OCD – Myth vs Reality

What is OCD?

OCD is a mental disorder which affects over 2% of the world population and is the 4th most common mental disorder. It involves people releaving their obsessive thoughts by performing recurrent tasks. OCD has many different spectrum and many different people suffer from different symptoms.

OCD usually starts to affect people in they’re late teenager years, but it can affect children who are usually clueless that they are suffering from the condition. Children and teenager often try to hide their obsessions and compulsions often embarrassed and ashamed of their habits.

Obsessions vs Compulsions: What are they?

Obsessions are recurring images and thoughts that a sufferer keeps thinking/picturing in their minds. With obsessions, fear is often felt. Examples of obsessions are:

• Fear of Dirt
• Fear of Germs
• Fear of becoming ill
• Constant thoughts of a certain number
• Need to have something done in a certain order/way.
• Worry about whether something has been done ‘right’.

Compulsions are recurrent actions that a sufferer feels obliged to perform in order to relieve their obsessions, even for a short period. Examples of compulsions are:

• Washing Hands
• Brushing Teeth
• Checking to see if appliances are turned off
• Arranging things in a certain way
• Keeping items which are no longer required (Hoarding)
• Requiring constant approval from people around them.

How to recognize OCD in teenagers and children?

In a minors life, there are two main places where they spend most of they’re time: at home and at school. The behavior of minors usually differs in the two environments.

Behaviors at School:

• Isolation from social groups
• Trouble focusing in  class
• Agitated behavior due to not being able to focus
• Low self-esteem

Behaviors at Home:

• Difficulty explaining unusual behaviors
• Concerns that they’re ‘crazy’ due to their thoughts and actions
• Resistance to stop their rituals and routines
• Repeating certain actions in fear of the consequences that may arise due to something not being done ‘just right’

IMPORTANT: JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THESE SYMPTOMS, THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM OCD! CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR OR A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS.