Living with OCD
Living with OCD is a lot like living with other types of chronic illness like diabetes or asthma; it requires courage, support from friends, family, and co-workers, as well as a strong partnership with your primary healthcare provider. Find out about how to cope with OCD, reduce the triggers of OCD symptoms and deal with the stigma of mental illness.
Parenting and OCD - Parenting a Child With OCD
Parenting is one of the hardest jobs you'll ever have - especially when your child has a chronic illness like OCD. While it can sometimes feel overwhelming, many parents develop excellent coping strategies for managing both their child's OCD symptoms as well as their own stress levels. If you are the parent of a child with OCD, what coping strategies have you found to be helpful?
Parenting is one of the hardest jobs you'll ever have - especially when your child has a chronic illness like OCD. While it can sometimes feel overwhelming, many parents develop excellent coping strategies for managing both their child's OCD symptoms as well as their own stress levels. If you are the parent of a child with OCD, what coping strategies have you found to be helpful?
OCD and H1N1
The 2009 influenza A or H1N1 pandemic has been a source of considerable worry for many people. However, this pandemic has the potential to be particularly stressful for people with OCD who experience obsessions and compulsions related contamination and/or infection. Let’s explore how to cope with contamination-related obsessions and compulsions in the midst of a pandemic.
The 2009 influenza A or H1N1 pandemic has been a source of considerable worry for many people. However, this pandemic has the potential to be particularly stressful for people with OCD who experience obsessions and compulsions related contamination and/or infection. Let’s explore how to cope with contamination-related obsessions and compulsions in the midst of a pandemic.
Parenting a Child With OCD
Although we often think of obsessive compulsive disorder as an illness that affects mostly adults, between 1 and 3% of children will develop childhood OCD with the average age of onset being around approximately 10 years of age. While there is no doubt that parenting a child who has OCD can be a challenge, there are ways to cope.
Although we often think of obsessive compulsive disorder as an illness that affects mostly adults, between 1 and 3% of children will develop childhood OCD with the average age of onset being around approximately 10 years of age. While there is no doubt that parenting a child who has OCD can be a challenge, there are ways to cope.
OCD and Work: Dealing With Employers
For many people with OCD, seeking out, obtaining and maintaining gainful employment is a significant challenge. While symptoms of OCD themselves can get in the way of completing the required duties of a particular job, there is also the significant challenge of stigma, prejudice and discrimination that is associated with OCD and other forms of mental illness.
For many people with OCD, seeking out, obtaining and maintaining gainful employment is a significant challenge. While symptoms of OCD themselves can get in the way of completing the required duties of a particular job, there is also the significant challenge of stigma, prejudice and discrimination that is associated with OCD and other forms of mental illness.
Coping With Worry
If you have OCD you probably know that you are more prone to experiencing worry than most. This worry can focus on the theme of your obsessions, the consequences of your illness or it can relate to everyday matters such as paying bills or performing well at work. Unfortunately, worrying can often consume quite a bit of energy and make it difficult to relax. Here are some tips for coping with worry.
If you have OCD you probably know that you are more prone to experiencing worry than most. This worry can focus on the theme of your obsessions, the consequences of your illness or it can relate to everyday matters such as paying bills or performing well at work. Unfortunately, worrying can often consume quite a bit of energy and make it difficult to relax. Here are some tips for coping with worry.
OCD and Sexual Intimacy
If you have OCD, you know that it can be difficult to establish and maintain an intimate relationship. A major barrier for many people with OCD engaging in a romantic relationship is problems related to sexual functioning
If you have OCD, you know that it can be difficult to establish and maintain an intimate relationship. A major barrier for many people with OCD engaging in a romantic relationship is problems related to sexual functioning
Coping When a Family Member has OCD
As the family member of someone with OCD, it can be difficult to know what is the right thing to do, what to say or how to cope. Here are some tips for family members of people with OCD.
As the family member of someone with OCD, it can be difficult to know what is the right thing to do, what to say or how to cope. Here are some tips for family members of people with OCD.
Will There Ever Be an OCD Cure?
As with all forms of mental illness, there is no known treatment which is a permanent OCD cure. OCD is generally thought of as a chronic illness meaning that it is something you will have to work on managing everyday. Although it can initially be difficult to accept, having a chronic illness like OCD requires you to shift your focus from a final cure to coping with OCD symptoms.
As with all forms of mental illness, there is no known treatment which is a permanent OCD cure. OCD is generally thought of as a chronic illness meaning that it is something you will have to work on managing everyday. Although it can initially be difficult to accept, having a chronic illness like OCD requires you to shift your focus from a final cure to coping with OCD symptoms.
Coping With OCD When Starting College
Heading off to college can be a very exciting but stressful time. It is a period when you might have to deal with leaving home for the first time, meeting new people, getting used to different living arrangements, worries about money and the demands of school. This is a challenging time under the best of circumstances but can be even more stressful if you have OCD. Here are some tips to make it through this important transition.
Heading off to college can be a very exciting but stressful time. It is a period when you might have to deal with leaving home for the first time, meeting new people, getting used to different living arrangements, worries about money and the demands of school. This is a challenging time under the best of circumstances but can be even more stressful if you have OCD. Here are some tips to make it through this important transition.
Stigma and OCD
If you have OCD, you know that the stigma attached to mental illness can make it difficult to cope. Even though it is clear that OCD has biological roots, there are people who continue to believe that people challenged with mental illness should be able to “snap out of it.”. Have you ever been discriminated against or stigmatized because of your OCD? How did you cope with it?
