Finding Online Help for OCD
Three Sites Teaching Readers About Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Jul 15, 2009
A Google search for “OCD” has around 5,750,000 results, meaning plenty of information about obsessive-compulsive-disorder exists. But searching through all the available information about OCD can be daunting. This article focuses on three websites that offer quality content and expertise to help anyone searching for OCD help.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Site for OCD Help
As a government institute, the NIMH is a reputable and well-known source of mental health information. Its main page on obsessive-compulsive disorder provides paragraphs explaining the nature of OCD, its symptoms and treatment options. Each of these paragraphs includes a link, offering plenty of information on the topic.
In addition, the NIMH keeps a record of OCD-related news and provides links to obsessive-compulsive disorder-related publications. This information should assist anyone trying to learn more about OCD.
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA)’s Page About OCD
The ADAA, according to the “About ADAA” page on its website, promotes the recognition and understanding of various anxiety disorders, among other things. Their web resources on OCD certainly support that goal, given the breadth of content about OCD provided on the site.
Like the NIMH page, the ADAA site begins with a brief overview of the nature of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The opening paragraph leads into a detailed look at the “obsessions” and “compulsions” that comprise OCD, allowing browsers to compare obsessive-compulsive symptoms with their personal conditions. Although a formal diagnosis of OCD should come from a professional psychologist, psychiatrist or clinical social worker, symptom lists such as these can help anyone trying to learn the basic facts on this psychological disorder.
The bottom of the ADAA’s main OCD page has links to information for adolescents with the disorder, treatment choices and personal accounts, all of which can provide help for OCD sufferers.
The Obsessive Compulsive Foundation (OCF) Website
While the ADAA and NIMH deal with multiple anxiety disorders, the OCF website deals mainly with OCD. It provides a detailed explanation of obsessive-compulsive disorder in “About OCD,” one of the educational resources on their site.
This article, like the NIMH version, begins by exploring the symptoms of OCD. It then gives a description of compulsions and obsessions related to the disorder before progressing to questions on obsessive-compulsive disorder’s time of onset and cause. “About OCD” also has a detailed description of diseases that may be related to OCD.
The OCF has additional resources on topics like childhood OCD, adult and youth medication and therapy.
The Need for Personal Support for OCD Sufferers
Although websites on obsessive-compulsive disorder are often written and maintained by professionals, they are no substitute for a psychological or psychiatric evaluation (performed by a medical professional). Only a medical professional can provide an accurate diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and only psychiatrists (with some exceptions) can prescribe medication.
The web pages featured in this article are only some of the 5,750,000 OCD search results on Google, but they provide some of the best help for OCD available on the internet. Those searching for OCD information should thoroughly read the disorder-related articles that the NIMH, ADAA and OCF have to offer.
Related Articles on OCD
The following articles can provide introductory information to those seeking to broaden their knowledge on OCD.
Treatment for OCD explains the basic procedure in recovering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Negative Effects of Scrupulosity highlights the dangers of scrupulosity, a religious form of obsessive-compulsive disorder in which the sufferer is often besieged with intense guilt over sin and disturbing thoughts of a religious nature. Treatment for Pure-O Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder deals with Pure-O OCD, a condition where the patient may be afraid of his or her own thoughts.
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