Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a relatively common mental health condition. It affects about 1% to 3% of people in the world, only slightly less than more well-known conditions like anxiety or depression. Often, people start experiencing obsessions and compulsive behaviors in childhood or adolescence. However, these symptoms are often mistaken for typical childlike behavior, other conditions or a “phase” that they’ll eventually outgrow. 

Ideally, the whole family should be involved with a young person’s OCD treatment journey. This involves learning about the condition and understanding what their loved one is going through. Each person can play an important role in supporting their loved one. There will be days when symptoms are more intense and harder to manage. Parents, siblings and caregivers need strategies for encouraging the young person and helping them get through the day without enabling their obsessions and compulsions. 

Getting an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment are both important steps to help people with OCD cope with their symptoms. With enough support, it is possible to reach a point where OCD symptoms are more manageable.

In this article, we’ll discuss what the course of OCD looks like and what treatments can help.

Do people ever outgrow OCD in adulthood?

OCD isn’t a condition you can really grow out of. When people receive a timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, they can manage their symptoms effectively. Studies have revealed that it can take many years for people with OCD to get an accurate diagnosis and adequate treatment. Although many people with OCD may struggle with their symptoms more in childhood, improvements are usually a result of treatment, not OCD going away on its own.

The basics of OCD

The symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder follow a pattern or a cycle. First, the person will experience intrusive thoughts or obsessions about certain things that cause anxiety. Common types of OCD focus on a fear of germs or contamination, perfectionism, harm to oneself or others, and fears of betrayal or abandonment in relationships. 

People with OCD have a high rate of co-occurrence with other psychiatric conditions like major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders and panic disorder. They may also be more likely to have suicidal ideation. 

What does OCD look like in different stages of life?

Most people with OCD first notice symptoms in early adolescence, but there’s a smaller subset who are diagnosed in their early 20s. The average age of onset is around 18 to 19 years of age. Because the age ranges for early and late-onset OCD are so close together, the majority of people affected by OCD at any given time are around this age as well. Some women with this condition develop it during or after a pregnancy.

There are patterns among these subgroups in prevalence by gender, symptom presentation and co-occurring conditions. People who develop OCD as children tend to be male and have co-occurring conditions like tics, Tourette’s syndrome and ADHD. Boys are more likely to have compulsions that aren’t preceded by obsessions. People who develop OCD as adults tend to be women, and they tend to have mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. 

What’s the typical treatment approach for OCD?

The treatment approaches for OCD in children and adults are only slightly different. Adults typically have more awareness and insight about their condition and their behaviors than children do. With children, therapists may talk about obsessive thoughts and anxiety as a “worry monster” or a “bad guy.” Exposure activities can also be modified as appropriate for children at different stages of development. 

The following treatment methods can effectively help people manage OCD symptoms:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) — CBT is effective for both children and adults with OCD. It focuses on identifying triggering situations as well as obsessions and compulsions, labeling them, and gradually desensitizing clients to the discomfort their symptoms cause.
• Exposure and response prevention (ERP) — ERP is a type of CBT in which clients experience triggering situations. The “exposures” start small and get longer or more intense with time. As people withstand these situations, they start to believe in their ability to face them. Eventually, their triggers don’t seem as harmful or scary as they once were.
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) — ACT is another type of CBT that helps clients change the way they view and respond to their obsessions. By accepting that symptoms are a part of their reality that isn’t necessarily good or bad, clients can try out different ways to cope with them and start to focus on their actions more than their thoughts. 

Find relief from obsessive-compulsive disorder at Lightfully

For most people with OCD, symptoms fluctuate in severity throughout their lifetime. They may spend months or years in a relative “remission.” But it’s important that they understand their triggers and know what warning signs might signal that their symptoms are coming back.

At Lightfully, we help people reenvision their lives with the self-knowledge and skills to manage their OCD. Our compassionate, licensed clinicians take a whole-person-centered approach to help them see what long-term mental wellness can look like for them.

Are you or a loved one searching for effective OCD treatment for teens or adults? Get in touch with our Admissions Concierge Team. Let’s start a new chapter of your life with OCD.