How to Live With OCD

OCD is not a very common disorder. Common people confuse following a routine and traits of tidiness with OCD. However, OCD is a severe mental disorder. It is not something “cool” as we might see in movies or T.V shows.

This article from Positive Reset Mental Health Clinic will explain what OCD is and how you can learn to live with OCD and make your life better. It is essential that you first briefly learn what OCD is.

What is OCD?

OCD, known as Obsessive Compulsion Disorder, is a mental disorder that is characterized by two phenomena;

• Obsessions
• Compulsions

Obsessions are mental delusions that have no factual basis. Obsessions are ideas that prevail inside a person’s head. Obsessions are unwanted intrusive thoughts, urges, or images that trigger intense and distressing feelings.

Compulsions are defense mechanisms or behaviors that a person adopts to get rid of their obsessions and reduce the distressing feelings.

Obsessive Compulsion Disorder is a cycle of Obsessions and Compulsions. A person gets obsessive ideas, and to reduce them; they carry out the compulsive acts.

Diagnosis

According to experts, we all have some OCD at some point. However, the diagnosis is only determined by an expert using mental health scales when a person’s life is affected by obsessions and compulsions.

Wide nature of OCD

Unlike other mental health disorders, OCD has an extensive range. It is not specific to certain thoughts or behaviors. Most people characterize OCD as cleaning obsessions and compulsions; however, OCD can be related to several acts.

For example, a patient thinks that if he doesn’t flip the light switch on and off 40 times before leaving his house, his family would die (Obsession), and to reduce his distress, he would flip the light switch on and off 40 times (compulsion).

How to live with OCD

Many people live successful lives with OCD. If you have OCD, you can also learn several techniques and follow some tips mentioned in this section.

1. Eating habits

Eating regularly is as important as eating healthy foods. It is essential to make sure to have a diet that is rich in nutrition. If you are hungry, your blood sugar will drop. This can make you moody or tired. Start with daily breakfast and eat small meals more often than large meals for lunch and supper.

Choices:

• Nuts and seeds packed with healthy nutrients
• Slowly load proteins such as eggs, beans, and meat to maintain balance
• Complex carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains help keep blood sugar levels constant

Avoid caffeine, a stimulant for tea, coffee, soda, and energy drinks. It can increase your anxiety by a few notches.

2. Relaxation therapy

Relaxation therapy is a widespread therapeutic technique that helps reduce your stress and anxiety level. This will cause your obsessions to decrease in intensity as well. Hence, patients of OCD are often advised by their therapists to seek relaxation therapy. You can follow this therapy on your own by using self-help videos.

Therapists can also help you meditate and train you to gain more control over your body through cognitive behavioral therapy and other options. This can help patients retain their calm when they feel intense obsessions.

3. Hypnotherapy

Hypnosis might be a controversial topic, and people have doubts and concerns about it. However, we have found that people who follow hypnotherapy regularly see a massive improvement in their lives.

Hypnosis reaches a person’s subconscious, a state of mind where learning is highly active and implants positive ideas and thoughts. Patients suffering from OCD should try hypnotherapy regularly for three weeks, and they will find themselves in more control of their lives.

4. Take your medicines regularly

Medicines are essential when treating OCD. If your therapist has prescribed medicines, it is imperative that you stick to the schedule and not miss your dose. You will notice a significant improvement in your life as medicines reduce your symptoms.

5. Sleeping pattern

A regular and healthy sleep schedule can solve many problems in your life. If your sleep is disturbed, you will be more irritated and anxious. Hence, patients with OCD must stick to a regular sleeping pattern.

6. Coping with stress

Stress often causes symptoms of OCD. One way to think about the effects of stress is to think of a “stress bucket.” Each of us has a stress bucket. Some of us have deep buckets, while others have shallow buckets. The stress you experience every day is like pouring water into a bucket. Because we all have buckets of different sizes, some people’s buckets fill up faster than others. If the bucket overflows, it will get wet.

If you are suffering from OCD, the bucket can be smaller than others and is more likely to “overflow” at higher stress levels. This means that the symptoms of OCD can increase. An essential part of managing OCD well is to track how full the stress bucket is and empty the bucket when the water level gets too high. Relaxation techniques help reduce stress.

7. Talk to your friends and family

Friends and family can help you cope with your condition. Moral support alone can make a massive difference in your recovery from OCD.

8. Seek professional help

Professional clinicians are trained to help patients. They have the medical and psychological tools and the experience to restore your mental health. Hence, it is vital to talk to a therapist and start your recovery.

Conclusion

OCD is a severe but treatable mental condition. Make sure to talk to a professional and make the right choices for your mental health. We encourage our readers to follow our tips and suggestions or contact us if you need more help.