Please help me and my friend....: My friend is... - OCD Support

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Please help me and my friend....

galgal profile image
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My friend is washer type in OCD ..... So what will i do to reduce his hand washing activity....

He just can't stop himsefl for washing hands.... He washes his hands 30 to 40 times a day .

I really want to do something for him.... I just want to reduce his activity of washing hands.

PLEASE HELP ME ........

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galgal profile image
galgal
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5 Replies
Ulisse profile image
Ulisse

HI

there must be a reason why he washes his hands so often, or not ? if there is, you need to work on the reasons, reduce them and that will reduce his washing. If not, and its just a compulsion to feel clean, you need to reduce the washing very gently, very gradually.

With the help of anti anxiety medication, the urge of washing should diminish. Also, he may gain with some therapy with an OCD specialist.

But the bottom line is that he has to start somewhere, maybe do less washing in a single session or miss one washing session, or wait longer before washing next time. The anxiety should subside. Or, wash only a certain number of times per day.

The main difficulty is to start and that is why it has to be gentle and gradual. Realizing that the anxiety will subside, it should give him encouragement to wait longer for the next wash.

He has to push the fears and anxiety back., a small step will go a long way.

take care

Max

Ulisse profile image
Ulisse in reply toUlisse

HI , here is a video on utube - I haven see it myself but it may be of some help.

youtube.com/watch?v=hmtdHV3...

Max

galgal profile image
galgal in reply toUlisse

He has problem with his family members and the one who are connected to their family.He has no problem with strangers and friends who are not connected to his family. He washes his hand when he touches an object which is also touched by their family members. In his home generally all objects are touched by his family members and he also use these object in day to day life , that's why he frequently washes his hands.

Sallyskins profile image
Sallyskins

I know how difficult this can be as I have the same problem. At its worst it has been 50, 60, 70 washes a day, over and over. In my case it is not so much germs and actual contamination as thought contamination, as though I am trying to wash off negative thoughts. It isn't as bad as it was, but the problem with contamination OCD is that you are afraid of touching something before washing your hands in case you contaminate something else. I'm afraid it is our old friend CBT that is the treatment.

A technique I learnt from my therapist is to think of the panic as like a wave, or clouds in the sky, or something like that. They reach a peak, or are directly overhead, but then they subside or drift off. That is a big help for me, knowing that I won't go on feeling the panic and that it will go. Another technique is to decide to worry about something not now, but at say half past five or whenever you choose. Half past five comes and goes, and you've forgotten! Perhaps also try getting as much done as you can without washing your hands and then let yourself wash them. That gets you more used to not washing them.

My hands have often become red and raw from washing them so often. Make sure you tell your friend to use a good hand cream at least once a day.

I hope this helps. Remember that most germs are good and harmless, and you don't want to be washing them all off.

galgal profile image
galgal

He has problem with his family members and the one who are connected to their family.He has no problem with strangers and friends who are not connected to his family. He washes his hand when he touches an object which is also touched by their family members. In his home generally all objects are touched by his family members and he also use these object in day to day life , that's why he frequently washes his hands.

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