People often misinterpret what OCD is, otherwise known as obsessive-compulsive disorder. OCD is a series of excessive obsessions or compulsions that are often stress-inducing. These could be as a result of persistent intrusive thoughts that nag at a person, and as a response, they indulge in behaviors that they feel temporarily satisfies their anxiety. For some, OCD is simply just a need for one to be tidy or a ‘perfectionist’, however OCD is not just actions, but also goes far down into a person’s mentality, and can be much more serious for others. Therefore schools should offer specialized programs to assist students with OCD in a learning environment through resources provided by teachers, understanding the pros and cons of different types of therapy, social stigma, and quickly identifying causes and effects of OCD in adolescents.

Staff are fully capable of providing proper treatment and therapy for students. Allen Weg, a psychologist and vice president of the NJ Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation, has advice on how to find the right therapist for students. “Finding a good therapist may not be easy. You want someone who identifies themselves as a CBT therapist, and one that uses ERP as a treatment protocol. Interview your prospective therapist. Ask how many OCD children they have worked with, and how they treated them.” [1] According to an article by Kid’s Health Organization, CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, is a common and effective use of therapy for children. It is a talking therapy that focuses on thoughts and fears that occur when you don’t perform a ritual. By avoiding these rituals, they can build up their strength to fight back a negative mental mindset [4].  Having a therapist readily accessible  at schools can be what students need to resist compulsions. Researching for suitable people to fill the position in schools not only proves a school’s commitment for their students, but can provide an open space to students of all kinds as well. However, it is important to have multiple options to fall back on, because as the phrase goes, “to each their own.” Everyone has their own needs, and having experience and background behind any interviewee matters. When a school looks for a therapist, they must look with precision and for proper requirements to be filled. And likewise, students with OCD can have different needs to their own individual circumstance. There are several ways teachers and staff can be involved to help their students with OCD. Check-ins are always a great way to ensure that they feel cared for, or having discussions with the parents to learn more about the student’s needs. It can also be helpful to provide some accommodations, such as getting extra time with assignments and tests, giving prepared notes in case it is difficult to listen in class, or letting them miss a little class time to talk to the school counselor [2]. Instead of a one-on-one conversation with a therapist, these options could also be preferable for them as well, as while a student’s mental health is always a priority, it is important to keep in mind that they are only adolescents. Simply providing a safe space for them to breathe, can be beneficial for students. The minimal, welcoming gestures can not only let the teachers know about what’s happening, but also let them be involved. This is a different approach for a student. Finally, a third option would be new therapy programs in schools. One in particular is a common and effective use of therapy, called exposure trials, officially known as “ERP”. This is where the person is exposed to a thought, thing, or situation repeatedly to let go of fears. This process is called desensitization. The more they are exposed to their fears, the less vulnerable they become, and this gradually builds up their strength [1]. By doing so, their tolerance is built up to their anxiety, and it is easier for them to get through OCD. This type of therapy does not target an adolescent’s compulsions, but rather, their mental health obsessions and ability to stand against their fears. Overall, finding therapists to help students with OCD, teaching school staff to assist adolescents in a comfortable and gradual way, and trying options like exposure trials for students who struggle with OCD, can all be ways to guide them through obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Students with OCD tend to be embarrassed about their condition, and fear ridicule from

their peers. Jared Kant shares his experiences with OCD as a teenager. Kant says, “I was afraid of all sorts of things, but I suppressed my fears because I thought they were stupid. They still scared me, though, and the more I suppressed them, the more powerful the fears became” [3]. The fears teens face should–by no means–be underestimated. When a person has OCD, like Jared, they can be afraid of being made fun of. Especially as an adolescent, social life at school can add to the pressure as well. However, the longer a person keeps their feelings and negative emotions down, the more dangerous it can become. In the end though, it is up to the person with OCD to choose how they want to handle it, and who they want to tell. But Kant clearly says, either keep the fears and tell nobody, or be able to let go of some of the fears and tell trusted ones. Though it can be difficult, it is healthy to tell your close friends and families.  “‘Lots of teens… hide the symptoms of the disorder,’ says Mona Berman, a psychotherapist based in Northfield, Ill. ‘They think they are weird and are embarrassed.’ Such fears are frequently unfounded, and teens with OCD may be surprised to find that others are more understanding than they anticipated. But the fear of being teased or laughed at can be very real” [4]. These fears and anxieties can’t always be justified by a friend or family member. By providing an explanation for what’s going on and how to respect boundaries, it teaches peers to know how to help. Teenagers especially are afraid of being judged in a society where people aren’t always the kindest. Letting others know of their condition can help much more than expected. Scott, a 13-year old from Chicago, has his own experiences telling friends about what was going on in his life. So,  “when his parents took him to a therapist who pointed out that Scott had OCD, he was relieved to learn that his problems were not all that unusual and that he was not alone. The attitudes of his friends also helped. ‘They’ve been really cool about it,’ he says. ‘Nobody has made fun of me.'” [4] It is 100% normal for students to be conscious of what others think about them. However, the reality of the situation is, although there will be people that will not be the kindest, others will support you. Like Scott, you’ll never know what will happen until you try. Although having worries and fear of social stigma is valid, it is also shown both through anecdotal and statistical evidence, that most people—both friends and family — will have a positive attitude about OCD.

