How Many Teens Have OCD? Talking About It With Your Teen – Visions Treatment Centers

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects approximately 500,000 children and teens in the US. While it is a well-known condition, OCD is frequently misunderstood and more common than most people expect. However, talking about OCD with your teen can encourage open conversation, help you and your teen recognize symptoms, and find appropriate treatment.

At its core, OCD is an anxiety disorder. Like social phobia or generalized anxiety, it centers around the physical and mental symptoms of fear and worry. However, it functions differently from those disorders. OCD is a recursive condition defined by two major characteristics: unwanted and overpowering obsessions and ritualistic, soothing compulsions, which are forms of compulsive behavior.

These characteristics feed one another and keep the cycle going. When an obsession is ignored, the anxiety and discomfort around it grow exponentially until a compulsion is used to soothe it. However, this ineffective coping mechanism usually leads to the next obsession in due time. Alternatively, certain environmental triggers – from stress to timing – can trigger an obsession.

Children and teens with OCD may not necessarily know or understand that they’re struggling with something most people don’t struggle with. However, the obstacles OCD can throw into schoolwork and home life can further feed the anxieties, frustrations, and depressive thoughts that may plague your child.

In teens who do know what OCD is and suspect they may have OCD, it becomes common to try and ignore or avoid the issue to dodge the stigma surrounding mental illness. Making sure your teen feels comfortable enough to talk about their anxieties and seek treatment is important. Here’s what you should know when talking about OCD with your teen.

Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of many mental health disorders characterized by recurring, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that an individual feels compelled to perform. These obsessions and compulsions can significantly impact daily life, social relationships, and overall well-being. For instance, a teen might feel an overwhelming need to wash their hands repeatedly to the point where it interferes with their schoolwork or social activities. The good news is that OCD is a treatable condition. With the right approach, including therapy and sometimes medication, individuals can learn to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Signs and Symptoms

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of OCD in your teen can be the first step toward getting them the help they need. Common examples include:

• Recurring, intrusive thoughts or images that cause anxiety disorder or distress
• Repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce anxiety or prevent perceived harm
• Excessive cleaning or handwashing
• Checking or rechecking things repeatedly, like whether the door is locked
• Arranging objects in a specific way or following a strict routine
• Intrusive, and obsessive thoughts or urges that are unwanted and distressing
• Avoiding certain situations or activities due to fear of triggering OCD symptoms

These behaviors can be exhausting and time-consuming, making it difficult for your teen to focus on school, hobbies, or friendships. Understanding these symptoms can help you better support your teen and seek appropriate treatment.

Causes and Risk Factors

The exact causes of OCD are not fully understood, but research suggests that it is a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors. Some potential risk factors for developing OCD include:

• Family history of OCD or other anxiety disorders
• Traumatic events or significant stress
• Certain medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders or inflammatory bowel disease
• Brain chemistry and structure, particularly in regions responsible for emotion regulation and habit formation

Understanding these risk factors can help you identify if your teen is at a higher risk for developing OCD and take proactive steps to address it. Early intervention can make a significant difference in managing the condition effectively.

Learn More

OCD is a complex disorder and not one to be lightly diagnosed. If you suspect that your teen or loved one might be struggling with OCD, especially if it runs in the family, it may be worth taking note of your teen’s behavior and speaking to a specialist first.

Learning more about OCD can help you talk to your teen about how they’ve been feeling and how they’ve been coping. Learn more about the different obsessions teens can struggle with and the many different ways in which compulsions develop.

OCD symptoms can even appear in the least likely of places, such as your teen’s gaming habits. There’s a difference between a quirky habit and a ritualistic devotion to certain daily practices.

If or once your teen is diagnosed, taking the time to learn more about OCD and how it is treated can help give both you and your child a better perspective of what’s to come and what to expect. Understanding the potential for a comorbid disorder, such as depression or bipolar disorder, can also prepare you for the complexities of treatment.

Dealing with Treatment Refusal and Compulsive Behaviors

People are not often enthusiastic about being encouraged to see a therapist or mental health professional. We do ultimately still associate mental health disorders with personal failings, although they are not related. Talk therapy, while commonly accessible, has limitations in treating OCD due to the disorder’s complexity and the need for more specialized care options.

