Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• OCD

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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, involves
  repetitive behaviors/thoughts that make no sense,
  according to John Purcells article Children,
  Adolescents, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in
  the Classroom

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SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN

• Children might seem to worry excessively about
  certain things. Have you ever heard a child say
  the following things too often?
• DO YOU HAVE MY TEST GRADED? I CANT FUNCTION
  UNTIL IT IS!
• I AM SO WORRIED THAT I AM GOING TO LOSE
  SOMETHING TODAY!
• I ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE A 100.0 AVERAGE IN THAT
  CLASS, OR I WILL BE SO MAD!

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SOMETIMES NORMAL THOUGHTS CAN GET EXTREME!

• I MUST GO WASH MY HANDS! MY HANDS ARE
  DISGUSTING!
• OH NO, MY WATCH IS BROKEN. NOW I WONT BE ABLE
  TO FUNCTION ALL DAY!
• OH NO, I SPILLED THIS ON MY SHIRT. MY WHOLE DAY
  IS RUINED!
• ILL START ON MY HOMEWORK AS SOON AS I FINISH
  MAKING THIS LIST AND DRAWING THIS PICTURE!

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BUT REMEMBER.

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

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Directly from www.ocfoundation.org

• An estimated 1 in 50 adults currently has OCD.
  In addition, twice this number have supposedly
  dealt with it earlier in their lives.
• OCD is a medical dysfunction of the brain that
  affects mental processing. It has nothing to
  do with ones personality type.

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Directly from www.ocfoundation.org

• OBSESSIONS may involve
• -- Constant worries of contamination
• -- Constant worries of hurting self or others
• -- Worries of losing control of situations
• -- Too much spiritual or moral doubt
• -- A constant need to have things just so
• -- A constant need to confess things, ask things,
  and tell things

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Directly from www.ocfoundation.org

• COMPULSIONS may involve
• -- excessive cleaning
• -- repititions of things
• -- constantly checking things
• -- constantly having to touch certain things
• -- constantly having to count certain things
• -- constantly having to arrange things

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When does OCD start?

• It could start anywhere from preschool age to
  middle-age adulthood! A large percentage of OCD
  sufferers trace the beginnings of their problems
  to childhood!
• It often takes many years to get the right
  diagnosis and treatment for the disorder.
  However, once the right treatment is found, the
  persons distress symptoms can be greatly
  reduced!

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Is OCD inherited?

• Apparently so, but an OCD parent might struggle
  with different symptoms than an OCD child might
  display!
• Remember, this is a chemical disorder in the
  brain. More research needs to be done, but it
  seems to involve communication problems between
  the front part of the brain and some deeper
  portions according to the OC Foundations
  research.

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Light at the end of the tunnel ?

• From what we have discussed, you can imagine the
  moments of discomfort and unnecessary stress that
  accompanies this disorder! But there is good
  news!
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy is available to help
  patients perform mental exercises to eliminate
  Obsessive-Compulsive symptoms. Along with
  medication, there is hope to completely overcome
  the disorder!

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OCD anxiety can be greatly reduced!

• Although the symptoms may completely go away in
  only a few of the OCD patients, the vast majority
  of those who continue to struggle with the
  disorder do find their symptoms to be greatly
  reduced with the proper therapy and medication!
  You can have this disorder and live a normal
  life! If you think you may have this disorder,
  dont panic, because you can get relief!

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BE PATIENT!

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

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KEEP STANDARDS HIGH, AS LONG AS THEY ARE
REALISTIC!

• Dont write OCD students off as worthless, and
  dont let them write themselves off as worthless!
  Continue to hold high expectations for these
  students, as long as you remember to be
  reasonably flexible!

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• Remember, children with OCD can live a
• BALANCED LIFE!