OCD Action

Lee
Member

Hello, My sister has been diagnosed with OCD, she is 19 and her condition has progressively got worse to the point where she does not eat or drink for days. My parents are distraught, my mother who has become the primary carer is at her wits end, and for months has been driving for 8-10 hours a day for my sister to enable her to get her head together so she can at least have some water. Unfortunately I live abroad and I feel helpless but more worrying I feel that my sister is systematically and slowly killing herself. I don't mean to be dramatic but the effects that the cycle of not eating or drinking for days must be having on her organs and her health must be devastating. She is extremely skinny and will also not go to the toilet for days. My parents have tried to get her into the Priory Hospital in North London just last week. But she became hysterical and after 3 days of not eating or drinking because of the anxiety they decided to take her back home to try and get her to drink again. The problem is that she does not believe that she has OCD, that it is something else and no one understands, any doctor or psychiatrist that approaches the subject she immediately takes a dislike to and will not see them again. Because she doesn't want believe she needs curing no one seems to know what to do. The big problem is that my family don't seem to be getting any support or advice. Are they doing the right thing, should she be going to The Priory, or should she go to another hospital? Should she be sectioned, something which my parents have tried to avoid. Forcing her against her will to a hospital will only compound the situation. No hospital, social services or the hospital seem to take ownership, and in the meantime I'm concerned for my mothers own health.

There really seems like there is no hope, and that only one outcome as awful as it is to even suggest.

Lee

Sun Jan 9 2011 21:15:09 #
jo
Member

Have PM'd you

Sun Jan 9 2011 21:24:49 #
aishah
Member

Hi Lee,

I'm so sorry for you and your family right now, the effects of severe OCD can be very devastating and affect everyone around the person suffering.

It may seem hard to believe right now, but things can get better for your sister when the right help is available to her. It will take time and a lot of support from all around is needed. She is fortunate to have such a caring mother and brother around but professional help is much needed at the moment.

Not knowing much about your sister, I'm not too sure what to say. Most of us on this forum have ongoing support from the CMHT and are also helped by medication. Can you say if your sister is on any form of medication?

If so, then maybe it is not the right one for her and may need to be changed.

The forum is here to offer support for you and your family and I hope it helps to know that, it has certainly helped me when I have been in crisis like your sister seems to be now.

Let us know how things are going.

Take Care
Bridget

Sun Jan 9 2011 22:42:17 #
Lee
Member

thank you Bridget, Gemma is not on any medication. I think that the key issue is that she does not accept that she has OCD. She thinks its something else and that no one understands her condition. Therefore every time a psychiatrist approaches the issue she takes and immediate dislike and will get hysterical. Apparently taking her to the hospital was the worst because she completely broke down in fear, shivering and crying on the floor, screaming that this would kill her because the anxiety would cause her not to eat, drink or go to the toilet. Thank you for your help and concern, I need to get my family on this forum. i think my mothers main concern is that sectioning her or forcing her to a hospital at the moment only makes it worse. There is a limit to how long she can go without drinking anything. So after 3 days in the Priory clinic and with no immediate solution over that weekend, hence the potential of another two days without water, my mother took her home. Calming her down and starting the car runs again so Gemma can get her head together in order to drink. There is a feeling that the condition wont, and that your dammed if you do and dammed if you dont.
Unfortunately I am based abroad so there is absolutely nothing I can do and my presence in he house only increases her anxiety, because I am someone outside of her small circle of care.
There really isn't much trust in the system right now and whether anyone really knows what they are doing. Leaving her in a hospital where we know she will get worse, wont eat or drink, therefore we know that they will have to force feed her, which in itself will cause more trauma, I guess my parents are scared that this would only result in a viscous cycle. What really seems to be lacking to me is professionals taking ownership and telling them what they should do.

Lee
lee

Mon Jan 10 2011 7:04:54 #
Advocate 1
Moderator

Hello Lee,

The Advocacy number is 0845 390 6234, if you would like further info on some of the areas you have raised in your e mails.You can also e mail the Advocacy Service directly on jude@ocdaction.org.uk. For general support, any family member can phone our helpline on 0845 3906232.
Best wishes
Jude Wynne - Advocacy Manager OCD Action.

Mon Jan 10 2011 7:40:35 #
Tiredracoon
Member

Lee i just read your post and im sorry
Is she getting any better

-Tiredracoon

Sun Apr 24 2011 6:39:17 #
playthoseblues
Member

Hi Lee,

It's taken me some time to get used to me having OCD.

I am really sorry for your sister and your family.

I hope things turn around soon.

Jon

Sun Apr 24 2011 7:47:40 #