If you have OCD, you know that the stigma attached to mental illness can make it difficult to cope. Even though it is clear that OCD has biological roots, there are people who continue to believe that people challenged with mental illness should be able to “snap out of it.”. Have you ever been discriminated against or stigmatized because of your OCD? How did you cope with it?
How to Deal With Your OCD While on Vacation
Although many people find that their OCD symptoms improve while on vacation, for others the stress of travel, the change in routine and the loss of control over their environment can cause their OCD symptoms to get worse. Here are some tips to get the most out of your vacation.
Although many people find that their OCD symptoms improve while on vacation, for others the stress of travel, the change in routine and the loss of control over their environment can cause their OCD symptoms to get worse. Here are some tips to get the most out of your vacation.
OCD Coping Tips - How Do You Cope With OCD?
It is a fact of life that we will all experience stress from time to time. Life stress can range from daily annoyances to traumatic events that turn our lives upside down in an instant. Although feeling stressed out can make symptoms of OCD worse, some people are more resilient than others. Why is this? Part of the reason may be how people cope with stress.
It is a fact of life that we will all experience stress from time to time. Life stress can range from daily annoyances to traumatic events that turn our lives upside down in an instant. Although feeling stressed out can make symptoms of OCD worse, some people are more resilient than others. Why is this? Part of the reason may be how people cope with stress.
OCD Relationship - Overcome the Impact of OCD on Your Relationship
If you have OCD, you know that your symptoms can often get in the way of establishing and maintaining romantic relationships. Indeed, many individuals with OCD are single and those who are in a relationship or are married often report a significant amount of relationship stress. How has your OCD impacted your romantic relationships?
If you have OCD, you know that your symptoms can often get in the way of establishing and maintaining romantic relationships. Indeed, many individuals with OCD are single and those who are in a relationship or are married often report a significant amount of relationship stress. How has your OCD impacted your romantic relationships?
OCD and Romantic Relationships
If you have OCD, you know that your symptoms can often get in the way of establishing and maintaining romantic relationships. Indeed, many individuals with OCD are single and those who are in a relationship or are married often report a significant amount of relationship stress. Although the symptoms of OCD can pose a serious challenge to your love life, there are ways of coping.
If you have OCD, you know that your symptoms can often get in the way of establishing and maintaining romantic relationships. Indeed, many individuals with OCD are single and those who are in a relationship or are married often report a significant amount of relationship stress. Although the symptoms of OCD can pose a serious challenge to your love life, there are ways of coping.
Getting the Most Out of Your Doctor Appointment
An essential part of coping with OCD is making sure that you are able to make the most of your appointments with health professionals such as family doctors, psychiatrists, nurses and psychologists. Whether it is an initial meeting with your family doctor or the latest check-in with your psychiatrist or psychologist, here are some tips for getting the most out of your appointment.
An essential part of coping with OCD is making sure that you are able to make the most of your appointments with health professionals such as family doctors, psychiatrists, nurses and psychologists. Whether it is an initial meeting with your family doctor or the latest check-in with your psychiatrist or psychologist, here are some tips for getting the most out of your appointment.
Barriers to Seeking Treatment for OCD
Although effective treatments are available for OCD, research suggests that only about one-third of people with OCD actually seek treatment. Why is this? Find out where to get help for OCD.
Although effective treatments are available for OCD, research suggests that only about one-third of people with OCD actually seek treatment. Why is this? Find out where to get help for OCD.
Coping With OCD
It is a fact of life that we will all experience stress from time to time. Life stress can range from daily annoyances to traumatic events that turn our lives upside down in an instant. Although feeling stressed out can make symptoms of OCD worse, some people are more resilient than others. Why is this? Part of the reason may be how people cope with stress.
It is a fact of life that we will all experience stress from time to time. Life stress can range from daily annoyances to traumatic events that turn our lives upside down in an instant. Although feeling stressed out can make symptoms of OCD worse, some people are more resilient than others. Why is this? Part of the reason may be how people cope with stress.
Living With OCD
Living with OCD is a lot like living with other types of chronic illness like diabetes or asthma; it requires courage, social support from friends, family, and co-workers, excellent coping skills, as well as a strong partnership with your primary health care provider. Find out about how to cope with OCD, reduce the triggers of OCD symptoms and deal with stigma.
Living with OCD is a lot like living with other types of chronic illness like diabetes or asthma; it requires courage, social support from friends, family, and co-workers, excellent coping skills, as well as a strong partnership with your primary health care provider. Find out about how to cope with OCD, reduce the triggers of OCD symptoms and deal with stigma.
Information for Partners and Families
In-depth information on coping with a partner or family member with OCD from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Illness.
In-depth information on coping with a partner or family member with OCD from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Illness.
Coping With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
A story of a real-life successful coping with OCD.
A story of a real-life successful coping with OCD.
Living With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Experts and people with OCD discuss living with OCD and other issues on National Public Radio.
Experts and people with OCD discuss living with OCD and other issues on National Public Radio.
Relaxation Breathing
Relaxation breathing or diaphragmatic breathing can have numerous physical and psychological benefits for people with OCD and other anxiety disorders.
Relaxation breathing or diaphragmatic breathing can have numerous physical and psychological benefits for people with OCD and other anxiety disorders.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the best-self help strategies for reducing the severity of OCD symptoms. Get started with About.com's Guide to Exercise.
Exercise is one of the best-self help strategies for reducing the severity of OCD symptoms. Get started with About.com's Guide to Exercise.