Danielle Jhiani explains the most important thing you can do for someone with OCD: stop engaging with it. Don't ask about their obsessions, participate in their compulsions, or offer reassurance. Instead, encourage them to get ERP treatment and support their ability to sit with uncertainty.
The number one thing you can do to help somebody who has OCD is to stop engaging with the ocd. Don't ask about what your loved one's obsessions are, the thoughts, doubts or fears are, but giving them attention is going to feed ocd. It's okay to ask how they're doing, but be careful about putting too much focus on their feelings. You want to not participate in your loved one's compulsions. Compulsions are the things that they're doing to get certainty or perfection. When they're asking you for reassurance to make decisions for them, make sure you're allowing them to make decisions for themselves. Getting comfortable with uncertainty is important for those with ocd. If they're not getting the proper help, encourage them to check out my website or find another ERP specialist who can help them learn recovery tools. As they get the treatment, their OCD is going to get better.
