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Do you worry? a lot

Everybody worries about things in their life: friends, family, school etc. But for some people, these worries become so big that they upset them and make them to do things they don’t want to do.  These worries can take up so much time that we don’t have the time to do the things we like doing, such as playing with friends and going out with our families. The worries in our head can also make us do certain actions to make us feel better, but the worries keep on coming back and upsetting us.

There is a name for this and it’s OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)

What is OCD?

Everybody worries something, but OCD can make people worry a lot more than normal. OCD is like a big bully that pushes you and makes you unhappy. OCD can make people feel really bad. Some people with OCD feel worried some people feel sad and some people just feel that things are not right.

Obsessions

OCD has two parts to it – the first part is called “Obsession”, which is another word for your worrying thoughts. That’s because the worrying thoughts just keep on going around in your head and don’t leave people feel you alone, no matter how hard you try to ignore them.

The worries can be about lots of different things, such as:

·         Worrying that your hands are not clean

·         Worrying about germs

·         Worrying that you might hurt someone you love

·         Worrying that you something bad might happen to you

·         Thinking that you have to count up to a certain number

·         Worrying that certain numbers are lucky or unlucky

·         Worrying that everything has to be neat and tidy

·         Worrying that something bad is going to happen to you or someone you care about, such as you mum or dad, brother or sister, or a pet

 Compulsions

“Compulsions” are actions that OCD makes us think we need to do. We might do them because we want to stop worrying or to feel safer.

These actions can also be lots of different types:

·         Washing your hands lots of times or in a certain way

·         Counting or saying things in your head

·         Asking the same question over and over again

·         Avoiding certain numbers when counting

·         Tidying your room lots of times, even though it already looks nice and tidy

·         Avoiding using scissors or knives

·         Checking lights switches lots of times

·         Checking the door is locked

How OCD can make you feel?

It is mean and nasty, and will try to upset you whenever it can. It might stop you going out to birthday parties because it tell you that something bad will happen if you go, or it might make you do badly at school because you are so worried about counting to a certain number or washing your hands again.

OCD can make you feel anxious and frightened, which means that you might get butterflies in your tummy or feel bad. Sometimes it can make you want to run away and hide or cry. OCD makes some people very sad and upset and even embarrassed; you might feel that no-one understands how you feel. 

Why do I have OCD?

No one really knows why some people get OCD and others don’t. OCD is a medical problem (like asthma or diabetes and is definitely not your fault.

OCD does not mean that:

·         You have been naughty

·         Your Mum and Dad are cross with you

·         You are mad

·         You are crazy

·         You are weak

OCD is very common, it is thought that 1 in 100 people will have OCD, so if you imagine that there are 100 other children at your school, then at least 1 more will have OCD just like you.

 What should you do?

Remember, OCD means you simply have a medical illness like asthma or diabetes.
If you have worries like these, then you need to remember that you are not the only one who feels like this, in fact they think that 1 I 100 children will have OCD and really good news is that there are lots of people out there who can help you. It might feel scary telling someone about the worries you have, but it’s really important to let someone know how you’re feeling so that they can help you.

The people you could talk to include:

·         Your Mum and Dad

·         A grandparent

·         A big brother or sister

·         You teacher at school

·         Your school nurse

What will happen when you tell someone?

When you tell someone =, they will help you to get help. So your mum or dad will take you to see a doctor and he/she will explain to you about OCD.

Special training

You will be given special OCD training by the doctor to help you get better; this is called CBI (Cognitive Bahaviour Therapy). If you are finding fighting your OCD very difficult then the doctor might give you some medicine to help the anxiety become less. This medicine is to give you a little help, just like you might use an inhaler if you have asthma.

Here are a few important things to remember …

·         You’re not the only kid who will have these kinds of scary thoughts and feelings.

·         OCD is a big bully

·         You can get help to stop thinking and feeling the way you do.

·         You are really not going crazy or mad.

·         OCD means you have a medical illness like asthma or diabetes.

·         Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to tell someone.

·         You can beat OCD.

Reference:

http://www.ocdkids.org/3.htm  dated 27/06/2012