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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jerrympls on June 9, 2006, at 5:01:26
HI everyone-
My younger brother (30yrs old) has been battling OCD since he was 13. He had been very stubborn about getting treatment for it until recently. He broke down and told me that his compusions and obessive behaviors are so bad that he can barely function. He doesn't have insurance so I've been trying to help him out the best I can. I recently bought him a book called "The OCD Workbook" which came highly recommended. I sent it to him and after he got it he called ( i wasn't home) and left a distressing voicemail message. Apparently in the introduction of the book it states that OCD cannot be cured. Well, apparently his expectations were that OCD COULD be cured and that he'd have some peace at last. His message was basically him crying - almost out of control - because of the "non-curable" statement. I called him back as soon as I got the message and explained that what the book was trying to say was that OCD like other mental illnesses is like diabetes - where you can take medication and therapy to control the symptoms and achieve remission - but he doesn't understand this. He thinks that now he'll be plagued by his OCD forever.
How can I better explain remission vs. cure for him? He feels extremely hopless now that he'll never get better and it really worries me that he's in such turmoil over this. I guess he thought that the book would have information on how to "cure" his OCD - but he's missing the point and I don't know who to explain it to him.
Can anyone help me?? I really need some advice ASAP - he's in bad shape. BTW - he lives in the Chicago area and DESPERATELY needs to start seeing a therapist - but where to go when he has no insurance????
PLEASE - someone help me....
Thanks in advance!
Jerry
Posted by Phil on June 9, 2006, at 6:20:54
In reply to NEED HELP: Brother devastated about his OCD, posted by jerrympls on June 9, 2006, at 5:01:26
jerry, Maybe this could be a place to start.
Posted by greywolf on June 9, 2006, at 7:11:20
In reply to Re: NEED HELP: Brother devastated about his OCD » jerrympls, posted by Phil on June 9, 2006, at 6:20:54
Maybe OCF Chicago can help. www.ocfchicago.org.
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 9, 2006, at 8:34:25
In reply to NEED HELP: Brother devastated about his OCD, posted by jerrympls on June 9, 2006, at 5:01:26
remission: symptoms go away, but could eventually come back
cure: a remission where the symptoms didn't come backNote to brother: you can't tell them apart.
Jerr, did you talk to him about magnesium? It might be the family genetic weakness, ya know.
Lar
Posted by Phillipa on June 9, 2006, at 22:22:03
In reply to Re: NEED HELP: Brother devastated about his OCD » jerrympls, posted by Larry Hoover on June 9, 2006, at 8:34:25
When stress is high my OCD is too. Love Phillipa A therapist can help
Posted by TexasChic on June 10, 2006, at 17:01:19
In reply to Re: NEED HELP: Brother devastated about his OCD, posted by greywolf on June 9, 2006, at 7:11:20
I agree your best bet is to get him to a therapist asap. I'm not knowledgable about free ones, but I know they exist. Hopefully what the previous posters said will help there. He needs someone who's been trained to deal with this type of thing. There's no way you could just instinctively know how to deal with it.
Good luck! I hope you find help soon.
-T
Posted by jerrympls on June 11, 2006, at 2:28:38
In reply to Re: NEED HELP: Brother devastated about his OCD, posted by TexasChic on June 10, 2006, at 17:01:19
Thanks everyone - but I need to be able to tell him something so that he doesn't feel so hopeless.
This is the end of the thread.
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