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.