Howo to help a person suffereing from OCD?

A close friend of mine recently confided in me that she suffers from OCD. She told me that everyday she partakes in rituals that she knows herself are "dumb" but that she needs to do them each day in order to function.

What can I do to help her? Should I intervene when she starts to do her rituals? Should I recommend that she go see a doctor about her condition? Perhaps get her on some medication?

She has told me that in the past, her mother doesnt think that she needs to seek medical help because her OCD was "no big deal." I dont want her to suffer from this anymore because its tearing her apart

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

[compassionate1]

While we have been told not to give out any medical advice, I can say that mental illness is a sickness just as heart disease or any other ailment for that matter. My husband has OCD and would not be able to funtion properly without his meds. The best advice you can offer your friend is to seek out the medical advice of a physician who specializes in this field.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

She must see her family doctor who will either prescribe for her or refer her on. I am extremely compulsive, to the extent that, without medication, it sometimes interferes with my ability to function.

[ritaPHIL]

usually with ocd we gave anxiolytic but with doctors order