Sister's OCD is destroying my parents

[Anonymous]

I guess I am just venting here since I have no sholder to cry on!
My sister has been suffering from Obsessive Compulsive for years (10 to be exact). Bizarre thoughts come to her head and she wont let go of them until another one starts. We have done everything, medication, psychotherapy, you name it. My brother and I, both married, are constantly on teh phone with her when thethoughts get worse to calm her down. I have no problem talking to her to calm her down; She is my little sister any ways. But I feel for my parents who live with her. Over the last year her symptoms got worse and I can not put it into words the toll it has taken on my parents. I feel like they both suddenly aged. My father once told me He can not even think about dying in peace, because e is worried what will happen to my sister after him. They are putting all they have in a saving so that when they are gone, somebody will take care of my sister because she, who by the way has a degree in engineering, has become so diysfunctional that can not hold a job anymore!
Needless to say how heart wrenching it is to see a loved one, so young suffer through life like that, I am now seeing my parents die in front of my eyes.
Sitting here helplessly thinking how I can bring a shred of happiness or a glimer of hope to their lives!
What are your thoughts? is there anyway I can help my sister?

[Anonymous]

Hi OP, I'm so sorry for your situation and what it's doing to your family.

I don't have much advice to share but have you scoured the research/internet to see if there's some other treatment you may have missed? Are there any group home settings that might work for her?

[Anonymous]

Maybe they need to seek out more specialized services. Has she done inpatient treatment on a unit specializing in OCD?

OCD can be absolutely debilitating however it is treatable and with enough intensive expertise they should be able to at least get it under control.

[Anonymous]

Where do they live OP?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all for your word of support. PP, I live in northen VA-Falls church.

[Anonymous]

I have a cousin with OCD. Is she on meds? My cousins first therapist just did CBT and it wasnt enough. She needs meds. She still has symptoms that control her life way too much but she is doing much better. It took a lot of drug tweaking, tho, to get to this point.

[Anonymous]

OP here-pp doyou happen to know what your cousins meds are? my sis was on fluxatin as anti depressant. By just researching online, I am strating to believe her body has gotten used to the meds over the years.

[Anonymous]

Where do your sister and parents live?

What treatments have they tried already?

Is her psychiatrist someone who specializes in OCD?

[Anonymous]

OP, when was the last time she saw someone to be diagnosed. Perhaps there is more than just OCD going on.

[Anonymous]

OP, they can't take this much responsibility. Her disease is literally killing them. She is an adult and at this point should be hospitalized or living in a group home.

[Anonymous]

Have you taken her to Hopkins for an evaluation and 2nd opinion on her treatment? Will be worth the trip.

http://m.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/specialty_areas/obsessive_compulsive_disorder/

[Anonymous]

OP here- Thanks all. Thank you PP. I will definitely look into this! I firmly believe part of the problem with her treatment is that she doesn't take it seriously (mostly due to added depression). She just continues in status quo with no stamina to change. All the docs comment that most phsychological problems respond to treatment only if the patient is cooperative and she is not.

[Anonymous]

My older sister (42) has OCD that manifested in her early 20's. My mom, when she lived in the DC area, went to a support group/meetings for family members of people suffering with OCD. Would there be anything like that near where your parents are? Might talking with others and perhaps pooling information about treatment centers etc help at all? I think my Mom found them good.

Good Luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- Thanks all. Thank you PP. I will definitely look into this! I firmly believe part of the problem with her treatment is that she doesn't take it seriously (mostly due to added depression). She just continues in status quo with no stamina to change. All the docs comment that most phsychological problems respond to treatment only if the patient is cooperative and she is not.

I once dated a guy with OCD and my sibling who is a psychiatrist told me that it is very hard to treat. I think you can only hope to ameliorate the problem, not solve it completely.