When is OCD Awareness Week?

OCD Awareness Week takes place from October 13-19 every year. The week was launched by the International OCD Foundation and aims to break the stigma and raise awareness around Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

What is OCD?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common but often misunderstood mental health condition affecting 1 in 50 people in the UK.

People living with OCD will experience obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours that can impact daily life.

Someone’s obsessions might be unwanted thoughts, urges, or images that repeatedly appear in their mind. They can be hard to ignore and often cause a lot of anxiety.

To ease the anxiety caused by obsessions, people may perform certain mental or physical actions or rituals, known as compulsions. The relief from these actions is usually temporary, and the cycle can take up a lot of time and energy throughout the day.

OCD is not an adjective or a quirk, so let’s all stop using it as one.

Amanda, who lives with OCD Amanda, who lives with OCD

Common misconceptions about OCD

OCD is not about “enjoying cleaning” or “being tidy”, despite what certain portrayals in the media might have you think.

Using "OCD" as an adjective for being neat belittles the real experiences of those living with it. It's important for us all to understand that OCD is a serious condition that requires proper treatment and support.

The importance of OCD Awareness Week

OCD Awareness Week encourages everyone to better understand the condition. By sharing real stories and promoting correct information, we can break the stigma surrounding OCD and help those affected feel less isolated.

Get involved

Join us in raising awareness about OCD. Share your story, support a loved one, or simply educate yourself about the condition. Together, we can make a difference and help break the stigma surrounding OCD. Visit our OCD Awareness Week page.