The Connection Prescription: How to Plug into a Person in Pain without Shorting Out

Episode Title: The Connection Prescription: How to Plug into a Person in Pain without Shorting Out

Host: Dr. Vicki Rackner, MD

Summary: In today’s episode of the Free Me From OCD Podcast, Dr. Vicki Rackner discusses how to effectively connect with a loved one in pain, particularly those struggling with OCD. Drawing from personal experiences as a physician and mother of a son with OCD, she shares tools for reaching out with confidence, clarity, and compassion. This episode focuses on what caregivers can do differently to support their loved ones without feeling overwhelmed or "shorting out." Dr. Rackner introduces the Connection Prescription©️, a powerful method that helps caregivers provide comfort, strength, and hope.

Actionable Steps:

• Set Your Calm: When your OCD Warrior is in pain, calm your own nervous system first before responding.
• Be Present: Listen deeply and acknowledge your loved one’s pain without trying to fix it or minimize it.
• Stay Regulated: Learn tools to stay in a calm, regulated state even when your loved one is dysregulated.
• Join a Community: You don’t have to do this alone. Join a support group or community to share your experiences and learn from others.

Quotes:

• "Human connection is powerful medicine."
• "When you set your emotional thermostat to calm, you help your loved one catch your calm instead your catching their chaos."
• "The best way to help someone in pain is to say with your words and actions, 'I see you, I’m here, and together, we’ll get through this.'"

Connect with Dr. Vicki Rackner:

• Website: FreeMeFromOCD.org
• Social Media: Follow Dr. Rackner on Instagram and Facebook for more insights and resources on managing OCD.