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.
My husband started out hoarding and now he has anxiety and OCD. He can't stop recording TV shows and wants to go to goodwill all the time to buy dvd recorders and tvs. He has anxiety which won't let him drive more than about 10 miles from the house so he is constantly asking me to take him to goodwills. he is obsessive about the trash and checks it for anything I am throwing away so I have to take stuff to work to throw away. He also doesn't think he has a problem so I don't know how to get him to seek help. How can I help him and am I not helping him by taking him to goodwills? He gets really grouchy if I don't.
I know what you're going through in terms of walking that fine line between enabling the compulsions and making him upset in the short-term. Is he the type of person with OCD who knows that the compulsions are irrational but still feels the need to do them, or does he think there's a "real" reason why he needs multiple recorders and TV? I think that can make a difference in how you deal with it. If he already knows its irrational, then I think the best thing is to set some boundaries and let him be grumpy for awhile. Otherwise, giving into it is just feeding the compulsion, which is exactly like an addiction.
Also, you may not have seen it, but there is a separate group here called "living with someone with severe OCD": http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/livingwithsomeonewithsevereocd
Take care and good luck.