Topic Tuesday // Managing compulsions // 25 July, 7pm AEST

[patientpatient]

Hi, can you outline any suggestions for managing compulsions? My son's diagnosis includes OCD. One technique suggested by the psychologist is to replace compulsions with 'tokens'. Something to do with substituting something smaller than the compulsion. I've found it very difficult (as carer) to divert him from some compulsions.

[ReneeT]

@Shaz51 OCD can be a challenge not only for the person experiencing it but for loved ones also. I would always encourage family members to educate themselves as much as possible about OCD - sometimes as loved ones, we can unwittingly become involved in our family members OCD. We have lots of info on our website - http://www.arcvic.org.au/anxiety-disorders/obsessive-compulsive-disorder

Of course, like with all mental health issues, it is also up to the individual to seek supports - as family members, we can do our very best to encourage. Please feel free to pass on the details to our OCD & Anxiety Helpline as a starting point if you think he may be willing to call

[Eden1919]

@Former-Member what helps me in the short term is being able to know what is the OCD and what is an actual concern. if i can label something as OCD then sometimes i can refrain from doing the compulsion until i am at least finished doing what i was doing. but long term that doesnt work. i havent found anything long term that has helpled sadly. exposure is supposed to help but for me it is too intense to do exposures and when i have tried normally i end up having a panic attack until i have done the compulsion which can mean the panic attack can last for 6 or more hours. the other issue i have is that the "bad thing" is not supposed to happen when you do exposures but for me every time i have not done a compulsion the bad thing i am worried about has happened! this makes it very difficult. 

[Shaz51]

thank tou @ReneeT XOXO

[Shaz51]

hELLO  @Eden1919, it is wonderful to see you here my friend xx

[Eden1919]

@patientpatient sometimes my OCD will let me trade one compulsion for another. for example instead of tapping something i can sometimes bargain with it to let me repeat something in my head for a while. or instead or doing something right now i can do something else for it later. like if i eat this food i am not supposed to eat now then i wont do something else i enjoy later. it is kind of weird and complicated but sometimes it lets me do something different for a while. although it is probably bad. 

[ReneeT]

Thanks for your question @patientpatient. How has your son gone with this strategy? Sounds like it's been a challenging one to manage as a carer.

Without wanting to sound cliche, different things work for different people, and sometimes it might be a bit of trial and error.

In regards to formal treatments, the most common approach is CBT with exposure and response prevention therapy. The idea of this is learning to manage the anxiety and distress that the obsessive thoughts create without engaging in any compulsive behaviours. This can certainly be a very challenging process!

Some people we speak to ARCVic talk of learning strategies to manage their anxiety symptoms (eg. breathing, grounding, mindfluness etc) and using these kinds of strategies to manage the overwhelm of their obsessive thinking.

I'd love to hear what others have found effective?

[patientpatient]

Thanks @Eden1919. Yes he can "trade" activities but it seems hard to let go of the idea that something has to be done. I'm probably unwittingly involved as @ReneeT mentioned earlier but sometimes that seems to be the only way to make any progress. 

[Former-Member]

That is why I here @Former-Member @ReneeT to see if there is something I can learn. I think his underlying anxiety is the concern, the more of that he has the more he does his OCD things.

[Shaz51]

That is why I here @suzanne @ReneeT to see if there is something I can learn. I think his underlying anxiety is the concern, the more of that he has the more he does his OCD things. -- same here @Former-Member