Living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Living with Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a lot like living with any other long term, chronic disorder. A lot of people are able to manage their symptoms so that it longer interferes in their day to day life.

Stress often triggers symptoms of OCD and therefore one of the easiest ways of managing the condition is to manage stress. When you do not remedy stress or take care of it, it keeps accruing and the negative effects keep piling on.

One of the major challenges in living with OCD is to manage the stigma associated with the condition. Dealing with the symptoms through your professional life, dating and relationships can often wreak havoc in your life.

Some of the most beneficial coping strategies include:

There are a set of strategies known as problem-focused coping strategies which can help tackle your problems directly. If you have been having conflicts, you can directly meet your therapist or make an appointment with someone who can help you with your problem. These strategies can be used for both physical and emotional problems and conflicts.
Another set of coping strategies are called emotion focused coping strategies. These can help you handle the feeling of stress. While these coping strategies do not address the root cause of stress, they help you manage whatever you feel due to it. Effectively, it means that you are better able to manage your stress using these techniques.

Since living with OCD can present you with a lot of challenges, it is important to ensure that you are prepared for them and have your coping strategies in place. Here are some simple tips for coping with OCD:

Consult with a doctor or your therapist if you feel that your symptoms are worsening or spiraling out of control. Do not wait to see your doctor until the symptoms are at their worst.
Assess the improvements that your medications and therapy are causing. If your medications are causing any side effects, proactively discuss them with your doctor. This will help improve almost all medication issues that you may be experiencing.
If you are receiving a treatment and you are not very comfortable with it, allow yourself the room to express your disappointment to your doctor
Seek the support of your family and friends. Coping with OCD is hard and only when you are able to get the support of friends and family, can you strive to get treated completely. A lot of people feel that they are not very comfortable discussing their condition with friends and family. If this is something that you feel, try and find another group of individuals who can share your feelings. Support groups can often help you deal with the pressures of this condition. Sharing your story with them and listening to their experiences can help you get the support that you desire.

A lot of people with OCD are prone to depression because they are not able to manage their life and their symptoms interfere with almost all aspects of their life. They are often not able to maintain relationships, and they may also have a hard time dating. In such a case, a support group can be really helpful. However, if you keep experiencing feelings of depression and have any thoughts of suicide, try and find yourself a therapist who can help you deal with your problems. Coping with depression and undue anxiety is often an important art of coping with OCD.

Home Remedies

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)