Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterised by the presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both, that can interfere with meaningful daily activities and cause significant distress to an individual. Treatments can be effective to manage the symptoms and experiences of individuals with OCD, if further concerns persist, including those in relation to the interference of OCD with your quality of life, do not hesitate to seek the advice of a health professional.

What is OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic, and long-lasting disorder in which a person experiences a pattern of uncontrollable and recurrent thoughts and obsessions, driven by the urge to repetitively engage in such behaviours and compulsions. Common themes experienced by individuals with OCD are inclusive of fear, such as the fear of germs or the need to control and arrange objects or complete a series of actions in a specific manner.

Although the cause of OCD is not explicitly known, genetics, an individual's environment to which they are exposed to and learned behaviours throughout their life can play a role, commonly present in teenagers and early adulthood. More information into the causes of OCD can be found here.

OCD can present itself in a number of ways. The collection of obsessions and compulsions that disrupt someone's day and can feature themes associated with:

If you would like more information, you can check out this website.

Typical obsessions experienced by individuals with OCD can include:

Strategies to manage OCD

Approximately 7 out of 10 people benefit from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and/or medication in the management of symptoms and experiences associated with OCD. Further information regarding this can be found here. Research suggests that Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is one of the most effective CBT treatments available, with strong evidence supporting its use in the treatment of OCD.

Some other interventions that are available to individuals, seeking to mitigate their symptoms of OCD can include:

It is important to remember that everyone is different and as such, everyone's experiences are different. You are not alone, there are a range of supports available and accessible to you to enhance your health, wellbeing and quality of life. A combination of self-care, therapy based and medications can be useful in managing OCD however it is important to seek the advice of a health professional to guide and support you through this process.

OCD and my studies

A student with OCD may experience greater difficulty in concentrating and maintaining focus, leaving them feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. The following recommendations can be considered when studying, to enhance your academic experience and outcomes, while managing OCD.

University Support

If you would like support then the WSU Counselling Service, Disability Service, or Student Welfare Service can help you.

Students can access free, short term, confidential counselling services. Face to face, Zoom or telephone appointments can be made by telephoning 1300 668 370 or sending an email to counselling@westernsydney.edu.au. Our office hours are Monday to Friday 9:00am - 4:30pm.

The Disability Service is free to access with Disability Advisors assisting students to meet their full potential. If you have a diagnosed physical, psychological or medical condition that impacts on your studies, you may be eligible for an Academic Reasonable Adjustment Plan (ARAP), developed by the Disability Service. Contact the Disability Service on 1300 668 370, email disability@westernsydney.edu.au or make contact via WesternNow.

For assistance regarding academic, personal and financial hardship, international support or accommodation, call 1300 668 370 or make contact via WesternNow.

Multifaith Chaplaincy can provide confidential conversation and care and support for stress management and anxiety with links to religious groups and faith communities. For more information, please call Daniel Jantos on 0402 771 543 or email d.jantos@westernsydney.edu.au.

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Consider applying for Disruption to Studies and Requests for Extension if you feel as though your studies have been significantly impacted.

Deferred Exam – You can apply for a Deferred Exam no later than 5:00pm on the second working day after your scheduled exam if you are unable to attend a final exam due to serious illness, misadventure or other exceptional circumstances beyond your control. Submit a Student Form and attach supporting documents online for application.

Withdrawal Without Academic Penalty is an option available after the Census Date of the teaching term provided that you meet eligibility.

A Leave of Absence is a temporary break from studying. Once you have completed one or more subjects in your enrolled program, you can apply for a Leave of Absence. A Leave of Absence can be taken as either six or twelve months. The maximum amount of leave you can take during your program is twelve months. Please note, you must submit your application before the relevant census date.

If you are considering any of these options, please reach out to the counselling service for support and guidance. If you are an international student, please make sure you seek advice particularly if you are considering withdrawing without penalty or taking a leave of absence as these may have implications for your visa conditions.

Community Support

If you are really struggling during the night when completing assessments or feel most alone, contact Lifeline (24 hours crisis counselling) - 13 11 14 or,

Lifeline SMS Counselling Service - Between 6pm and midnight you can text 0477 13 11 14 and somebody will text you back!

This Mental Health Line is staffed by mental health professionals that can help and provide you advice about your needs and discuss referrals to local mental health services. It is available to everyone in NSW and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Be you – Beyond Blue: General information about building resilience and facing adversity.

You can also check out the online treatment program for OCD from This Way Up.

This free online treatment program has been developed by the Black Dog Institute to help people better self-manage mild-to-moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.

The site has blogs on various mental health topics, reading materials on intrusive thoughts and OCD, a global mental health livestream with various speakers and more.

You can check out some podcasts about OCD featuring experts in the field or people who are experiencing similar symptoms sharing about their life in the OCD Stories.

Podcasts

What is OCD?

This podcast episode delves into what OCD is and addresses common misconceptions portrayed through the media. This podcast also offers bi-weekly episodes, exploring interventions, strategies and lived experiences of individuals with OCD. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

My Top Ten Tips for Overcoming OCD

In this podcast episode, 10 top tips on overcoming OCD are shared from real life, lived experiences of an individual diagnosed with OCD. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Videos

Apps

Still struggling?

If you are finding it difficult to manage on a day-to-day basis, it may be helpful to speak to your General Practitioner regarding a Mental Health Care Plan and referral to a psychologist, or you can speak to a counsellor or other health professional. Remember you are not alone and there will always be someone out there who is willing to stay with you through your hard times.