10 ways to support someone with OCD
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects millions, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. Commonly reduced to stereotypes, such as the need for order or cleanliness, OCD is much more complex.
It involves persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive actions (compulsions) that are often an attempt to alleviate intense anxiety. Lounge spoke to mental health professionals to get insights on how one can offer meaningful, informed support to those living with OCD. One of the first steps in offering support is educating yourself about OCD beyond popular misconceptions.
“OCD is commonly mistaken for a quirk or a heightened sense of neatness," explains Dr. Neerja Aggarwal, co-founder of Emoneeds, a digital mental health platform based in Delhi. “In reality, OCD is a clinical disorder marked by intrusive thoughts and anxiety-driven compulsions.
These behaviors range from excessive checking and counting to avoiding certain actions that might seem irrational but are crucial for the person coping with it." Dr. Kersi Chavda, consultant psychiatrist at P. D.
Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai adds that misconceptions can deepen the stigma. “OCD is often dismissed as just being overly neat or organized, but the reality is it encompasses a broad range of behaviors and thoughts, all driven by intense anxiety," he says. Clearing up these misconceptions fosters understanding and reduces the shame many with OCD experience.
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