As the school year approaches, you might feel anxiety increasing, sadness encroaching in, and uncertainty taking over. The end of summer break brings up a lot of emotions for everyone, and it is important to address those feelings as the new school year begins.
If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), these intensifying emotions arrive with a bundle of difficult OCD symptoms. Because OCD is so widely misunderstood, you may not even recognize some of the symptoms that spike when school starts. You might struggle to complete assignments, make new friends, follow certain school rules, and feel as though you’re falling short of expectations—all without realizing that OCD is to blame. Let’s take a look at how OCD might take over as you start your classes, and what you can do to manage your symptoms.
How can school affect my OCD?
OCD is easily worsened with stress, and when placed in a high-pressure environment like school, obsessions (intrusive thoughts, fears, images, sensations and/or feelings) can get worse as well. These can vary greatly, but some may be more closely related with the school environment: fears of contamination and germs, obsessions with doing everything perfectly or “just right,” fears about harming oneself or others, obsessions with numbers and counting, obsessions with checking, or excessive doubt and dread. If any of these obsessions sound familiar, you may also notice some of the following compulsions (physical or mental behaviors done in response to obsessions) interfering in your school day.
Compulsions that might get worse as you begin the school year
Fear of Germs and Contamination
- Avoiding using the bathroom
- Sanitizing hands or materials repeatedly
- Refusing to touch shared materials (athletic equipment, lab equipment, art materials, etc.)
- Refusing to eat in cafeteria or at school in general
Obsessions with Being Perfect or “Just Right”
- Re-reading paragraphs
- Re-starting assignments
- Taking extra long on tests
Obsessions with Checking
- Checking backpack or locker repeatedly
- Checking appearance or clothing repeatedly
- Asking for reassurance, repeating questions
Fear of Harming Yourself or Others
- Avoiding sharp objects (pens/pencils, utensils, art/lab equipment)
- Isolating from peers
- Checking for reassurance that you didn’t hurt someone
Obsessions with Numbers and Counting
- Taking a certain amount of steps to class
- Avoiding assignments or problems that have “dangerous” numbers
- Touching or tapping rituals
Fear of Discarding Materials
- Hoarding school materials
- Stashing “contaminated” materials to avoid spreading germs
- Maintaining a “magic” number of items to prevent something bad from happening
Obsessions with Religious and Moral Rules
- Fear of accidentally cheating or plagiarizing (might ask for reassurance)
- Avoiding answering questions in class for fear of lying
- Fear of saying something offensive in front of others
How OCD can impact your school life—and how to get help
All of these obsessions and compulsions, whether they’re visible or not, can create problems during your education. Whether it’s an inability to focus, a feeling of loneliness, trouble staying on top of grades, or making it to class on time, you might feel as though it’s hard to stay in control of your life.
You might even find that OCD can get you into trouble at school. Perhaps you compulsively check your phone for bad news, and get your device taken away. Maybe your step counting makes you late to class often, and you end up in detention. But whether your OCD symptoms land you in trouble or not, it is important to seek help.
If you do experience any of the compulsions listed above or something similar, it may be worth speaking to your counselor or teachers before the school year begins to let them know what you are dealing with. This will allow them to better help you with your learning throughout the school year, especially when OCD gets in the way. Consider speaking to trusted friends and family too, so that they can create a strong support system for you.
How teachers can support students with OCD
If you’re a teacher, you may be wondering how to help a student with OCD in the classroom. As it’s typically a challenge to spot OCD immediately, you may feel a bit out of your depth. The best way to help someone with OCD is to be patient and open-minded. Keep an eye out for students who seem overly anxious or stressed, or have a hard time keeping up with schoolwork. If you notice a student struggling with some of the symptoms we discussed earlier, consider asking how you can help assist their learning. Assistance from teacher to student could look like:
- Giving extra time on tests/exams
- Extending deadlines for larger projects
- Offering extra help on assignments
- Offering prepared notes (checking and rewriting can make taking notes a huge challenge)
As OCD specialist Tracie Zinman-Ibrahim explains, “teachers can also reach out to parents if they have concerns about OCD symptoms or behaviors, so that they can learn more about how they can be helpful when OCD behaviors are happening in class that disrupts the student’s ability to successfully participate in class and learning.”
What parents can do for children with OCD
If you’re a parent, you also probably want to know some ways to help your child. It’s important that you create an open and comfortable atmosphere for your child to talk to you about their OCD experiences and specific symptoms. Assistance from parent to student may look like:
- Hiring a tutor
- Spending time on homework together
- Helping your child’s teacher/counselors stay informed
- Fostering a healthy, positive home atmosphere around academics
Beyond this, “having discussions about anxiety and nervousness that may be coming up at the start of a new school year can be helpful,” Zinman-Ibrahim says, “because that can lead to increased OCD symptoms. Ensuring that the student has the tools they need to successfully manage their OCD symptoms can be done by using the skills they learn in therapy.” Parents may also want to request a 504 Plan or IEP evaluation in order to address any concerns about disruptions in a student’s education.
Tips for anyone to combat OCD misconceptions
Another way OCD easily hides in school is through harmful stereotypes. The phrase “I’m so OCD” is heard among teens frequently, and this creates the idea that OCD is an unproblematic quirk—sometimes it is even made out to seem desirable, or perceived as beneficial or practical.
Zinman-Ibrahim says it’s important that we are “providing real education on what OCD really is, presenting facts about the disorder in order to help people understand that it can be a lot more than just hand washing and being neat and tidy, and that it can be quite devastating to people. When hearing people say ‘I’m so OCD’ they can use it as a moment to teach why that statement can be hurtful and create confusion and misunderstanding of the actual disorder.”
Evidence-based treatment for OCD
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy is the most successful treatment when it comes to controlling and living with OCD in the long term, including in school. In ERP, you work with a trained specialist to gradually confront your obsessions, accept the uncertainty and fear you feel, and resist engaging in compulsions.
“ERP teaches people a variety of skills to use in response to OCD triggers, so that they can get through the activities of the day without feeling so overwhelmed or fearful that they interrupt their ability to be successful in the classroom and school environment,” explains Zinman-Ibrahim. “ERP allows students to take control over their OCD instead of allowing the OCD to control them.”
If you are a parent, you might think about bringing ERP to your child’s attention. Consider reaching out to a licensed therapist who has experience and training in OCD and ERP.
Many people find ERP intimidating, and they can be hesitant to begin treatment. But the discomfort created during therapy is worth it in the long run—don’t let your fear of facing OCD conquer your desire to heal.