Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) In Teens
Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) often become obvious in early teen years, but signs are sometimes evident much earlier. OCD can be frightening to the sufferer and exasperating to friends who may not understand the seriousness of what the suffering teen is experiencing.
Laurie can remember as early as
the first grade creating games in her mind. Over and over again, she
counted the desks in the room, each time convincing herself she'd made
a mistake and had to count them again. Now, in the 9th grade, Laurie
often misses much of what the teacher says because she's so busy with
some variation of the counting game. Her grades have dropped from Bs to
Cs and Ds.
A primary feature of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is the presence of unwanted thoughts, images, or impulses that cause significant distress. Typical obsessions take the form of
- Constant doubt (which may lead to the compulsion of repetitively checking to determine if something was or was not done, such as turning off the stove, locking the door, etc.).
- Fear of contamination
- The need to have things in a particular order
- Impulses to do something that might be considered overly aggressive or socially inappropriate (to hurt someone, or shout an obscenity, for example)
- Repetitive sexual fantasies
Compulsions, another primary feature of OCD, are repetitive acts (rituals), such as hand washing, checking, ordering, repetition of mental acts, that are carried out to reduce anxiety caused by the unwanted thoughts (obsessions). The following case illustrates both the obsessive and compulsive components of OCD:
Every time Laurie, the high school sophomore mentioned above, entered her high school library, she felt an extreme urge to yell, "F--- you" at the top of her lungs. In order to restrain herself, Laurie counted the books on the nearest shelf. With each repetition of this experience, she had to count books for longer and longer periods, until it reached the point that she found it impossible to study in the library.
Sufferers of obsessions and compulsions usually, but not always, recognize that their behavior and thoughts are products of their own mind and are not normal. Having obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors for more than 1 hour a day is considered minimal for diagnosis, or if the sufferer recognizes that the activities significantly interfere with normal routines, social activities, or relationships. OCD is often associated with other mental disorders, such as Depression, other Anxiety Disorders, Eating Disorders, and some Personality Disorders.
It is estimated that 1% of persons in the US are affected by OCD, one-third of whom first experienced symptoms in childhood. OCD is equally common among males and females.
Stress Related Disorders In Teens
Generalized Anxiety Disorder In Teens
Causes of Teen Anxiety
Treatment For Teen Anxiety
Teen Anxiety Resources & References
