Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Support Group
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder, more specifically, an anxiety disorder. OCD is manifested in a variety of forms, but is most commonly characterized by a subject's obsessive (repetitive, distressing, intrusive) thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or rituals) which attempt to neutralize the obsessions.
Hello,
My husband and I (married 5 years, together 9) have had our firstborn son.
W are completely happy to have our child and love him to bits = but my husband has OCD and is really struggling and naturally it impacts both myself and our child.
My husband has to continually wash his hands, and is terrified that he can't be trusted, or fears infection and the like. He is always caught up in this cyclic mindset that takes him away from the enjoyment of our relationship and being in the present moment - both with our son and with me. As such I do find I'm doing majority of the care and feel a bit sad about this whole situation.. he has such an opportunity to enjoy the moment but he can't see past the little things that don't matter.
I really want to help him and not hinder by perpetuating the cycle; can anyone offer advice to support me and also how I can approach my husband in a way that doesn't perpetuate his thinking/behaviour?
I have a tendency to be more soft on him than anything so I need to be aware of this as I know he can fall into victim mentality and becomes snappy at me when I try to help. I've encouraged him to try support groups online if not in person and he won't return to a psychologist. I can manage to encourage him to go for walks with us some afternoons so I'm trying to focus on that being 'something' positive but it's been an ongoing frustration on my behalf that's for sure. I am such a happy positive person so I find him on the other end.. we are quite opposite and it's a real weight on my shoulders :( I just want us to enjoy and experience life together, especially through gratitude but I know I can't rush his healing or emotional maturity.
Also he repeatedly watches particular television shows.. is that a common OCD thing? It's really REALLY obsessive and I try my best to be patient knowing that this relaxes him but seeing him cringe in fear of touching things and having to wash his hands before touching the baby etc. is really getting on my nerves!
Help..
Spirit.
My husband and I (married 5 years, together 9) have had our firstborn son.
W are completely happy to have our child and love him to bits = but my husband has OCD and is really struggling and naturally it impacts both myself and our child.
My husband has to continually wash his hands, and is terrified that he can't be trusted, or fears infection and the like. He is always caught up in this cyclic mindset that takes him away from the enjoyment of our relationship and being in the present moment - both with our son and with me. As such I do find I'm doing majority of the care and feel a bit sad about this whole situation.. he has such an opportunity to enjoy the moment but he can't see past the little things that don't matter.
I really want to help him and not hinder by perpetuating the cycle; can anyone offer advice to support me and also how I can approach my husband in a way that doesn't perpetuate his thinking/behaviour?
I have a tendency to be more soft on him than anything so I need to be aware of this as I know he can fall into victim mentality and becomes snappy at me when I try to help. I've encouraged him to try support groups online if not in person and he won't return to a psychologist. I can manage to encourage him to go for walks with us some afternoons so I'm trying to focus on that being 'something' positive but it's been an ongoing frustration on my behalf that's for sure. I am such a happy positive person so I find him on the other end.. we are quite opposite and it's a real weight on my shoulders :( I just want us to enjoy and experience life together, especially through gratitude but I know I can't rush his healing or emotional maturity.
Also he repeatedly watches particular television shows.. is that a common OCD thing? It's really REALLY obsessive and I try my best to be patient knowing that this relaxes him but seeing him cringe in fear of touching things and having to wash his hands before touching the baby etc. is really getting on my nerves!
Help..
Spirit.
I'm here to vent - but also to get support for myself in living with his illness and trying to help someone who just is not proactive about helping themselves. I don't know what else to do, after almost 5 years living with this person it's like OCD is the third person squashing him and I out and I don't get my needs met.
I asked him if we could go together to a psychologist, so I can find ways to support him better and for us to work in harmony more so as a family and to not let the OCD overwhelm us and the response I got was in part defensive and also he just silently listened to what i had to say and he kept on saying how nothing changes. It seems he has accepted this false belief.
He doesn't seem open, has never been, for us to go to the psych together and he really doesn't understand how it affects me because his mind is fixed on other things.
The only time he went was when our relationship was looking at divorce because his issues had become so severe at the time and I needed to see him take some action. He never wants to go anywhere or do anything except watch his tv shows and play on his phone and he really doesn't appreciate me volunteer to help much with the baby.
I'm having a hard time..
I'm wondering if there is a DS group that might give you more support. This board is slow, and since it's for ocd'ers, not sure how valuable it will be. I'm here and happy to talk.
Maybe someone else here knows of another board. And I don't know what that big typo in my previous post is about. Sending you good thoughts....