OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
is a psychiatric disorder, more clearly, an anxiety disorder. The
symptoms include the subject's obsessive, repetitive, distressing,
intrusive thoughts and related compulsions in the form of tasks or
rituals to minimize the obsession. OCD becomes especially worse when it
causes harm to a relationship. The impact of OCD on interpersonal
relations needs to be measured early in the diagnostic process.
An OCD victim really needs the assistance of someone
that he can talk to and believe. He often feels helpless in knowing
that others do not try to understand the consequences of his illness.
The patient can feel cheated when personal rules are accidentally
ignored by friends, spouse, or family members. The same situation
occurs when the illness is the main reference within the relationship.
If a non-OCD person is unable to provide the best way to
deal with things, the patient feels extreme difficulties to cope with
the illness, leading to higher obsessive thoughts. In the case of a
married couple, the non-OCD person is often compelled to assist the OCD
partner by accommodating his illogical practices. More clearly, he is
unwilling to perform anything that makes the illness worse. This is a
situation known as ?tough love? and in most times, this theory can be
pushed to its limits.
An OCD victim often needs the support of the other
partner, particularly while dealing with compulsions. However, this
makes him feel guilty for disrupting his loved one's life in such a
powerful way. It is important to educate family members about the
importance of the disorder, its indications, and the amount of distress
on the sufferer. Family members must also develop ways to manage the
illness with care.