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Behavioural / Mental Health conditions
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - (OCD)
What is OCD?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is a mental health disorder that is characterised by Obsessions and/or Compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that cause distress or anxiety.
Compulsions are repetitive behaviours or mental rituals that a person uses in an attempt to relieve the anxiety caused by their Obsessions. OCD can cause significant impairment in a person’s ability to function at work, school, or home.
What are the 4 types of OCD?
There are four different subtypes of OCD:
- Checking – Checking compulsions involves repeated checking of specific body parts or items for safety (e.g., making sure the door is locked) or obsessively checking for mistakes (e.g., double-checking arithmetic).
- Contamination/cleaning – Contamination/Cleaning compulsions involve repetitive handwashing, showering, or cleaning rituals (e.g., bleach on doorknobs) in an attempt to avoid contact with germs or contaminants.
- Symmetry/exactness – Symmetry/Exactness compulsions involve repeating actions a certain number of times or arranging objects in a precise way (e.g., lining up pencils).
- Hoarding – Hoarding compulsions involve excessive collecting of unused or useless objects (e.g., old newspapers).
Influencing Lives
What are the signs of OCD in Children
OCD can present itself as behavioural including things like compulsive behaviour, agitation, compulsive hoarding, hypervigilance, impulsivity, meaningless repetition of own words, repetitive movements, ritualistic behaviour, social isolation, or persistent repetition of words or actions.
Because obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviour affect your child’s ability to relax and enjoy life, your child with OCD might have challenges like:
- Problems at school – for example, your child has trouble paying attention or doing homework
- Disrupted routines – for example, your child won’t go to school, come to dinner or go to sleep until his rituals are done
- Physical problems from feeling stressed or not getting enough sleep
- Social problems – for example, your child spends more time on his obsessions and compulsions than with his friends, or he feels ashamed of his OCD or has trouble dealing with other people’s reactions to his behaviour so he avoids social situations
- Self-esteem problems – for example, your child worries that he’s different from his friends and family or that he isn’t in control of his behaviour
- Other mental health problems – for example, child anxiety, child depression, teenage anxietyor teenage depression.
How to treat OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is a mental health disorder that can cause significant distress and disruption in a person’s life. Obsessions are compulsions are obsessions are time-consuming and repetitive behaviours that a person feels compelled to do in order to alleviate anxiety.
If you or someone you know is struggling with OCD, there are many treatment options available. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective form of treatment for OCD. CBT teaches people how to identify and challenge their Obsessions and manage their anxiety without resorting to compulsions. Medications, such as antidepressants, can also be helpful in treating OCD. If you think you or someone you know may have OCD, please talk to a mental health professional for more information and treatment options.
Treatment for OCD can also involve a combination of medication and therapy. Medication can help to reduce the severity of obsessions and compulsions, while therapy can provide tools and strategies for managing symptoms. In most cases, treatment is effective in reducing the impact of OCD on a person’s life. However, it is important to note that there is no cure for OCD, and symptoms may flare up at times of stress or change.
