Understanding OCD: A Guide for Teenagers on Awareness and Support Strategies
- lolasquires7
- May 6
- 5 min read
Updated: May 21
OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is a mental disorder that causes a person to have obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. The known causes for OCD can vary from family history to differences in the brain or big life events causing OCD. People who are naturally meticulous and methodical, with high personal standards, may be more likely to develop OCD, additionally, people who are generally quite anxious or have an extreme sense of responsibility for themselves and others have a greater chance of having OCD.
A common misconception of OCD is that people who have OCD are just people who like to keep clean by washing their hands a lot or keeping everything tidy and needing everything to be in the right place, and while these are symptoms of OCD, OCD is so much more than that. People also believe that having OCD is good, as people with OCD are seen as very organised and tidy; however, this is not the case, as having OCD can take over certain aspects of a person's life and make everyday things feel impossible
There are a wide range of OCD symptoms in many different people.
People with OCD can have compulsions, which are the feeling of needing to do something or else something bad might happen.
Another common behavior is following rituals to calm their intrusive thoughts or anxiety. These rituals can include things like; washing hands, body or things around a lot, touching things in a particular order or at a certain time, arranging objects in a specific way, and saying things again and again.
Another symptom of OCD is correcting thoughts, for example, Repeating a word, name or phrase in their head or out loud, trying to replace an intrusive thought with a different image, trying to replace a negative feeling with a positive one, doing something again and again until it feels 'right', repeatedly asking other people to tell you that everything is alright, saying or doing things to test other people's reactions, repeatedly apologising to people, and constantly telling themselves that their intrusive thoughts aren't true.
The last major symptom of OCD is avoidance. Avoidance as a symptom of OCD can consist of; avoiding situations or people that make them anxious, they may avoid using or being near certain objects they fear could cause harm, even if the fear isn’t based in reality. For example, removing anything from their home that could hurt someone, delaying or putting things off (procrastination) to avoid feeling anxious or uncomfortable.
People with OCD often face a wide range of mental and physical consequences as a result of their disorder.
Obsessions and compulsions can make it difficult to concentrate, which may affect performance at school or work.
In social places, individuals might avoid situations that trigger their symptoms, leading to isolation and complicated relationships.
At home, excessive time spent on compulsions and obsessions, can complicate completing everyday tasks and maintaining a clean or organized space.
Physically, compulsive behaviours like frequent hand washing can cause skin irritation or other dermatological issues.
The anxiety caused by OCD can also lead to disrupted sleep patterns, resulting in fatigue and exhaustion.
Additionally, many people with OCD experience additional conditions such as depression or other anxiety disorders.
Struggling with intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours can also lead to low self-esteem, guilt, and shame.
Altogether, these challenges can have a serious impact on a person's emotional well-being and quality of life.
Having OCD is difficult but, there are many strengths that people with OCD have as a result of their disorder.
Having great problem-solving skills. They are highly creative, which can help when solving problems as they are able to come up with innovative solutions that might have not been thought of before.
Intense ability to notice patterns and anomalies. Their attention to detail allows them to see and understand patterns and anomalies in more detail.
The ability to understand and empathise with other people. People with OCD can develop profound insights into the human mind, allowing them to connect deeply with others experiencing mental health struggles
Having great organisational skills is another strength of OCD. These skills can lead to effective organisational practices. They might meticulously organise tasks, dividing them into smaller segments and confirming that each segment is completed thoroughly
Determination and Resilience are other positives that people with OCD have as they are able to combat the anxiety and fear that is present as a person who has OCD, therefore they become resilient to other problems as they have experience combating their own.
Being More Attentive is another positive of OCD as people who have OCD are more attentive as their exceptional focus and concentration can significantly contribute to fields requiring high accuracy, problem-solving, and pattern recognition.
Being Extra Cautious, people with OCD often spend a lot of time thinking about every possible outcome related to risky situations. Their attention to detail usually leads to greater caution in various tasks, a heightened awareness of potential dangers, and an enhanced ability to identify and address possible problems in different scenarios.
OCD is a disorder that many people have, these are some of the few ways that you could help someone who is living with OCD -
Educate Yourself and Others, learn about OCD, and understand that OCD is a real mental health condition, not a character flaw or a sign of weakness, Separate the person from the disorder: Focus on supporting the individual, not just their OCD symptoms, Educate others to help family and friends understand OCD, so they can offer better support and avoid unintentionally triggering anxiety.
Create a Supportive Environment, being patient and understanding: OCD can be a challenging condition, and it takes time and effort to manage, allow the person to talk about their experiences without judgment or interruption, and acknowledge their fears and anxieties, even if they seem irrational. Ensure the person feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment.
Encourage Professional Help Suggest therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a highly effective treatment for OCD, help them find qualified therapists and support groups, encourage healthy habits, help them manage stress, identify healthy ways to cope with stress, such as talking to a friend or engaging in a creative activity, encourage them to seek support, and finally remind them that it's okay to ask for help and that they don't have to go through this alone.
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