Tag Archives: ocd

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Difficulties for the Family

While being a sufferer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be extraordinarily difficult, it can also be extremely frustrating for family members who share the same household as the sufferer. Take the case of Maggie whose mother suffers from OCD. Maggie is in her late fifties and her mother is 87. Although she has long left the family home, the shadow of her mother’s OCD hangs over her like a shroud. Every visit to her mother’s is fraught with frustration and anger. She either tries to keep her temper when her aging mother insists on doing things her way, which involves … Continue reading →

Living with a Person with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Sharing a household with a person suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is not easy. It is not uncommon for family members to believe that the sufferer is just “picky” and stubborn and therefore unnecessary arguments and stress results, not only for the co-habiter but for the sufferer as well. Fiona’s husband, Steve, had no idea that his wife had OCD. He had never heard of it. Yet when his wife checked the windows every night before going to bed, even when she knew some of them hadn’t even been opened, he complained. When she checked the dials on the oven … Continue reading →

Beast – Margaret Wild

Jaime is superstitious and he’s also got obsessive compulsive disorder. He doesn’t know what he has; he only knows that if he doesn’t do certain repetitive things, he’ll have bad luck. Every night, he dreams that a beast comes and looks in his window. He’s terrified that someday, the beast will break through and get him, and he adds more repetitive things to his to-do list each day, but that list is taking longer to get through and his compulsion is starting to upset his daily schedule. Despite the fact that he has a loving, supportive family, he doesn’t feel … Continue reading →

Obsessive – Compulsive Disorder: Diagnostic Criteria

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This article follows on from previous discussions of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Large epidemiological studies of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) rate the prevalence of the condition at roughly 2.6% of the population. Like most anxiety disorders, OCD varies in intensity both from person to person, as well as over time. Hence a single individual may experience a waxing and waning of the condition over a lifetime, with periods of increased stress usually resulting in an increase in obsessive-compulsive activities. The DSM-IV-TR diagnostic guidelines require that a person satisfy all of the following criteria for an accurate diagnosis of this condition: A. Obsessions are … Continue reading →

Postscript–Hoarding Humor

Through the trials and tribulations of educating ourselves and empowering Daniel to deal with his hoarding issues, there were some light moments in our otherwise serious quest for answers. The following are some examples of the humorous side of our life with an obsessive/compulsive hoarder. STOCKPILING We live on the coast of Texas and are susceptible to hurricanes. During the season, we keep an extra amount of canned goods, batteries, and bottled water on hand. Daniel has his own hurricane emergency kit. It includes seven packets of taco sauce from Jack in the Box, a stale package of croutons from … Continue reading →

Compulsive Hoarding-Part 1

Our youngest has a real problem with hoarding. He saves everything. It is very difficult for him to discard school papers, outgrown clothing and shoes, old or broken toys, anything that Daniel considers his. Food also falls in this category and was the first place I became aware of the problem. When the boys first came to live with us, I noticed within several days, Daniel would hide food in the back of the refrigerator or the freezer. At first I gave it little thought; as time went on, it progressed and small amounts of food were stashed throughout the … Continue reading →

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

Kathleen cannot leave the house without repeatedly checking that she has locked the front door properly. She rattles the door over and over again to assure herself that the door is locked. She will start to leave the premises only to return up the front steps again to reassure herself that the door is, in fact, locked. She may repeat this more than once. Helen cannot bear to use a towel once it has already been used, even if it has only been used just once to wipe her own hands. It has to be replaced immediately. She also cannot … Continue reading →