OCD is often misunderstood. Here's what it feels like for one young woman named Elena.
Elena's first ritual was a specific way of holding her toothbrush. She would place her fingers up the back of the brush and slide them off, over and over again, until it felt right. This repetitive action was a compulsion, a time-consuming behavior that temporarily reduced her anxiety. For Elena, 18, these obsessive thoughts often revolved around a sense of impending doom or the fear of spiritual disaster if her compulsions weren't performed correctly.
OCD affects around 3% of Australians each year, but its nature is often misunderstood. Diagnosis can take an average of nine years, according to clinical psychologist Lara Farrell, who attributes this to complex reasons. People with OCD can hide symptoms, and the condition often appears alongside other anxiety disorders or depression. Stigma and embarrassment around symptoms can also prevent diagnosis.
Elena's OCD was triggered at 12 by the traumatic death of a duckling she was caring for. Embarrassment and grief kept her from fully explaining her symptoms, leading to an initial misdiagnosis. It was a You Can't Ask That episode that eventually helped her realize there was a name for her experiences and that she wasn't alone.
OCD is often dismissed as a minor quirk, but it's a serious condition. One of the greatest misconceptions is that many people experience some form of OCD. The phrase 'that's just my OCD' or 'I'm so OCD' trivializes the severity of the disorder. Clinical OCD disrupts daily life and causes significant struggle for individuals and families.
At her worst, Elena would be up all night, tapping her feet on the stairs, unable to sleep due to her compulsions. This was not a simple quirk, but a severe symptom of her OCD. The condition can be debilitating, affecting one's ability to function normally.
Improving detection and understanding of OCD is crucial. Better training can help identify the condition earlier. Assessment should focus on normalizing symptoms and dispelling misconceptions. From March 1, a nationwide trial will offer web-based training for parents treating OCD at home, emphasizing exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), which has shown good outcomes for most OCD patients.
Despite the effectiveness of ERP, a persistent myth is that OCD is untreatable. Many families have seen multiple psychologists without finding relief, believing their child will struggle with OCD forever. However, OCD is a treatable condition, and effective treatments can lead to recovery.
Elena credits ERP for her progress. She no longer fears a plane crash because she didn't perform a specific ritual before bed. She wants people isolated by OCD to know they're not alone and don't have to feel ashamed. OCD is a serious condition, but it can be managed and overcome with the right support and treatment.
