OCD Awareness: Not Just a Quirky Personality Trait
Learn how obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is not just a quirky personality trait and how you can help students who are living with OCD.
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October 11, 2024
Learn how obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is not just a quirky personality trait and how you can help students who are living with OCD.
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The second full week in October is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Awareness Week, and this year also marks my third anniversary of being diagnosed with OCD. Looking back, it’s wild to me that it took until I was in my late 20s and at the lowest and scariest place in my life to get diagnosed. And I have found myself asking, “How did no one notice?” But the thing is, people— like my family, friends and teachers—did notice; they just didn’t know what they were noticing.
The media has played a significant role in spreading and perpetuating stereotypes of OCD, as is the case with many disorders. This has led to many people being misinformed about OCD and thinking of it as just a quirky personality trait or, worse, as something fun to joke about. A scene from “Friends” always particularly stands out to me, and no, I’m not talking about a scene with Monica, although there is a good article you can read on Medium about Monica’s representation of OCD here. No, the scene I’m talking about takes place in season 4, episode 11, when Joey gets a job as a tour guide at the museum where Ross works. There is a scene in the cafeteria where Ross tries to break down barriers between staff, and staff members stand up and share their truths, including one who says: “I’m Scott. And I need to switch the light switch on and off 17 times before I leave a room or my family will die.” Cue laugh track. You can watch the clip here.
By opening up about having OCD and sharing what I know, I hope children and youth suffering from OCD can be identified sooner and receive treatment earlier than I did.
I am now at a place where I can often laugh at some of the things I find myself doing due to my OCD, but OCD itself is no laughing matter; it’s a severe disorder—frequently becoming evident in late childhood or adolescence, but often not diagnosed until people are young adults. It’s a mental health condition characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or rituals (compulsions) that individuals feel compelled to perform. These obsessions and compulsions can interfere with daily life, causing significant anxiety and distress. According to the International OCD Foundation, if you have OCD, it can be very challenging to sustain full-time employment. Studies show that 2 in 5 individuals with OCD experience significant workplace impairment, with many unable to work due to their symptoms, thus also quickly leading to financial instability.
And while, yes, some people with OCD are constantly organizing and/or cleaning, there are many more subtypes that exhibit behaviors outside the stereotype. See below for a list of behaviors that could be symptoms of OCD, which you can look out for in the classroom. For a full list of common subtypes of OCD, check out the list here.
Three subtypes I will mention now because they are likely to be more visible in the classroom are Harm OCD, “Just Right” OCD and Contamination OCD. Harm OCD is the fear of accidentally or intentionally causing harm to oneself or others (e.g., “What if I hurt someone without realizing it?”). Individuals with Harm OCD may constantly avoid sharp objects, engage in mental reassurance and in checking behaviors (for example, every time they feel a slight bump in the road, they may have to check to make sure they didn’t hit someone). “Just Right” OCD is feeling like something isn’t perfect or symmetrical. There is an intense need for order, balance, or things being “just right.” People with this subtype may constantly repeat actions, like organizing or rewriting, until they feel "just right.” Last, Contamination OCD is the fear of germs, dirt, illnesses or environmental toxins. Examples of compulsions are excessive handwashing and cleaning, avoiding touching things like doorknobs or avoiding public places. It’s also important to note that individuals with OCD may suffer from more than one subtype and may move from one subtype to another. Clearly, the fictional character from “Friends,” Scott, was suffering from Harm OCD, and I would suspect that the fictional character Monica Geller would be formally diagnosed with both “Just Right” OCD and Contamination OCD.
There is no cure for OCD, but it can be treated in different ways, leading to recovery. The thing is, people with OCD know their obsessions aren’t rational, but the anxiety and fear that floods your system makes it feel like a life-or-death situation. That nagging “What if?” is ever present in your mind. So, you give in to the compulsion because “better safe than sorry,” right? Or at least, that’s what you tell yourself, and then you get stuck in the OCD cycle (see image below).
Because OCD isn’t rational, typical therapy like talk therapy is not helpful and can actually make your OCD worse. If you are interested in learning more about this, NOCD dives into this at a deeper level in the article Why General TalkTherapy Isn’t Effective for Treating OCD. I know how ineffective talk therapy is for people with OCD; when I was first seeking help for my OCD, I made the mistake of seeing a talk therapist. It quickly became clear to me that it was not the right treatment, and after doing some more of my own research, I got in with a specific therapist who specializes in OCD. Instead of talk therapy, people with OCD are more likely to be successfully treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and/or with medication. I ended up participating in a type of CBT called exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) (often considered the gold star therapy treatment for those with OCD) and getting on medication. Essentially, through ERP, I learned how to sit with my anxiety; not engage in compulsions, thus breaking the OCD cycle; and retrained my brain that there was no need for this level of fear/anxiety.
I will always have OCD, but it is no longer taking over my life; I’m happily in recovery, able to manage my OCD symptoms, and have a solid relapse prevention plan. By opening up about having OCD and sharing what I know, I hope children and youth suffering from OCD can be identified sooner and receive treatment earlier than I did.
Here are some behaviors to look out for in students that may suggest OCD, and might warrant recommending that the student be evaluated by a mental health professional for a possible diagnosis:
These behaviors often stem from underlying obsessions and compulsions related to OCD and may not immediately seem disruptive, but they significantly impact a student’s academic performance and well-being. If you see these behaviors in students, you should reach out to their parents and your school’s mental health professionals to express your concerns. To support students beyond connecting them with mental health professionals, NOCD provides this guidance: One of the most important ways to support a student with OCD is through patience and an open mind. It helps to be attentive to students who may seem excessively anxious, stressed or who struggle to keep up with their schoolwork. If you notice signs of distress or difficulty, gently check in with them and ask how you might assist in making their learning experience more manageable.
Some practical ways teachers can provide support include:
I know this was a lot of information, so if you’ve stuck with me all the way to the end, thank you. Opening up about my diagnosis wasn’t easy, but I believe by being open about it, people will become better informed, and more people will get the help they so desperately need. If you are interested in learning more about OCD in bite-sized bits, I highly recommend following Juliet Gustsafson, an OCD therapist based in Michigan, on instagram @ocd_therapist_juliet. Her material is both informative and entertaining.
As we navigate the complexities of today's world, it is crucial to prioritize mental health in order to foster resilience, empathy, and emotional intelligence among our children. The resources included in this collection address various topics, such as stress management, self-esteem building, mental health coping mechanisms and professional learning webinars.
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