Living With OCD

There are many, many people in the world with OCD. Consider this: If the world’s population is approximately 6.5 billion, and an estimated 2.5% of all people will have OCD at some point… then over 150 million people in the world will have OCD at some time in their lives.

How do all these people live with OCD? What are the best ways to cope with this disease? How can you give yourself the best possible chance to get well? The following are some general rules to live by:

1. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

   Keep your body and mind functioning at their best. Get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet and exercise. Try not to smoke. Stay away from non-prescribed drugs and minimize your alcohol and caffeine intake. Nicotine and alcohol can alter the way your body metabolizes medication, and alcohol and caffeine use can worsen symptoms of anxiety.

2. Educate Yourself

   While much is still unknown about OCD, a lot is known. Take the time to learn what you can about the causes, symptoms and treatment of OCD. Sometimes knowing more about your diagnosis, and taking the mystery away from it, makes it seem less frightening. You can also educate your friends and family, who may need help in understanding OCD too.

3. Work on Relaxation and Reducing Stress

   OCD is an anxiety disorder. When a person is more stressed and anxious, their OCD symptoms often worsen. Keeping unnecessary stressors out of your life is important, as is being able to manage stress in a healthy way when it inevitably occurs. There are a number of ways to self-soothe, and practicing them ahead of time makes them easier to use when you become stressed.

4. Work With a Professional

   If you have OCD, you owe it to yourself to seek treatment. Most people with OCD benefit from a combination of medication and psychotherapy. It is extremely important to be honest with your mental healthcare provider, attend your appointments, take your medications as prescribed, and work hard on your treatment plan. People can and do get better, but recovery takes effort and determination.

5. Have a Support System

   Recovery can seem like an overwhelming process, and sometimes people become discouraged. No one should have to go at the process alone. Having close friends or family to support you can make a big difference. In addition, support groups, made up of people going through similar experiences, can be reassuring and helpful.

Recovery is never instantaneous, but it is entirely possible with treatment, lifestyle changes and support.

_{Source: American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 2000.}