By identifying causes and effects of OCD in adolescents, it can be easier for the school and the student to find a solution suitable for them. There are several different causes that might be involved in play with obsessive compulsive disorder. One cause of OCD can be a biological factor, which is related to changes to the brain and its natural chemistry, with abnormalities often found in the orbital cortex. Studies have also shown that people with OCD have different patterns of brain activity from the average individual. Genetic factors are also involved, if parents or relatives have had OCD as well, moreso if they had it as a child. Not only this, but adolescents with OCD can, naturally, also be affected by everyday life and stress, which can worsen the effects. [3] By comparing patterns of the brain between students with OCD and without, there are some notable differences that can be seen within the orbital cortex. Although genetics matter, it is not the underlying cause of OCD for most adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder, but it will affect the child and their growth in some way. Of course, because OCD revolves around a person’s mental health, stress from school or home could be a major factor that causes obsessive-compulsive disorder. To continue, having OCD can often be time-consuming to complete everyday tasks. Individuals can feel self-conscious about their behavior, leaving them to avoid engaging in school activities and affecting academic life. [2] While understanding the root of OCD is crucial to find the steps to take the right course of action, so are the impacts of OCD on the adolescent. Being able to point out when a student is struggling with these symptoms could make the process of helping those with OCD so much easier. Some things can be easily observed, like time-consuming tasks or choosing not to engage in extracurriculars. Others are more difficult to detect, like self-consciousness in teens, so it is important for teachers to check-in with their students. For example, because of Heidi’s obsessive compulsive disorder, she struggled daily. She would linger around checking and rechecking her locks, toasters, and ovens. These small tasks that led her to no satisfaction often kept her from participating in activities or making friends. Her grades also suffered due to being absent from school. She was too anxious to concentrate on school work. [5] Sometimes, students can be unsure of whether they have OCD at all. It can be that they can’t find a name to their disorder, or they just haven’t been able to point out their own symptoms. By teachers and staff assisting them and doing so, finding the right help will run smoother.  Therefore, teachers and staff can assist teens with obsessive-compulsive disorder both by finding the root cause of their anxiety, as well as the symptoms of OCD in order to find the right help for them.

Staff can do so much for their students with OCD if they offer a variety of programs to lend a hand, aiding them through social stigma and knowing where to look for OCD in both the symptoms and causes prevalent in their students. Students with OCD face anxiety and a negative mental mindset that prevents them from feeling satisfied or freed from their persistent obsessions. If teachers and staff were to get involved and help, a student and their OCD could take a turn for the better. Consider the following quote by Charlotte Mason: “We attempt to define a person, the most commonplace person we know, but he will not submit to bounds; some unexpected beauty of nature breaks out; we find he is not what we thought, and begin to suspect that every person exceeds our power of measurement.”

Works Cited
[1] Weg, Allen. “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Is an Effective Treatment for
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.” Edited by Roman Espejo. GALE In Context –
Opposing Viewpoints, Gale, 2014, go.gale.com/ps/
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[2] “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.” International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, edited by
William A. Darity, Jr., 2nd ed., vol. 6, Macmillan
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Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

[3] Kant, Jared Douglas, et al. The Thought That Counts : a Firsthand Account of One
Teenager’s Experience with Obsessive-compulsive Disorder. Oxford, Oxford
UP, 2008.

[4] Rowh, Mark. “The ABS’s of OCD: Teens Who Have Obsessive-compulsive Disorder Need
Not Suffer in Silence.” Current Health 2, a Weekly Reader Publication, vol.
33, no. 8, Apr.-May 2007, p. 23+. Gale in Context: Middle School,
link.gale.com/apps/doc/A161510510/MSIC?u=wamslib&sid=bookmark-MSIC&xid=4898869d.
Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

[5] Mueller, Michelle. “Understanding OCD: Find out Exactly What
Obsessive-compulsive Disorder Is and See How One Teen Lived with This
Difficult Diagnosis. (disease & Disorders).” Current Health 2, a Weekly
Reader Publication, vol. 28, no. 7, Mar. 2002, p. 26+. Gale in Context:
Middle School, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A83794634/
MSIC?u=wamslib&sid=bookmark-MSIC&xid=a0dc75b9. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.