We know how important it is to have information and support for people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). That is why we've put together this new, reliable and user friendly website for all age groups. OCD-Today aims to bring awareness to sufferers and for people who may have little knowledge of this debilitating anxiety disorder. People with OCD suffer intensely from anxious thoughts or rituals that they feel they can't control. They may be plagued by persistent, unwanted thoughts or images, or by the sudden need to engage in certain rituals.

OCD was thought to be a very rare disorder up until the mid-1980s. There was little help and no effective treatment for this illness at the time. Over the last decade we have seen changes and though there is no immediate cure for OCD, we know that OCD is a common disorder and is treatable.

Amongst many other popular films OCD has been highlighted in a film called "As Good As It Gets " with Jack Nicholson winning an Academy Award for his representation of an author with this anxiety disorder. His obsessions were ranging from checking to contamination and routine rituals. For these people such symptoms lead to a vast deal of distress and suffering, whilst these and many other unusual habits can lead to isolation from society.

Many General Practitioners (GP) still have little knowledge of OCD, but this is changing as more people are now seeking help. Doctors can have considerable success in treating OCD and the earlier a person is treated, the higher the chances of success. There is nothing to feel embarrassed about: remember, this disorder is recognised and there is help and treatment, so this is the time for you to go and get yourself checked out and treated. Your GP will be able to refer you to an appropriate specialist, if needed.

Take a moment to think for a minute

Think of an occasion when a mental image has popped up into your mind without sudden warning. This might be senseless but most people are never bothered by these thoughts and they can easily forget about them, but a majority of people with OCD can't get rid of them that easily.

A lot of healthy people can identify with having some of the symptoms of OCD, such as checking the house several times before going out but not to the extent of a person with OCD. The type of anxiety that affects those with OCD relates to an inability to deal with common worries such as germs, death, illness, unfortunate events and injury of another person. The disorder is diagnosed only when such activities take up a lot of time (more than one hour per day) and are very distressing, and interfere with daily life. (e.g. work, friends, school, etc).

People who suffer from mental illness can often experience problems in the way they feel, think or/and behave. This can affect their relationship, their jobs, social life and not to forget their quality of life too. People with a mental illness can find it difficult not only for themselves, but also for their families and friends as well. Most adults with this condition recognise that what they're actually doing is senseless, but they can't stop it. Some people, particularly children with OCD, may not realise that their behaviour is out of the ordinary. Mental illness is very common and around one in four people will experience some kind of mental health problem. The most common mental disorder is depression and anxiety and on average one in six people in Great Britain will have this diagnosis at some point in their lives. By 2020 the World Health Organisation estimates that depression will be the second main cause of disability in the world - second only to heart disease.

There will always be questions about what is mental illness, what causes it and how people can be helped to recover. When people hear the word "mental", it is seen as being negative. Mental illness is one of the least understood conditions in society and because of this many people may face prejudice and discrimination; but remember that having a mental illness is not someones fault, and it is not something to be ashamed of.

For further information we have carefully selected links to UK organisations concerned with Mental Health issues, please check this out on our Useful Links page.