When Adult Children with OCD Live at Home

Over the years, I have connected with many people whose lives have been affected by OCD. Because I’m a parent whose son has obsessive-compulsive disorder, some of the most heartbreaking stories to me come from parents who have done everything in their power to help their adult children, to no avail. Either these children insist they don’t have a problem, they resist appropriate treatment, or there are other issues that are hindering them from moving forward.
And they live at home.
As parents, we spend our lives doing everything we can to ensure our children are well cared for – that they are safe, healthy and happy. We share their hopes and dreams for the future and afford them every opportunity to reach these goals. They, indeed we, are on a path.
And then OCD comes to town, and all our lives are turned upside down.
But still, we try to do what we have always done. What we have always known how to do – keep our children safe and warm.
Except with OCD in the mix now, it’s not so easy. Following our intuition only makes things worse, and before we know it we are enabling our loved one. In no time at all OCD is the head of the household.
So what should we do?
While every family has its unique set of issues, and seeking professional help is always wise, there are some basic premises to be followed when adult children with OCD live at home.
First and foremost, each member of the household has the right to feel safe at home, to be treated with respec...

Source: Psych Central - May 11, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Janet Singer Tags: Caregivers Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Parenting anxious thoughts Compulsions Dependence Financial Independence Obsessions Ocd treatment-resistant Source Type: news