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OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

OCD is identified by obsessions (excessive thoughts) that lead to compulsions (repetitive behaviors)

Quick Guide

Symptoms of OCD usually appear in early childhood and develop into adulthood. 

Quick Guide

What is OCD?

What is OCD?

As kids grow, they may create rituals or routines that have a purpose and focus. For example, school children have routines around meals, daily activities, and bedtime. Some kids have rituals with their friends, like greeting one another with the same unique handshake every time or wearing lucky socks or saying specific cheers while playing sports. These rituals help secure children’s view of the world as well as teach
them important lessons about socialization as well as how to cope with distress. As they age, rituals that helped soothe someone in childhood can become more “fixed” and something that made them feel safe, like washing their hands regularly or repeating a specific cheer or saying for luck, can take up time and energy from other activities or taking healthy risks. When they become older, they may collect little objects and develop a hobby or certain passion.  

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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety condition that can appear in people of all ages. All kids may worry, but kids with OCD are not able to stop, and they are compelled to behave a certain way over and over again to help relieve that distress even for a short amount of time. This creates a cycle of obsessions and compulsions.

Signs of OCD

Signs of OCD

Here is an example of someone with OCD:

Some common obsessions include:

  • Fear of dirt or germs

  • Fear of contamination

  • A need for symmetry, order, and exactness

  • Religious obsessions

  • Preoccupation with body wastes

  • Lucky and unlucky numbers

  • Aggressive thoughts

  • Fear of illness or harm coming to themselves or their family

  • Preoccupation with household items

  • Unwelcome/interrupting sounds or words

Because of these obsessions, kids may feel compelled to go through:

  • Grooming rituals, including hand washing, showering, and teeth brushing

  • Repeating rituals, including going in and out of doorways, needing to move through spaces in a special way, or rereading, erasing, and rewriting

  • Checking rituals to make sure that an appliance is off or a door is locked, and repeatedly checking homework

  • Rituals to undo contact with a “contaminated” person or object

  • Touching rituals

  • Rituals to prevent harming self or others

  • Ordering or arranging objects

  • Counting rituals

  • Collecting things of no apparent value

  • Cleaning rituals related to the house or other items

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Keep in mind that having OCD does not mean that you are simply a 'neat freak' or a 'germaphobe.' Symptoms of OCD often cause mental conflict, and can take a toll on the the affected person.

Treatments

Treatments

The two main treatments for OCD are therapy and medication​

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  • Talk Therapy (Psychotherapy/Psycho counseling)

    • CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

      • This involves talking with a therapist to reduce anxiety/OCD symptoms​

      • CBT is the most effective psychotherapy for OCD

  • Medication - Talk to your doctor for more information

    • Antidepressants 

    • Anxiolytics

    • SSRIs

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Coping Skills

Stress is one of the key factors that significantly increase OCD, so it is important to learn how to keep your stress level down. If you or someone that you know has anxiety, there are many different coping strategies.

  • Keep a Journal for OCD

    • This can help you keep track of your triggers, and what your solution is to them

  • Try Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

    • Expose yourself to a situation that may trigger you, and do not engage in your compulsion

      • Work your way from smaller compulsions to larger ones, and if at any point you feel extremely uncomfortable, stop​

      • This will work better with a therapist guiding you

  • Try taking quick breaks to refocus your attention on positive things

Coping Skills

References:

7 strategies to cope with OCD. Family Psychiatry & Therapy. (2020, February 28). Retrieved May 18, 2022, from https://familypsychnj.com/2017/07/7-strategies-cope-ocd/

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What are signs of OCD in children and teens? (n.d.). Retrieved May 19, 2022, from https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2013/08/what-are-signs-of-ocd-in-children-and-teens

 

What is OCD? International OCD Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved May 18, 2022, from https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/

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