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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

How can other people help? 

This section is for friends and family who want to support someone who has obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). 

If someone you love has OCD, knowing how to support them can be hard. You may struggle to understand their experiences, or feel that their obsessions and compulsions get in the way of daily life. 

But your support and understanding can make a big difference, and there are things you can do to help. 

Be open about OCD 

Your loved one may find it difficult to talk about their obsessions and compulsions. They may have kept them secret for a long time and be very worried about your reaction. 

It can help to acknowledge this and encourage them to talk about their experience in a way that feels comfortable to them. 

  • Be patient. Remember that their fears are very real to them, even if they seem unrealistic, irrational or extreme to you. 
  • Don’t judge. It can be upsetting to hear about some obsessive thoughts, but if you act shocked or judge them, they will be less likely to share their thoughts and feelings with you in future. Make it clear that you love and support them regardless. 
  • Find out as much as you can about OCD. This will help you understand what your loved one is going through. You can read more about OCD on OCD & Anxiety Support Hong Kong’s website. 

“I could feel loved ones’ frustration at my need to still carry out these compulsions, despite us both knowing it was illogical.” 

Work out how to deal with compulsions together 

One of the hardest things about supporting someone with OCD is how to deal with their compulsions. You may find yourself helping them (this is sometimes called accommodation). For example: 

  • helping them carry out their compulsions 
  • offering reassurance about their obsessive thoughts and behaviours. 

Refusing to help can increase someone’s anxiety and makes things more difficult for both of you. But helping someone with their compulsions is usually not helpful in the long term. Every time someone acts on a compulsion (including asking for reassurance), it reinforces the belief that the compulsion is the only way to deal with their anxiety. 

Treatment for OCD helps people learn that their anxiety will reduce naturally, even if compulsions are not completed. 

“Your first thought is why aren’t they helping me check … but if you step back, breathe you realise they are not helping because they care.” 

How can we manage compulsions in other ways? 

Try and work out some alternatives together. Your approach might depend on what your loved one thinks about their compulsions and whether they are receiving treatment. Here are some things you could try: 

  • Agree on an approach that feels right for you both. For example, you might decide that you will say ‘we’ve agreed I won’t answer questions like that to help you overcome your OCD’. 
  • Encourage them to challenge compulsions where appropriate. For example, instead of offering reassurance, you could try and help them think about why they want to do a compulsion again. 
  • Offer a hug or other emotional support instead of helping with a compulsion. 
  • Seek advice. If they are getting treatment, you could both talk to their doctor or therapist about how to manage compulsions. 
  • Accept that sometimes it will be impossible not to offer reassurance or to help with a compulsion. 

“My husband knows he has to tell me when I start collecting things and my daughter will remind me by asking if something is what I want or an OCD problem.” 

Help them to access treatment 

Your loved one may find it difficult to talk to their doctor about their OCD and seek treatment. Here are some ways you could support them: 

  • Remind them that the appointment will be confidential and the GP is there to help them access treatment. Offering to go with them could also help make things easier. You can read more about supporting someone to seek help here. 
  • Some parts of treatment for OCD can be challenging. During treatment, your friend or family member may be agitated, tired, anxious or depressed. Ask them what you can do to make things easier during this difficult time. 
  • They may feel that things will never get better, especially if they are finding treatment hard or their symptoms come back. You can offer hope. Remind them that most people with OCD do benefit from treatment. 

Look after yourself 

Supporting someone with OCD can be frustrating and upsetting at times. Make sure you take time to look after yourself too. 

You may find it helpful to share experiences, ask questions and get support from other people in the same situation. The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation website – Carer Support Services and HK FamilyLink Mental Health Advocacy Association have sections in their forum for family, friends and carers, or you may be able to attend a support group. 

You can find out more about looking after yourself on our pages on supporting someone else and improving your wellbeing.

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

How can other people help?

How can other people help? 

This section is for friends and family who want to support someone who has obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). 

If someone you love has OCD, knowing how to support them can be hard. You may struggle to understand their experiences, or feel that their obsessions and compulsions get in the way of daily life. 

But your support and understanding can make a big difference, and there are things you can do to help. 

Be open about OCD 

Your loved one may find it difficult to talk about their obsessions and compulsions. They may have kept them secret for a long time and be very worried about your reaction. 

It can help to acknowledge this and encourage them to talk about their experience in a way that feels comfortable to them. 

  • Be patient. Remember that their fears are very real to them, even if they seem unrealistic, irrational or extreme to you. 
  • Don’t judge. It can be upsetting to hear about some obsessive thoughts, but if you act shocked or judge them, they will be less likely to share their thoughts and feelings with you in future. Make it clear that you love and support them regardless. 
  • Find out as much as you can about OCD. This will help you understand what your loved one is going through. You can read more about OCD on OCD & Anxiety Support Hong Kong’s website. 

“I could feel loved ones' frustration at my need to still carry out these compulsions, despite us both knowing it was illogical.” 

Work out how to deal with compulsions together 

One of the hardest things about supporting someone with OCD is how to deal with their compulsions. You may find yourself helping them (this is sometimes called accommodation). For example: 

  • helping them carry out their compulsions 
  • offering reassurance about their obsessive thoughts and behaviours. 

Refusing to help can increase someone’s anxiety and makes things more difficult for both of you. But helping someone with their compulsions is usually not helpful in the long term. Every time someone acts on a compulsion (including asking for reassurance), it reinforces the belief that the compulsion is the only way to deal with their anxiety. 

Treatment for OCD helps people learn that their anxiety will reduce naturally, even if compulsions are not completed. 

“Your first thought is why aren't they helping me check ... but if you step back, breathe you realise they are not helping because they care.” 

How can we manage compulsions in other ways? 

Try and work out some alternatives together. Your approach might depend on what your loved one thinks about their compulsions and whether they are receiving treatment. Here are some things you could try: 

  • Agree on an approach that feels right for you both. For example, you might decide that you will say 'we've agreed I won't answer questions like that to help you overcome your OCD'. 
  • Encourage them to challenge compulsions where appropriate. For example, instead of offering reassurance, you could try and help them think about why they want to do a compulsion again. 
  • Offer a hug or other emotional support instead of helping with a compulsion. 
  • Seek advice. If they are getting treatment, you could both talk to their doctor or therapist about how to manage compulsions. 
  • Accept that sometimes it will be impossible not to offer reassurance or to help with a compulsion. 

“My husband knows he has to tell me when I start collecting things and my daughter will remind me by asking if something is what I want or an OCD problem.” 

Help them to access treatment 

Your loved one may find it difficult to talk to their doctor about their OCD and seek treatment. Here are some ways you could support them: 

  • Remind them that the appointment will be confidential and the GP is there to help them access treatment. Offering to go with them could also help make things easier. You can read more about supporting someone to seek help here. 
  • Some parts of treatment for OCD can be challenging. During treatment, your friend or family member may be agitated, tired, anxious or depressed. Ask them what you can do to make things easier during this difficult time. 
  • They may feel that things will never get better, especially if they are finding treatment hard or their symptoms come back. You can offer hope. Remind them that most people with OCD do benefit from treatment. 

Look after yourself 

Supporting someone with OCD can be frustrating and upsetting at times. Make sure you take time to look after yourself too. 

You may find it helpful to share experiences, ask questions and get support from other people in the same situation. The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation website - Carer Support Services and HK FamilyLink Mental Health Advocacy Association have sections in their forum for family, friends and carers, or you may be able to attend a support group. 

You can find out more about looking after yourself on our pages on supporting someone else and improving your wellbeing.