OCD support group in Heywood

An Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) support group in Heywood , set up in 2006, is currently low on numbers.

Bernie Glover, facilitator of the group, wants people to know that the group is still around and can help people that need it.

Bernie said: “There are a lot of people with OCD and not many clinical psychologists. Support groups are very helpful with OCD and sometimes the general public just don’t understand.”

Bernie, who is a sufferer of OCD, currently runs the group on a Wednesday morning between 10.00am and 12.00pm at Recovery Republic, 63-65 York Street, Heywood.

Bernie hopes to encourage more people to attend the group and knows exactly what kind of things can help sufferers. “I underwent cognitive therapy myself and found it very useful. It is sometimes the simplest of things that help the most.”

During group sessions, people are asked to explain what type of OCD they suffer from and how it affects them, their life, their family and their friends. There are also elements of self assessment and cognitive therapy to help suffers.

The group is also supported by OCD Action. OCD Action is a nationwide support group based in London for suffers for OCD.

The group that Bernie currently runs is voluntary.

Bernie also hopes to set up another group in Middleton but doesn’t yet know how long it will take. “How long is a piece of string?” said Bernie. “I just hope it is something I can get going.” She hopes to run the Middleton group from Market Place.

OCD affects 12 in 1000 people (1.2% of the population) from young children to adults. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety related condition where a person experiences frequent and unwelcome obsessional thoughts, often followed by repetitive compulsions, impulses or urges.