John, 18, writes about his OCD
"It started without me really noticing it. I got anxious about
someone in my family dying – so I began to tap three times, when I
got worried, for good luck and that would calm me down. Then I had
to do it before I could go to sleep at night –not once but 3 x
3.
When I watched the programme on TV about those germs in hospital
it began to get worse. I couldn’t tell my Mum or Dad about it
because it sounded so silly. I had to wash my hands all the time
because I thought I would pass on an infection and someone would
die. It was mainly at home, but then I began to worry that I would
catch something at school.
I made my Mum wash my school uniform every day. She tried to say
no, but I would get so worked up that she would give in. It came to
a head when I couldn’t get to school on time because I was spending
hours in the bathroom in the morning. I had to wash my hair three
times as well as going through washing in a set order. If I was
interrupted because someone needed the bathroom, I had to start
again.
Mum got me some help. I didn’t want to be seen as some psycho
person, but Dr Roberts was really nice and understood why I was so
worked up about everything. That was when I was 14. Now I am 18. It
was hard work doing the therapy. It is called CBT. You have to try
and work out why you are so anxious and try and control it. Now I
am at College and doing a course that I like. I still do some
counting, but I can keep it under control."