OCD in Teens | Specialized Teen OCD Treatment

OCD is a mental health condition that features recurring patterns of distressing, intrusive thoughts, sensations, and fears. OCD sufferers experience strong emotions that include anxiety, disgust, and physical sensations like feeling dirty. They may have pervasive, sometimes paralyzing, thoughts that they forgot something, like locking the door.

One typical example of OCD is constant hand washing. The obsessive thoughts are the feeling that their hands are so dirty that they disgust them, or that they are covered in germs. The compulsion is repetitive handwashing. In severe cases of OCD, people may wash their hands so much that their skin becomes raw and bleeds.

The need to control their overwhelming, uncontrollable thoughts drives them to the repetitive, compulsive behaviors. These repetitive behaviors are an attempt to control the intrusive thoughts driven by their obsession. For instance, a teen whose brain continues to tell them they forgot to lock the door may go and check it over and over. Despite knowing the door is closed, they persist in checking just to make sure.

There are subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which include:

• Harm OCD – The fear of causing harm to yourself or someone else.
• Contamination OCD – Fear of germs or other types of contamination
• Checking OCD – The need to check things like door locks or stoves repeatedly
• Ordering OCD – The need for order and symmetry.

Most people’s OCD symptoms fall into one or more of these subtypes.1

OCD is somewhat common in young people. How common is this condition in young people? The International OCD Foundation estimates that approximately one in every 100 individuals is affected by ocd in teens.

While they can start at any age, the first symptoms of ocd in teens tend to emerge between the ages of 7 and 12 or during the late adolescent years.

Because rituals are common during development, it is easy for families to misread the symptoms of ocd in teens. Unlike normal neatness, true OCD involves intrusive thoughts that interfere with daily life.. That is also true for people who have set rituals. For instance, your teen may do the exact same things each day before going to bed. They may have trouble falling asleep if they don’t follow that pattern, but that doesn’t mean they have OCD.

Obsessive compulsive disorder goes beyond common rituals. It involves intrusive thoughts and compulsions in response to them. The teen gets no relief from the compulsive action, though. The obsessive compulsive behavior eventually interferes with their daily lives. It may prevent them from attending classes or being able to focus enough to study. They may not have time to spend with family and friends because their compulsions consume it.

Some OCD symptoms parents can watch for in teens include:

• Complaining of unwanted intrusive thoughts or images in their mind that cause them distress.
• Saying something over and over, for example, counting everything they see.
• Doing the same thing repeatedly, like checking to see if the door is locked.
• Insisting on following a strict set of rules. An example of this is always requiring two of everything or only eating green food.

People with obsessive compulsive disorder often engage in reassurance seeking, too. They have a compulsive need to get validation from others. Hearing that they are doing something right once isn’t enough. They will ask over and over to confirm it. You may also hear them repeating phrases that offer internal assurance, such as “I washed my hands for five minutes.” They need to remind themselves that they did something in response to the intrusive thoughts.

The exact cause of OCD is unclear. Studies show that up to 20% of children with OCD have a parent with the disorder. That indicates genetics can play a role, but is not the only cause of OCD. Scientists believe there is a combination of factors involved. Brain structure and chemistry also seem to be part of the equation.

There may be environmental factors at play with OCD, too. However, no clear evidence exists of any single ecological factor causing the condition.

There is also some indication that an infection from Group A Streptococcus might be to blame. Scientists have been unable to prove this relationship, though. 4

Although it isn’t clear what causes obsessive compulsive disorder, there are risk factors that increase the chance a child will develop it. They include:

• Family history – If one or more family members have OCD, the risk is greater.
• Brain structure and function – Imaging does show differences in brain structure for some with OCD. Researchers are just not sure how those differences connect with the disorder.
• Trauma – Child abuse and other forms of significant distress can possibly increase the risk of OCD.

In most cases, more study is necessary to understand why these risk factors play a role in the development of obsessive compulsive disorder. 5

Although many teens may be aware they are doing things differently from others, they may not be open to discussing these behaviors with their parents and other family members. One thing parents and families can do is provide their teens with resources so they can learn about OCD on their own. The more they know about the condition, the more likely they are to recognize the symptoms and see the benefits of treatment.