Even if your child's OCD treatment is now a full-time job for you, it cannot occupy your mind full-time, or you will certainly burn out. In order to act preventively, you should take at least a half-hour each day for decompression from the demands of your multiple life roles. A half-hour each day is enough time for a walk or a gym workout, a meditation, a phone call with a good friend, or work on a favorite hobby. The key is to let your mind escape all OCD-related demands and caretaking duties for this thirty-minute period, every day.

Saying a gentle “No” and redirecting your child's attention elsewhere will be necessary in order to set the necessary boundaries for your own rest and recuperation in the course of the day. This simple response turns out to be easier said than done. By putting your own “time-out” in a regularly scheduled time slot, you can help your child cope with your temporary lack of availability to her. Developing a comfort level and a sense of confidence about saying “No” is a key tactic in the battle plan for preventing parental burnout.