Download Resources

Resources
Beyond OCD
http://www.beyondocd.org/
college/
International OCD Foundation
http://www.ocfoundation.org/
Online Support Groups
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/
group/OCDSupportGroups/
links
Awareness Foundation for OCD
http://www.afocd.org/
LSSU Counseling Services
A Resource for Students
Lake Superior State University
623 W. Easterday Ave.
Monday—Friday
8:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m.
906-635-2752
Visit our website:
www.lssu.edu/counseling
We embrace diversity and promote
acceptance and respect of all LSSU students.
LSSU Counseling Services
A Resource for Students
What is OCD?
Common obsessions and
compulsions
Obsessions
 Fear of germs or
contamination
 Aggressive or
horrific impulses
 Having things
orderly or symmetrical
 Sexual images or thoughts
 Thoughts that you've hurt someone in a traffic accident
 Images of hurting your child
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety
disorder in which people have unwanted and
repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations
(obsessions), or behaviors that make them
feel driven to do something (compulsions).
Often the person carries out the behaviors to
get rid of the obsessive thoughts, but this only
provides temporary relief. Not performing the
obsessive rituals can cause great anxiety.
Who gets OCD?
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People from all walks of life can get OCD. It strikes
people of all social and ethnic groups and both
males and females. Symptoms typically begin during childhood, the teenage years or young adulthood. The sudden appearance of OCD symptoms
later in life merits a thorough medical evaluation
to ensure that another illness is not the cause of
these symptoms.
Factors that may increase the risk of developing or
triggering obsessive-compulsive disorder include:
Family history. Having parents or other family
members with the disorder can increase your risk
of developing OCD.
Stressful life events. If you tend to react
strongly to stress, your risk may increase. This reaction may, for some reason, trigger the intrusive
thoughts, rituals and emotional distress characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
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Compulsions
Fear of being contaminated causing you to repeatedly wash your
hands or sanitize your home
Repeatedly locking your door for
fear it is unlocked
Intense stress when objects aren't
orderly or facing the right way
Impulses to shout obscenities in
inappropriate situations
Avoidance of situations that can
trigger obsessions, such as shaking hands
Replaying pornographic images in
your mind
When to get help
There's a difference between being a perfectionist and having obsessive-compulsive
disorder. Perhaps you keep the floors in
your house so clean that you could eat off
them. Or you like your knickknacks arranged just so. That doesn't necessarily
mean that you have obsessive-compulsive
disorder.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder can be so
severe and time-consuming that it literally
becomes disabling. You may be able to do
little else but spend time on your obsessions and compulsions — washing your
hands for hours each day, for instance.
With OCD, you may have a low quality of
life because the condition rules most of
your days. You may be very distressed, but
you seem powerless to stop your urges.
Most adults can recognize that their obsessions and compulsions don't make sense.
If your obsessions and compulsions are affecting your life, see your doctor or mental
health provider. People with OCD may be
ashamed and embarrassed about the condition. But even if your rituals are deeply ingrained, treatment can help.