There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to support your parents with OCD will vary depending on their individual needs and circumstances. However, some tips on how to support them include:

  1. Listen attentively and nonjudgmentally. It can be difficult for your parents to open up about their symptoms and even more difficult for them to feel heard if you are not supportive. So make sure that you are willing to listen carefully and not rush them. This will help them feel safe enough to share what is happening in their heads.
  2. Be patient. It can be difficult for your parents to manage their OCD symptoms, which often means they may need a lot of patience from you.
  3. Let them know that you care about them. Acknowledge how hard it is for them and tell them that you’re proud of them for trying to get better. This will help build their self-confidence and encourage them to keep on fighting.
  4. Don’t pressure them to comply with OCD rituals or rules. If they don’t want to do something, let them know that you understand and support their decision not to participate in the ritual or rule.
  5. Seek professional help if necessary. Sometimes it is difficult to cope with OCD on your own, especially if your loved one feels like they need to be perfect all the time to avoid having the disorder fully control them.

There are many treatment options available for parents with OCD. These treatments may include medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. Some common medications used to treat OCD include SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), and TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants). Psychotherapy can be provided in individual or group settings. A combination of psychotherapy and medication is often the most effective treatment for parents with OCD.

Things You Most Do

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that causes people to experience recurrent, intrusive thoughts or images that cause distress. While OCD can be a serious condition, there are ways to care for parents with OCD.

  1. Accept that the parent with OCD is experiencing a chronic problem.OCD is a mental illness, and like other illnesses, it requires ongoing treatment and vigilance. Be patient with the parent and accept their limitations as part of their disorder.
  2. Avoid trying to change or fix the parent with OCD. Trying to force them into normalcy will only make things worse. Instead, offer support and understanding as they work through their symptoms.
  3. Talk openly about OCD with the parent with OCD.