Hanover — Living with the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder can be isolating, so an Upper Valley group aims to bring people with the condition together to share resources and support to improve their quality of life.

The Upper Valley OCD Support Group meets on the first Thursday of each month from 6-7 p.m. at Howe Library, 13 E. South St., Hanover. The group is co-facilitated by Dr. Christopher Spofford and Dr. Seoka Salstrom, clinical psychologists who specialize in the treatment of OCD and other anxiety-related disorders. Spofford said they began the group last year in order to spread information on OCD diagnosis and treatment, and to connect people with the disorder.

“Dr. Salstrom and myself have co-led these types of groups in other areas of the country and have noticed great benefit in connecting those diagnosed with OCD together in the hopes of establishing a support network and increasing the sharing of potentially useful information in dealing with this difficulty,” he said. “It also serves to decrease the stigma, shame and misconceptions often held about OCD.”

The group is open to people with OCD, even if they have not yet received a formal diagnosis. It also is open to family members and significant others.

“OCD can often affect those close to the individual as well,” Spofford said.

At the meetings, the facilitators and participants share information on OCD diagnosis, common symptoms, available treatments and helpful resources. Getting resources and support from peers can be valuable to people living with the condition, Spofford said.

“The group is not considered a treatment group per se, as we do not engage in formal treatment interventions during the group,” he added. “Nevertheless, group members report getting great benefit from the sharing of information and sense of support. This can really give individuals the sense that they are not alone and strong hope for recovery.”

OCD affects up to 3 million adults in the United States, and the condition is often more complicated than seemingly harmless behaviors like persistent hand-washing or checking the time, Spofford said.

“OCD is not a personality quirk or character trait,” he said. “It is oftentimes a severe and disabling condition, especially when left untreated.”

Spofford acknowledged that many people are nervous or hesitant to initially attend the support group. However, people are welcome to come and listen, and are never pressured to share their stories, he said. For people who can overcome their hesitation, the rewards of attending the group often are worth the initial discomfort, he said.

“Many of our members report that they feel great benefit and satisfaction when they were able to fight through this anxiety to attend,” he said. “Support groups such as this one can often assist substantially with the feelings of isolation and ‘different-ness’ that individuals with OCD feel.”

Editor’s note: For more information on the group, contact Spofford at Christopher.m.spofford@dartmouth.edu or Salstrom at ssalstrom@hanovercbt.com.