Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Is Hard To Live With But There Are Steps You Can Take To Cope With It

There are many people who struggle daily with OCD. It can be very disruptive to live with. This disorder occurs when an individual has accruing thoughts. Their thoughts and behavior are not in their control. These include repeatedly calling a loved one to make sure they are safe, tapping feet, checking if the faucets are closed properly time and again, and so on. However, there are steps one can take to cope with it. 

The first thing to start with is to understand all about OCD. This is important if you suffer from OCD or someone you know has the same problem. People who have OCD tend to repeat their thoughts and actions again and again. These symptoms affect all aspects of the person’s life. For example, OCD can affect their work, career, education, and even relationships. In broader terms, there are two types of symptoms of OCD. One is more obsessive and the other is compulsive. 

Obsessive symptoms include thought or urges that can cause anxiety. This can be thoughts about getting germs on their body, hurting other people, or continuously putting objects in perfectly symmetrical order. Compulsive symptoms, on the other hand, are specific behaviors that people with OCD feel that they have to repeatedly do. So much that it becomes an obsessive thought. This can induce continually washing their hands, wanting to order things in a certain way, or counting things again and again. 

How To Overcome OCD

One has to understand that the person suffering from OCD gets a form of relief immediately as they perform a behavior connected to their obsessive thoughts. They do not experience any pleasure from it. Their rising sense of anxiety contributes to such thoughts and actions. Over time, these symptoms can lessen or worsen. If the person who has OCD, acknowledges that they are suffering from these excessive compulsive thoughts or behavior due to a problem, then they can help themselves. If you would like to overcome OCD or would like to help someone else who has it, you can follow the tips below. 

Talk Openly About it

This is the first step a person who has OCD can take. In this step, the person should open up about the condition with their family and close friends. When they are able to table with people who are close to them then they will feel more comfortable about their condition. Speaking to a counselor will be an immense help. If you are hesitant to meet them in person then services like Virtuous Circle Counselling also provide online sessions. Joining a support group or hanging out with people who have similar problems can help people to feel more accepted. There are many groups online wherein people with similar problems talk to each other and share advice. Talk about yourself and your problems as that will help you to empower yourself and be more comfortable with sharing your experience. You will feel less be judged in such environments. There are both international and local websites that you can research to find an OCD support group near you. You will meet other people who will share their real-life stories with you of how they battled with the same problems and were able to overcome them. 

Try To Relax And Reduce Your Stress

When you have OCD, the symptoms can get worse when you feel stressed. One of the most important ways of coping with your symptoms is to manage your stress properly. You will tend to feel more stressed when you are in a situation wherein the pressure is very high. You will feel crushed against the pressure and will feel that you are not in control of the situation. Try to research and find techniques that can help you to relax. Furthermore, try to remove yourself from stressful situations. It is important to understand what triggers the symptoms and how you can minimize their effects. When you can easily identify what causes you stress, then you can help to take control of the situation when it starts cropping up. One of coping with stress is to avoid getting into such situations. However, if that is not possible then the other way to cope with it is to try developing emotional resilience. 

You can follow different relation tips available. For example, you can try deep breathing techniques to help you calm down. Breathe in through, count till four and then breathe out and count till 4 again. One more way to relax once in a while is to take a break from all your electronic devices. If you feel better after staying without your phone for a few hours, try to increase it by going without it the whole day. Increase your activity and instead of flopping yourself on the sofa while scrolling social media channels, try to read a book or learn something new. Creative hobbies like painting, drawing, pottery, and so on are also great sources of relaxation. For some people, gentle music helps them to be distracted from obsessive thoughts. While these techniques are not specifically for people with OCD, they can in general help a person to calm down. 

Healthy Daily Activities

Apart from the activities you do to keep yourself calm or regular sessions with your counselor, you should also make an effort to keep your daily activities in line. For example, if you don’t sleep well then you will tend to have more mental problems. You should make an effort to stick to the routines of getting good sleep, following a good diet, and doing regular exercise. Forming a pattern can help you a lot. To be able to get a good night’s rest keep your cell phones and other gadgets away from you before bedtime. Exercising regularly also helps to nourish your sleep. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, or any other abusive products that can affect your health, and follow a diet that enhances your body. 

Though the above treatments may not be helpful to completely overcome OCD, they will definitely help you to manage it better.