Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) help and support
Concerned about having OCD? We’re here to help.
You don’t need Bupa health insurance to turn to us for support. We’ve put together lots of information and advice on dealing with OCD.
Living with OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a condition where you will be experiencing obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. Dealing with OCD can be tough for the person who has it as well as those around them. Normal life can become exhausting.
Part of OCD involves unwanted, often overwhelming thoughts or urges (obsessions) that play over and over again. The other part involves repeated behaviours (compulsions) following those thoughts, like excessive hand-washing or saying certain things in your head.
Our video describes some common OCD symptoms and offers self-help tips for anyone living with OCD.
What is OCD?
OCD is an anxiety disorder that consists of obsessions and compulsions.
Someone with OCD may experience unwanted repetitive thoughts, often accompanied by high levels of anxiety, a sense of responsibility and guilt.
Common obsessions that affect people with OCD include fear of deliberately harming yourself or others.
Fear of harming yourself or others by mistake.
Fear of contamination by disease or infection.
A need for symmetry or orderliness.
Compulsions begin as a way of trying to reduce or prevent anxiety caused by the obsessive thoughts.
These compulsions can include: cleaning and hand washing, checking, counting, ordering and arranging, hoarding, asking for reassurance, repeating words in their head, thinking neutralizing thoughts
to counter obsessive thoughts, avoiding places and situations that could trigger obsessive thoughts.
Here are some coping strategies you could use to support people with OCD.
Communication is key at this difficult time.
It may be helpful to have regular family meetings to discuss how you'll support one another.
People may need time to themselves; try and create an area where family members can have quiet time.
If space doesn't allow, discuss how each person wants to be supported in having quiet time.
If you notice these symptoms yourself, create individual support plans.
Ask yourself: how can I help myself when I'm feeling worried or distressed?
What positive distractions can help me?
How can I let my family know that I'm struggling?
What will help me feel supported?
Communicating and sharing your thoughts with someone you trust will help.
It may be that they have encountered a similar problem and can talk you through how they manage this.
Whatever's on your mind we can help.
Tips for dealing with OCD
Living with OCD can be upsetting when it interferes with normal life. However, there are some effective treatments for OCD that can help reduce the impact it has on your life, standard treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy and antidepressants can really help.
Find out about OCD
If you’re living with OCD, it’s helpful to try and understand your condition. It’s also good to seek support as early as you can.
Practise mindfulness
This three-minute podcast teaches you a mindfulness breathing exercise. It’s a technique you can turn to whenever you’re struggling with OCD.
Hear it on your desktop via your usual browser or download a podcast app to listen on your mobile.
How to challenge negative thoughts
Sometimes, we can get trapped into patterns of negative thinking. Challenging those patterns isn’t easy, because they’ve become a habit. But our article suggests two important questions to ask yourself and thinking about them may help you.
Getting OCD help for children
Talk to our Family Mental HealthLine
If you’re insured with Bupa and you’re worried about a young person you’re close to, just pick up the phone and talk to us. Have you noticed a worrying change in their mood or traits? Trust your instincts.
Looking for OCD help for a child?
Children can experience persistent thoughts and obsessional thinking/traits. They can feel overwhelmed and even more confused and upset by their behaviours than adults do. This video has lots of tips to help children living with OCD.
What is OCD?
OCD is an anxiety disorder that consists of obsessions and compulsions.
Someone with OCD may experience unwanted repetitive thoughts, often accompanied by high levels of anxiety, a sense of responsibility and guilt.
If you notice that your child is suffering with OCD, here are some coping strategies that might.
Having a traffic light system enables your child to share a colour, picture that represents an emotion without necessarily having to speak about how they're feeling.
The worry jar enables the child to visually see that once the worry has been addressed, it doesn't need to be a worry any longer.
A brave jar.
Allowing your child to focus on a positive thing they have achieved that day.
This will help promote increased confidence, and self-esteem.
Keeping a diary of what they were doing when they began feeling anxious, helps to identify what triggers these feelings.
Also teaching them how to manage these situations in the future.
Using ice, having your child hold a couple of ice cubes in their hands helps the mind focus on the sensation of coldness rather than any distressing thoughts or feelings.
Grounding techniques are a coping strategy, which help you feel reconnected with reality.
The following can help young people to feel back in control of their emotions.
Tell yourself you are safe and that these feelings will pass.
Acknowledge five things you can see.
Acknowledge four things you can touch.
Acknowledge three things you can hear.
Acknowledge two things you can smell.
If you don't have the right things around you to complete the steps just mentioned, then ask yourself questions such as: where in the world is cold?
Find Bupa-recognised mental health professionals near you
Our Finder tool lets you browse the directory of Bupa-recognised consultants, psychologists, therapists, counsellors and other professionals.
You don’t need to be a Bupa health insurance customer to see them, just make your own appointment and pay independently.
If you’re in a crisis or just need some help, don’t hesitate. Here are some really helpful organisations that you can turn to for support.
Samaritans
When life is difficult, Samaritans are there – day or night, 365 days a year. Whoever you are and whatever you’re facing, they won’t judge you or tell you what to do. They’re there to listen so you don’t have to face it alone.
Call free day or night on
116 123 (UK and ROI)
Mind
Mind is a charity dedicated to mental health. They exist to make sure no one has to face a mental health problem alone. They’ll listen to you and offer support and advice.
0300 123 3393
Lines open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays
Young Minds
YoungMinds is the UK’s leading charity for children’s and young people's mental health. You can text Crisis Messenger for free 24/7 and get support from trained volunteers who are supervised by experienced clinicians. Texts are free from most major mobile networks.
For urgent help, text YM to 85258
Mental Health Foundation
This charity helps people understand, protect and sustain their mental health. The ‘Your mental health’ section has lots of useful content, including podcasts about mindfulness and overcoming anxiety.
Rethink Mental Illness
Rethink offers crisis and recovery services, advocacy, online resources, support groups and much more. Each year, they help tens of thousands of people manage their mental wellbeing.
0300 5000 927
Lines open 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday
Mental health support as part of Bupa health insurance
I’m already a Bupa health insurance customer
If mental health is included in your Bupa health insurance, we can refer you to a consultant or therapist, and you may not even have to see your GP first†. Or we can put you through to one of our mental health nurses.
0808 256 1766^
^Calls may be recorded and to maintain the quality of our service we may monitor some of our calls, always respecting the confidentiality of the call.
I’m not a Bupa customer, but I’m interested in health insurance
If you’re looking for mental health support as part of a broader health insurance policy, we can look after you, your family, or your employees.
†Any onward referrals for consultations, tests or treatment are subject to the benefits and exclusions of your cover. For example, if your cover excludes conditions you had before your cover started, we may ask for further information from your GP. Please check your guide and certificate for further details or contact us to check your eligibility.
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