How to Deal with OCD Partner?

You’ve taken an important step in the right direction by recognizing that there’s a problem with your partner’s behavior and that it needs to be addressed. Although any intimate relationship has its ups and downs, dating or having an intimate relation with someone who is affected by a chronic mental illness such as OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) can present some additional challenges as well as opportunities for growth. Above all, it is important to remember that an illness is what a person has, not who they are.

So, here are some few but helpful tips on how to deal with OCD partner:

Trust, Understand and Acceptance

It’s not unusual for people with OCD to hide the nature or ruthlessness of their symptoms from others – particularly those they may be engaged with romantically – for fear of embarrassment and rejection. If you are in a relationship with OCD, make it clear to your partner that it is something you are willing to talk about and want to understand more about. When your partner chooses to let it slip out to you, make sure you acknowledge how hard it must have been to tell you about them. Understanding and acceptance can go a long way toward building trust and intimacy.

Be Informed

Whether you are just dating someone with OCD means that you need to be up to speed with respect to the symptoms and treatment of the illness. On the surface, many of the obsessions and compulsions that go along with OCD can seem weird, illogical or even daunting. Understanding what the symptoms of OCD are and where they come from can go far off in helping you deal with them and to overthrow the overall stress level in your relationship. Additionally, it is important to realize that many people with OCD experience other forms of anxiety disorders or depression that can confuse the symptoms they experiences.

Respect their Privacy

While your partner might be comfortable disclosing the nature and severity of their symptoms to you, they may not be as comfortable discussing these issues with family, friends or co-workers. Never assume that other people in your partner’s life know that they have OCD. An outwardly harmless comment to a friend or family member of your partner could end up being very cruel or uneasy, weaken trust in the relationship or have other unintentional consequences.

Be Honest  

Being in a relationship with OCD or dating with OCD means understanding that while symptoms can often be managed quite effectively, they may never be cured. If you have concerns or are feeling overwhelmed by your partner’s symptoms, talk about this with your partner openly and honestly. This is in particular important if you believe or know that your partner’s obsessions and/or compulsions relate to you and/or matters of sexual intimacy.

Communication is very important and can go a long way in avoiding a series of misunderstandings that could eventually lead to inconsistency or even break-up. If you do not feel that you are able to talk about such issues with your partner, bounce your thoughts off a trusted friend to try to get a different standpoint. Remember, any relationship – not just one with someone with OCD – is about balancing your personal needs with the needs of the relationship.