs it that such obsessive doubts are similar, in the content, to those that we can all have (“I have closed the gas?”, “Will I be in the best emotional relationship for me?”, “Will I be contaminated by touching the garbage?”). The difference concerns the frequency with which these thoughts present themselves and the emotional discomfort they create.
The second aspect to be understood concerns the function of compulsions, which are behaviors aimed at alleviating the states of anxiety and discomfort caused by obsessive thoughts. Although they may seem excessive and rigid behavior, they are, for the person suffering from obsessive compulsive disorderthe only strategy that, in the short term generates relief, even if their usefulness is limited and counterproductive.
Know how to manage compulsive behavior can make a difference in theHelp people suffering from DOC.
So, once the nature and function of these symptoms is understood, we can think that the person who suffers from them suffers them is victims of them and is trapped.
This should be enough to do it suspend the judgment and to observe this phenomenon for what it is: a disease (such as hernia on the disc or tendonitis), a malfunction of the neuronal circuits, which as such cannot be interrupted by the person without adequate care.
Put aside the judgments, it will be easier to avoid recriminations and anger, as we will recognize that suffering from doc is not a defectnor is it due to the lack of willpower.
For help those with obsessive disordertherefore, once the general attitude towards the disorder has been modified, we can start acting in order to encourage improvement both in the relationship and in the condition of illness.
First of all, it is useful to open up to one emotional and empathic communication With our loved one: ask how he feels, what he feels, understand the specificity of the symptoms simply by listening and welcoming fears and worries. This is already useful, for the person, to reduce self -criticism and negative evaluation on itself and on the disorder.
Secondly, for help those suffering from docit is important not to indulge requests to carry out compulsions and reassurance in their place, continuing with their lifestyle. The patient with obsessive compulsive disorder must not influence the spontaneity of our behaviors. This will provide useful material to work on during the therapeutic path and will free you from obligations and subsequent guilty culpolizations towards those close to you and which is suffering from DOC.
In this regard, the support of family and friends for face a therapeutic path It is essential for the patient. Imagine having a painful meniscus and you have to operate. I guess you would be more likely to show you by a specialist if those around you support you, accompanies you and helps you during convalescence, rather than doing everything yourself, perhaps feeling in the lack because you cannot do the things you did daily when you were well.
For help those suffering from an obsessive compulsive disorder Support is essential, as the stigma and the consequent shame of having a problem of this type is much more present than having a broken meniscus.
Therefore it is important that there is encouraging in facing a behavioral cognitive therapy and constant reinforcement when the path has started. Supporting and enhancing the efforts made is very powerful for who suffers by doc As the therapy is tiring, but as for knee physiotherapy, initial suffering allows proper and adequate healing.
During the therapeutic path there may then be moments of difficulty. Not being discouraged and seeing them as an integral part of the path is fundamental. Finally, remember that while proceeding with therapy, the person suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder It will be increasingly free from impediments and traps of compulsions. Enjoy these moments together with your loved one or support it in carrying out pleasant activities, which perhaps had abandoned.
In this way it will not only regulate the quality of life lost due to the DOC, but it will also be possible to recover interpersonal relationships put to the test by this disorder!
