Obsessive-Compulsive Obsessive-Compulsive DisorderDisorder

OCDOCD

Obsessive-Compulsive DisorderObsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, involves repetitive OCD, involves repetitive behaviors/thoughts that make no behaviors/thoughts that make no sense, according to John Purcell’s sense, according to John Purcell’s article “Children, Adolescents, and article “Children, Adolescents, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in the Classroom”the Classroom”

SYMPTOMS IN CHILDRENSYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN

Children might seem to worry excessively Children might seem to worry excessively about certain things. Have you ever heard about certain things. Have you ever heard a child say the following things too often?a child say the following things too often?

““DO YOU HAVE MY TEST GRADED? I CAN’T DO YOU HAVE MY TEST GRADED? I CAN’T FUNCTION UNTIL IT IS!”FUNCTION UNTIL IT IS!”

““I AM SO WORRIED THAT I AM GOING TO I AM SO WORRIED THAT I AM GOING TO LOSE SOMETHING TODAY!”LOSE SOMETHING TODAY!”

““I ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE A 100.0 I ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE A 100.0 AVERAGE IN THAT CLASS, OR I WILL BE SO AVERAGE IN THAT CLASS, OR I WILL BE SO MAD!”MAD!”

SOMETIMES NORMAL THOUGHTS CAN GET EXTREME!SOMETIMES NORMAL THOUGHTS CAN GET EXTREME!

““I MUST GO WASH MY HANDS! MY I MUST GO WASH MY HANDS! MY HANDS ARE DISGUSTING!”HANDS ARE DISGUSTING!”

““OH NO, MY WATCH IS BROKEN. NOW OH NO, MY WATCH IS BROKEN. NOW I WON’T BE ABLE TO FUNCTION ALL I WON’T BE ABLE TO FUNCTION ALL DAY!”DAY!”

““OH NO, I SPILLED THIS ON MY SHIRT. OH NO, I SPILLED THIS ON MY SHIRT. MY WHOLE DAY IS RUINED!”MY WHOLE DAY IS RUINED!”

““I’LL START ON MY HOMEWORK AS I’LL START ON MY HOMEWORK AS SOON AS I FINISH MAKING THIS LIST SOON AS I FINISH MAKING THIS LIST AND DRAWING THIS PICTURE!”AND DRAWING THIS PICTURE!”

BUT REMEMBER……………….BUT REMEMBER……………….

An infrequent or small duration of An infrequent or small duration of these thoughts and feelings are normal these thoughts and feelings are normal human nature. We’ve all thought human nature. We’ve all thought those thoughts at one time or another! those thoughts at one time or another! However, all too often, we may have a However, all too often, we may have a child who may go to an extreme with child who may go to an extreme with these and other thoughts and habits. these and other thoughts and habits. That’s when we might need to consider That’s when we might need to consider that they could have OCD!that they could have OCD!

Directly from www.ocfoundation.orgDirectly from www.ocfoundation.org

An estimated 1 in 50 adults currently An estimated 1 in 50 adults currently has OCD. In addition, twice this has OCD. In addition, twice this number have supposedly dealt with number have supposedly dealt with it earlier in their lives. it earlier in their lives.

OCD is a medical dysfunction of the OCD is a medical dysfunction of the brain that affects “mental brain that affects “mental processing”. It has nothing to do processing”. It has nothing to do with one’s personality type.with one’s personality type.

Directly from www.ocfoundation.orgDirectly from www.ocfoundation.org

OBSESSIONS may involve: OBSESSIONS may involve: -- Constant worries of contamination-- Constant worries of contamination-- Constant worries of hurting self or -- Constant worries of hurting self or

othersothers-- Worries of losing control of situations-- Worries of losing control of situations-- Too much spiritual or moral doubt-- Too much spiritual or moral doubt-- A constant need to “have things just so”-- A constant need to “have things just so”-- A constant need to confess things, ask -- A constant need to confess things, ask

things, and tell thingsthings, and tell things

Directly from www.ocfoundation.orgDirectly from www.ocfoundation.org

COMPULSIONS may involve:COMPULSIONS may involve:

-- excessive cleaning-- excessive cleaning

-- repititions of things-- repititions of things

-- constantly checking things-- constantly checking things

-- constantly having to touch certain -- constantly having to touch certain thingsthings

-- constantly having to count certain -- constantly having to count certain thingsthings

-- constantly having to arrange things-- constantly having to arrange things

When does OCD start?When does OCD start?

