Create a Supportive Home Environment:

The home is often the primary setting of compulsions, and is also generally the 'haven of avoidance' for the anxiety sufferer. The less tension that in 'in the air' the better. If there are significant conflicts in some the family relationships, it would be very helpful to the sufferer if these conflicts are worked through and resolved - including those conflicts that include the sufferer.

Ask your family member to tell you when she is having a particularly hard day.

Your family member's symptoms may flare up when her anxiety is high, she is depress, or when she is stressed about something. Offer what support you can, and be flexible in terms of what you are expecting from the sufferer on that day.

If you notice improvements, however small, acknowledge them, and encourage the sufferer to reward themselves for the progress. Fro example cutting down a hand washing routine by 5 minutes, or reducing a checking ritual from 50 checks to 40 checks may seem insignificant, but represents a great step forward by the sufferer. Your recognition and praise will encourage her to keep trying.

Try to maintain a non-judgemental and accepting attitude toward the sufferer. A non-judgemental attitude from you and all the family, to sufferer, and avoidance or personal criticism, will enable the sufferer to focus her efforts at coping and getting well, rather than expending her efforts in dealing with anger and resentment.

Laugher is good medicine.

When the sufferer is doing well, and having a good day, a bit of humour and laughter - offered with sensitivity, is great balm to soothe away some of the painful feelings and thought which arise.

Be patient.

None of the treatments or self-help programmes that are available for sufferers provide quick 'cures' - or even immediate relief. Recovery is a slow and gradual process. Be prepared to support the sufferer on a long-term recovery programme, and don't make day-to-day comparisons. Recovery always includes slips and set-backs - the important thing is that the set-back isn't interpreted as failure. The guilt and stress that will arise from thoughts and feeling of failure could make the set-back much more difficult to overcome, than if it is viewed as an opportunity to learn.

There can be no simple, straight-forward plan that will smooth away every rock on the road to recovery. Every person who has OCD, and every family who has a sufferer as a member, has a different set of symptoms and circumstances to deal with, different relationships, different personalities and a whole complex array of different influences, Try these ideas and strategies, and draw upon all the resources and support that you have. Slowly, but surely, you and sufferer will discover the treatments and self-help strategies and ideas that will work for you."

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