• WayAhead
  • WayAhead Directory
  • Mental Health Month
  • PNDA
  • Stress Less
  • WayAhead Workplaces

Understanding Anxiety

Information and support for Anxiety Disorders

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Understanding Anxiety is a WayAhead program

  • Support Groups
    • Calendar
    • What happens at a Support Group?
    • Locations
    • Become a Facilitator
      • Facilitators Login
  • About Anxiety
    • What is anxiety?
    • Translated information
    • Personal Experiences
      • Bani’s Story – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
      • Julie’s Story – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
      • Marie’s Story – Agoraphobia
      • Quinn’s story – Generalised Anxiety Disorder
    • A Summary of the Latest Research
    • OCD and Anxiety Disorders Week
  • Anxiety in Children
    • Does my child need help with their anxiety?
    • Small Steps Seminars for Primary Schools and Parents
    • Find a Child and Adolescent Anxiety Clinic
    • Video – Big Questions about Childhood Anxiety
  • Getting Help
    • Getting help
    • Treatment and Support
    • Medicare Rebate for Psychologists
    • Find a clinic
    • Helpful Websites
    • Translated Information
  • Education
    • Understanding Anxiety Forums
    • Small Steps Seminars for Primary Schools and Parents
    • OCD Awareness Week
  • Contact Us
    • Anxiety Disorders Information Phone Service
    • Telephone Interpreter Service 131450
    • WayAhead Directory of Mental Health Services

OCD Awareness Week, May 22nd – 28th 2016

February 6, 2016 by Leanne Kelly

WayAhead are promoting an OCD Awareness Week May 22 – 28, 2016.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder in which an obsession, for example – concern that something bad may happen to someone is followed by a compulsion for example: if I tap my hands this bad thing won’t happen.

“People with OCD often feel intense shame about their need to carry out these compulsions. These feelings of shame can exacerbate the problem and the shame, and consequent secrecy associated with OCD can lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. It can also result in social disability, such as children failing to attend school or adults becoming housebound” says beyondblue.

For WayAhead educator, Julie Leitch whose life was ruled by OCD and its rituals, OCD Awareness Week represents an opportunity to let people know what it is like for people with OCD and there is hope, “if people can know that for someone with OCD life can be miserable and lonely, it affects relationships and work but they can get help and manage the Disorder, they can control the OCD rather than the other way around”.

According to beyondblue “people with OCD often feel intense shame about their need to carry out these compulsions. These feelings of shame can exacerbate the problem and the shame, and consequent secrecy associated with OCD can lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. It can also result in social disability, such as children failing to attend school or adults becoming housebound”

OCD Awareness Week will attempt to lessen the shame. Activities that WayAhead are undertaking include

These free events below – while free, bookings are essential via EventBrite

  • Monday 23rd May Panel Discussion: OCD Awareness Week – Woolloomooloo
  • Wednesday 25th May Public Forum: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – Springwood
  • Saturday 28th May Conference: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – Gosford
  • Saturday 28th May Professional Development: the Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – Gosford

WayAhead have also developed

  • A media campaign based around Carers and their role in OCD
  • A series of posters – these will be printed and ordered online or ready for downloading now

Please help, try and hold an event or use our posters to help people understand what is OCD and what it means to the person who is diagnosed with OCD.

Together we can make a difference.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Anxiety Promotion

Personal Stories

  • Bé's Story

    Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

  • Julie's Story

    Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

  • Marie's Story

    Agoraphobia

  • Quinn's Story

    Generalised Anxiety Disorder

  • Anonymous Story

    Anxiety Support Groups really help

  • Anonymous Story

    Pure Obsessional OCD

Podcast and Radio Interviews

  • All in the Mind - Lynne Malcom

    Dr Rocco Crino, Julie Leitch and Mary

  • Conversations with Richard Fidler

    Dr Rocco Crino & Julie Leitch

  • ABC Classic FM Midday Interview - Margaret Throsby

    Dr Rocco Crino

Interesting Articles

  • Talking About It

    Celebrities opening up about mental health

  • Strength of Online Communities

    How YouTube stars tackle poor mental health

  • Accommodating OCD

    Family Accommodation of OCD

  • Treating OCD with Exposure Therapy

    All in the Mind with Lynne Malcom

  • Burwood Anxiety Support Group

    Meet Sam, our facilitator

Resources

  • Research into Anxiety

    Precis by Ron Rapee

  • Adult Anxiety Clinics NSW
  • Childrens Anxiety Clinics NSW

Get Support

Mental Health Support Line

1300 794 991

Anxiety Disorders Support Line

1300 794 992

5 days a week

9.00 - 5.00pm

Contact


Level 5, 80 William St Woolloomooloo NSW 2011

info@wayahead.org.au

Telephone: (02) 9339 6000

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Produced by

Supported By

WayAhead Websites

WayAhead Online DIrectory

Mental Health Month

Understanding Anxiety

Workplace Health Promotion Network

Stress Less Tips

Perinatal Depression and Anxiety

© 2019 · WayAhead - Mental Health Association NSW · All Rights Reserved ·