It is crucial to ensure that your teen understands where you are coming from as a parent. You want them to have a chance at their best life rather than center on the idea that something is fundamentally wrong with them. We don’t blame people for having a bad knee or for suddenly receiving a cancer diagnosis. We can’t blame anyone for having OCD. But we can do something about it together.

Recognize Your Role

It can be hard to admit that we may contribute to our teen’s compulsions and behavior. Still, even inadvertent involvement can negatively affect your teen’s perception of their own condition, being misinterpreted as tacit approval or a sign that things are fine.

This can come in many unexpected ways, such as providing excessive reassurance (feeding the proverbial feedback loop of OCD) or inadvertently participating in ritualized behavior, such as nighttime rituals your teen can’t sleep without.

If you find yourself involved in your teen’s compulsions, it’s best to see a professional yourself and bring it up. Recognizing co-occurring psychiatric disorders is crucial, as they can exacerbate OCD symptoms. They can guide you through a context-sensitive way to help your teen and introduce better-coping mechanisms.

Champion Transparency and Honesty

This can be difficult for some parents. Giving your teen more space may sound counterproductive when you want to have a greater effect on them. But sometimes, pulling away is the best way to get your teen to come to you.

To truly help your teen, you need their full trust and total honesty. That comes from repeatedly showing your teen that you trust them, too, and that your love and affection for them are entirely unconditional, no matter what they think or feel.

Begin by respecting their privacy and right to a non-judgmental home environment. Tic disorders can also co-occur with OCD, affecting clinical presentations and requiring a sensitive approach. Snooping is an effective way to figure out what your teen is doing, but it’s an even better way to break their trust.

You want to foster an environment where your teen feels that they are being increasingly treated like independent adults while still being your child and your loved one. Then, talk to them in earnest. Be honest about your own experiences. Relate to what they feel, whether it’s anxiety about school or your own experiences with depression and stress.

When you can’t relate, be empathetic. Ask them what they want to do. Start talking about OCD with them. Talk to them about getting help. Offer to bring them to a therapist the next day.

Support Their Treatment with a Mental Health Professional

Conditions like OCD are difficult to treat and difficult to live with. They can be a lifelong obstacle, requiring continued treatment and varied coping skills to make do. But when a person’s loved one is diagnosed with these conditions, it poses a unique challenge.

Standing on the sidelines is difficult because your influence on your teen’s condition is, while important, ultimately limited. When severe OCD is accompanied by comorbid disorders, such as depression or an eating disorder, it may require higher levels of care and a dual diagnosis program to effectively address both issues. It is a battle you cannot fight for them. The most you can do is always be in their corner.

At times you will be their cheerleader. At times you will be their caretaker. But with patience, compassion, and the right help, you will also have many, many times where you will feel nothing but pride and joy for how your teen has overcome their challenges and continued to lead a good life in spite of them.

Medication Options

Medications, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can be effective in reducing OCD symptoms. SSRIs work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, which can help regulate mood and reduce anxiety. Other medication options may include:

• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
• Benzodiazepines (in some cases, for short-term use)

It’s essential to work with a mental health professional to determine the best medication plan for your teen’s individual needs. Medications can be a valuable part of a comprehensive treatment plan, often used in conjunction with therapy to help manage symptoms more effectively.

Pediatric OCD Considerations

Pediatric OCD, also known as Pediatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is a type of OCD that affects children and adolescents. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of OCD in young people is crucial, as early intervention can significantly improve treatment outcomes.

Some unique considerations for pediatric OCD include:

• Children and adolescents may exhibit different symptoms than adults, such as more overt compulsions or rituals
• Family members and caregivers play a crucial role in supporting treatment and providing a supportive environment
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP) are effective treatments for pediatric OCD
• Medications, such as SSRIs, may be used in conjunction with therapy to help manage symptoms

Working with a mental health professional who has experience in treating pediatric OCD is essential to develop an effective treatment plan. Early and appropriate intervention can help your child manage their symptoms and lead a fulfilling life.

OCD Treatment for Children and Adolescents at Visions

If talking about OCD with your child isn’t enough, contact us at Visions Treatment Centers. We can provide the tools and best OCD treatment approach to help your teen get back on track.