It could start anywhere from preschool age It could start anywhere from preschool age to middle-age adulthood! A large to middle-age adulthood! A large percentage of OCD sufferers trace the percentage of OCD sufferers trace the beginnings of their problems to childhood!beginnings of their problems to childhood!

It often takes many years to get the right It often takes many years to get the right

diagnosis and treatment for the disorder. diagnosis and treatment for the disorder. However, once the right treatment is However, once the right treatment is found, the person’s distress symptoms can found, the person’s distress symptoms can be greatly reduced! be greatly reduced!

Is OCD inherited?Is OCD inherited?

Apparently so, but an OCD parent might Apparently so, but an OCD parent might struggle with different symptoms than an struggle with different symptoms than an OCD child might display!OCD child might display!

Remember, this is a chemical disorder in Remember, this is a chemical disorder in the brain. More research needs to be the brain. More research needs to be done, but it seems to involve done, but it seems to involve “communication” problems between the “communication” problems between the front part of the brain and some deeper front part of the brain and some deeper portions – according to the OC portions – according to the OC Foundation’s research.Foundation’s research.

Light at the end of the tunnel Light at the end of the tunnel From what we have discussed, you can From what we have discussed, you can

imagine the moments of discomfort and imagine the moments of discomfort and unnecessary stress that accompanies this unnecessary stress that accompanies this disorder! But there is good news!disorder! But there is good news!

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is available Cognitive-behavioral therapy is available to help patients perform mental exercises to help patients perform mental exercises to eliminate Obsessive-Compulsive to eliminate Obsessive-Compulsive symptoms. Along with medication, there symptoms. Along with medication, there is hope to completely overcome the is hope to completely overcome the disorder!disorder!

OCD anxiety can be greatly OCD anxiety can be greatly reduced!reduced!

Although the symptoms may completely Although the symptoms may completely go away in only a few of the OCD go away in only a few of the OCD patients, the vast majority of those who patients, the vast majority of those who continue to struggle with the disorder do continue to struggle with the disorder do find their symptoms to be greatly find their symptoms to be greatly reduced with the proper therapy and reduced with the proper therapy and medication! You can have this disorder medication! You can have this disorder and live a normal life! If you think you and live a normal life! If you think you may have this disorder, don’t panic, may have this disorder, don’t panic, because you can get relief!because you can get relief!

BE PATIENT!BE PATIENT!

Remember, we may have to deal with Remember, we may have to deal with OCD symptoms in our students, OCD symptoms in our students, ourselves, and loved ones. Sometimes, ourselves, and loved ones. Sometimes, our colleagues and administrators in our colleagues and administrators in the school environment may struggle the school environment may struggle with these symptoms – as well as the with these symptoms – as well as the parents of our students. Be aware that parents of our students. Be aware that this disorder is out there, and be this disorder is out there, and be patient and understanding of those patient and understanding of those who struggle with it!who struggle with it!

KEEP STANDARDS HIGH, AS KEEP STANDARDS HIGH, AS LONG AS THEY ARE REALISTIC!LONG AS THEY ARE REALISTIC!

Don’t write OCD students off as Don’t write OCD students off as worthless, and don’t let them write worthless, and don’t let them write themselves off as worthless! themselves off as worthless! Continue to hold high expectations Continue to hold high expectations for these students, as long as you for these students, as long as you remember to be reasonably flexible!remember to be reasonably flexible!

Remember, children with OCD can Remember, children with OCD can live a live a

BALANCED LIFE!BALANCED LIFE!