Talking OCD & School with Dr. Jan Weiner

Read the full transcript below:

1) What are some challenges for someone in school with OCD?

Having OCD and going to college can be a significant challenge. You're leaving home for the first time and you're in a new environment. There is a new set of stressors. You're now functioning more independently than you ever have. If you happen to have OCD, an increase in that stress can bring an increase in your symptoms. Often when people make the transition to college, they feel an uptick in anxiety and OCD symptoms, which can present challenges when you're trying to get through schoolwork.

2) When is a good time to tell a teacher or professor you suffer from OCD?

If you're in college and suffering from OCD and it is impairing your academic performance, talk to your therapist about it. Make sure that you have a psychologist that you're working with. They can write a letter for you that doesn't necessarily state your symptoms, but can get you extra time or allowances if you feel comfortable discussing them with a professor.

3) What are some tips for staying productive?

First off, if you've had any ERP experience, do your exposures. Take a bathroom or food break, and incorporate your exposures into those pockets of time. Doing so will give you a little push throughout the day and help preempt some of your intrusive thoughts.

Another thing you can do is practice mindfulness techniques. Accept your thoughts and let them come in and out. Don’t try to control them or push them away, just allow them to be present.

4) What if someone with OCD can't get past their spikes?

If you're struggling with intrusive thoughts in college, one thing you can do is go on the IOCDF’s website or Psychology Today to see if there are any cognitive behavioral therapy practitioners in your area. Look for those with OCD experience and ERP techniques. Another tip is talking to your therapist about ways to keep their therapy consistent while you’re away. Or, ways that they can help you transition to a local therapist or new support network.

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