OCD Action

Katie O\'Kelly
Member

My sister is 27 and was always a little odd as a child. My parents divorced when she was 11 (I was 13) and this clearly had a bad effect on her. However, no one did anything. We all just accepted her for who she was.

When she was 19 she started to get conscelling herself, then the GP prescribed CBT and medication. We knew nothing of all this until she was no longer able hide her OCD symptoms. 3 years ago she had a complete breakdown - couldn't dress, feed, eat or toilet herself. Working was impossible and socialising with her church friends was only possible with considerable help from my Mum (who she lives with and who has become her carer).

This time last year, she came out of the Mordsley hosital after a 3 month stay and seemed improved. We found her a little voluntary job in a Christian bookshop one morning a week and although several everyday tasks were still very distressing, it seemed like there might be a light and the end of the tunnel.

But rather depressingly, as the year went on she began deteriorating. Our good for nothing local hopsital prescribed just 6 hours of therapy - spread over a couple of months. She deteriorated during these therapy periods and was then discharged! Unbelievable! She's now getting worse and worse and I just don't know what to do. It's so frustrating. She's been taught to skills for tackling OCD over and over again but doesn't seem strong enough to fight it. Her latest thought is that she can't exactly remember what the therapists taught her so doesn't want to try. It's all so distressing to watch.

The stress of xmas caused her to get very worked up. I always try very hard not to reassure her (despite her near constant questioning) so when I wouldn't stick my legs in the air for her to check round the sofa she was sitting on, she began shouting at the family. She yelled she was a terrible burden and that life wasn't worth living anymore.

I've never heard her say this before and am so upset. Is there nothing that can be done for her??? It all just feels so hopeless.

Her quality of life is miserable and I can't imagine a future in which she could ever move out of home, get a job and meet someone understanding enough to be her partner. She's never had a relationship before.

This can't be all there is???

Sun Jan 2 2011 20:04:47 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Katie,

Welcome to the forum

I'm sorry to hear that you’re so upset because your sister’s condition has deteriorated recently.

I’m not a professional but it does sound as if your sister might also be depressed, many of us express these feelings when the OCD gets to the point where we can’t cope. But with the right support and treatment things can and do improve.

As she has been to the Maudsley you could ask your local CMHT (Community Mental Health Team) to refer her back to the Maudsley, especially as with local treatment she has deteriorated.
Did she not get recordings of any of her therapy sessions that she could refer to? When I had treatment at the Maudsley I got recordings of the sessions so I refer to them at a later date.

Some people need more than one course of CBT in order to improve to any extent with their OCD and if you’re depressed it’s not easy to implement any CBT that you’ve been taught.

You can get more information on accessing treatment if you go to the following links on this site
http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/support-info/resources/
http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/files/2010/12/Referral-Final.pdf

I hope that this is of help.

Please use the forum for help and support from other members especially whilst things are so difficult for you.

Best wishes
Trudy

Sun Jan 2 2011 20:52:50 #
jo
Member

Hi Katie
Just to say welcome, I think Trudy covered all the important bits but if you need support this is a good place to find it, it might help your sister to.
Best wishes
Jo

Sun Jan 2 2011 21:30:45 #
aishah
Member

Hi Katie,

I'm so sorry that your sister is so unwell at the moment. With the right help things can get better and more manageable for her.

She needs to get more professional help and hopefully for longer this time. I was in the same situation your sister was in when I had a breakdown several years ago. Times can be very hard sometimes and it is a constant battle but things have improved for me and many others on the forum so it does happen and I think with the right help, things can improve for your sister too.

I think you are being a wonderful, caring sister and realise how distressing it must be to see your sister suffer like this, I alo have a sister that has mental health problems too.

I hope your sister gets more medical help soon and things can improve for her.

Take Care
Bridget

Mon Jan 3 2011 18:28:03 #
Lee
Member

Hi Kelly, My sister is going through exactly the same thing. My parents are completely distraught. She doesn't eat or drink for days and does not want to go to a hospital or even believes that she has OCD. I live abroad so I cant even lend a helping hand or a shoulder of support for my family. She is just 19. Reading your post described exactly the same symptoms. There doesn't really seem to be any support anywhere or doctors telling us what we should do.

Sun Jan 9 2011 21:22:20 #
Advocate 1
Moderator

Hello Kelly,

Please refer to NICE Guidelines ( best practice for treatment for OCD) which states the following ( in relation to the difficulties your sister is expereincing since discharge)

"OCD and BDD can have a fluctuating or episodic course, or relapse
may occur after successful treatment. Therefore, people who have
been successfully treated and discharged should be seen as soon
as possible if re-referred with further occurrences of OCD or BDD,
rather than placed on a routine waiting list. For those in whom there
has been no response to treatment, care coordination (or other
suitable processes) should be used at the end of any specific
treatment programme to identify any need for continuing support and
appropriate services to address it." ( section 1.7.1.2)

Please ring the advoacy service if you need to 0845 3906234 Jude ( Advocacy Manager)

Mon Jan 10 2011 9:10:38 #