Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder of the brain and behavior. It causes severe anxiety in those affected. OCD involves both obsessions and compulsions that take a lot of time and get in the way of important activities the person values.
Unfortunately in our society OCD is often kept secretive, remains untreated, and is therefore misunderstood for something else.
In an average elementary school there are likely five children suffering from OCD. In a medium to large high school, there are typically 20 students battling OCD. And in a workplace of 500, there would be about five employees who have OCD, most likely hiding their symptoms from their colleagues. OCD is in our community and residents of Kent should not feel ashamed or embarrassed.
In most cases, OCD is a treatable disorder through medication and/or cognitive behavior therapy. However, studies show that people suffer unnecessarily for years because of lack of information and a shortage of therapists trained to properly diagnose and treat OCD. This is an opportunity for Kent Reporter readers to educate themselves about OCD and its treatment during the International OCD Foundation’s OCD Awareness Week, Oct. 11 through 17. The IOCDF helps people find treatment that will curtail suffering and allow them to lead more productive lives. It also funds research and provides support for OCD sufferers and the families and caregivers of OCD patients. A variety of IOCDF resources can be found online at www.ocfoundation.org.
Joseph Seuferling
Kent
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