You probably know that you shouldn’t be helping your loved one:
- by helping him or her do their rituals
- by giving them reassurance about their obsessions
- by helping them avoid things that trigger their OCD
On the other hand, you’ve probably already found that it can be hard to resist doing these things.
Studies have found that most families do get involved in their loved ones’ symptoms – often on a daily basis. Family members said they knew this was not the right thing to, but they did it anyway, just to reduce the OCD sufferer’s anger or distress. As a result they felt even more stressed because they knew that in the long run they were not helping the OCD sufferer! (I describe these findings more fully in the newest edition of my book “Getting Control”)
Do you know how much your family is involved in your loved ones’ OCD symptoms?
To find out, take this questionnaire which was developed by Dr Lisa Calvocoressi and her associates to assess this kind of accommodation of OCD symptoms by family members. After you’ve completed this questionnaire, you may want to use your browser to print the results, and discuss them with your loved one.
