Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Teens
Many teens who like to be organized and clean often say phrases like “I’m so OCD.” But it’s important to remember that having obsessive-compulsive disorder goes beyond having an organized desk or making your bed every day. It’s a mental health disorder that needs proper support and treatment.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder can affect your mental, emotional and behavioral health, which can interfere with your quality of life as well as your relationships with those around you. The good news is that Lightfully Teen can help you manage your OCD symptoms and work toward a happy and healthy future.
What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is an anxiety disorder that causes a person to perform excessive repetitive behaviors, known as compulsions, that stem from unprovoked thoughts or obsessions that cause anxiety and distress.
The symptoms can make it difficult to carry out daily routines as well as maintain healthy relationships because the compulsions and obsessions can take up large amounts of time and energy.
It’s common to be diagnosed with OCD during adolescence, with 1 in every 200 kids and teens in the U.S. being affected by the disorder.
What Are OCD Compulsions and Obsessions?
It’s important to note that OCD can cause obsessions and compulsions, but they manifest in different ways. Not every teen that receives an OCD diagnosis will have both.
Obsessions are unconscious images or thoughts that cause anxiety and emotional distress. They can stem from specific themes or fears, including:
- The need for everything to be symmetrical
- Fear of contamination or dirt
- Unwanted aggressive, religious, or sexual thoughts and images
- Shocking thoughts about harming oneself or others
Many teens with OCD will perform compulsions, which are rituals that one feels obligated to perform to soothe one’s anxiety, often to the point of excess. They may be connected to an obsession, but that’s not always the case.
Common compulsions can stem from particular themes, including:
- Checking — Repeatedly checking that you put your homework in your backpack
- Counting — Keeping count of specific patterns
- Washing/cleaning — Washing your hands until they’re raw
Lightfully Teen Programs Can Help Treat OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder can make it difficult to carry out your daily responsibilities, such as completing your schoolwork or completing your chores around the house. It can also impact your relationships and make you want to isolate yourself from others. But Lightfully Teen is here to help.
We can help you determine the root of your anxiety and find healthy behavioral and coping skills through process-based therapy. This clinical model helps you explore your mental health from every angle to make sure that you’re treating your entire well-being, not just your diagnosis. Because you’re more than just your OCD.
Process-based therapy can help your OCD in our three levels of care: Residential Treatment, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), also called our Day Treatment Program.
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We’re here when you’re ready. Send us a message using the link below or give us a call at 916.269.5371. Let us help shine a light on your path.
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