Why Does OCD Awareness Month Matter?

In October we recognize OCD awareness month. Here are three reasons to spread the word:

1. It’s widely misunderstood

Did you know that on average, it takes 14-17 years to get an accurate OCD diagnosis? OCD is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. It is so much more than being neat and organized. You are not “so OCD” if you prefer your closet color coordinated. Saying things like this can undermine the suffering that individuals living with OCD endure. By spreading awareness, we can educate people on what this disorder actually looks like, recognize signs and encourage people to get help sooner. Think of how many years of hardship we may be able to prevent!

Signs and symptoms of OCD:

• Unwanted/repetitive intrusive thoughts or images
• Ruminating about specific obsession(s) (harm, relationships, contamination, health etc.)
• Compulsions – which can be mental and unseen by others (thought neutralizing, mentally reviewing past situations, praying, scanning the body for sensations, self-reassurance, counting, etc.) or physical behaviors you can see like checking, repeating tasks or words/phrases, hand washing, rearranging or hoarding.

2. It can get lost in the mix

OCD doesn’t often fly solo. Co-occurring mental health conditions include anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders and autism spectrum disorder. Sometimes symptoms of OCD can be missed as they may appear similar to symptoms of the co-occurring conditions. If OCD is recognized by clinicians who work with these other conditions, an OCD specialist can offer complimentary help.

3. It requires specific treatment

It’s important to seek help from a specialist as traditional “talk therapy” can in some cases actually be harmful to those with OCD: It can lead to further rumination, challenging thoughts (which doesn’t work for OCD) and can become compulsive. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold standard for treating OCD. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) are other useful alternative or additional modalities.

Whether you have OCD, have a friend or family member living with OCD, or you’re an advocate for mental health, share, educate, and encourage people who may be showing signs to reach out for help. Let’s change the statistics!