Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a potentially disabling condition that can persist throughout a person's life. The individual who suffers from OCD becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are unproductive, distressing, and extremely difficult to overcome. OCD can severely disrupt a person's capacity to function at work, at school, or even at home. People with OCD usually have considerable insight into their own problems. Most of the time, they know that their obsessive thoughts are senseless or exaggerated and that their compulsive behaviors are not really necessary.

Most people with OCD struggle to banish their unwanted, obsessive thoughts and do everything they can to prevent themselves from engaging in compulsive behaviors. Many are able to keep their obsessive-compulsive symptoms under control during the hours when they are at work or attending school. But over the months or years, resistance may weaken, and when this happens, OCD may become so severe that time-consuming rituals take over the sufferers' lives, making it impossible for them to continue activities
outside the home.

OCD affects more than 2% of the population. OCD sufferers often attempt to hide their disorder rather than seek help. Often they are successful in concealing their obsessive-compulsive symptoms from friends and coworkers. An unfortunate consequence of this secrecy is that too often people with OCD usually do not receive professional help until years after the onset of their disease. By that time, they may have learned to work their lives--and family members' lives--around the rituals.
Although OCD symptoms typically begin during the teenage years or early adulthood, recent research shows that some develop the disorder earlier in childhood, even during the preschool years. Suffering from OCD during early stages of the child's development can cause severe, long-lasting problems for the child. It is important they receive treatment from a therapist especially skilled at treating children with the disorder as soon as possible.

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