New support group for OCD families

[Posted: Mon 26/05/2008 by Deborah Condon - www.irishhealth.com]

A new support group for the families of people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has been established.

According to counselling psychologist, Leslie Shoemaker, OCD not only affects the sufferer, but also family members and friends. However these people are often overlooked because the focus is usually on the person with the condition.

With OCD, people experience repetitive and upsetting thoughts and/or behaviours. There are two main features of the condition, obsessions and compulsions. An example of this is where a person becomes obsessed with dirt or germs and as a result, feels compelled to wash their hands excessively.

An estimated 2-3% of the world’s population is affected.

Ms Shoemaker explained that family members often feel frustrated and confused by the symptoms of OCD. They may not know how to help the affected person, leaving them feeling helpless and overwhelmed.

“Also the family may have a difficult time accepting the fact that the child, parent or sibling with OCD cannot stop the distressing, repetitive and occasionally unusual behaviour. Sometimes family members may even struggle with accepting the diagnosis and live in hope that the disorder will resolve itself”, Ms Shoemaker said.

She pointed out that sometimes, family members may show their anger, frustration and resentment about the condition. However this can result in an increase in the OCD behaviour.

“In other cases, in order to keep the peace within the family unit, members of the family may assist the OCD sufferer with the rituals or give constant reassurance, such as by cleaning door handles and light switches to the requirements of the OCD sufferer”, Ms Shoemaker explained.

She said that this ‘assisting’ is referred to as collusion and in the long run, it only feeds the disorder and may actually worsen the condition.

“Education about OCD and its treatment is of crucial importance for the family because it enables them to make more informed choices about how to help the family member, as well as themselves”, Ms Shoemaker said.

The support group for families and friends of people with OCD will take place in room B in St Patrick’s Hospital, James’s Street, Dublin 2.

The meetings will take place at 7.30pm once every three weeks. Details of exact dates are available on the OCD Ireland website at…
http://www.ocdireland.org