While the person with OCD endures intense anxiety and emotional distress, their family members, partners, and close friends often struggle too. Feelings of guilt, helplessness, frustration, and emotional exhaustion are common on both sides. But understanding the way OCD works—and the ways it draws loved ones into its cycle—is the first step toward healing.
Many people put extensive pressure on themselves to sleep a certain way, at a certain time, with or without certain people. But when we look at world history, our own personal history, and cultures across the world today, we see that there are very few firm “shoulds,” and we can rework patterns and habits that are not serving us.
What can you do when your child won’t earnestly participate in therapy? Many parents are surprised to learn that SPACE training for parents can make a drastic difference in their child’s anxiety or OCD symptoms, even though the child may not attend the therapy at all! That’s because parents have such a powerful impact on their child’s understanding of the world and how they can handle situations.