Help for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

For concrete advice on how to manage OCD — minimizing the debilitating effects and putting one’s hyper-focused tendencies to good use — check out some of these excellent resources.

• International OCD Foundation (IOCDF): The resources this organization offers are immense, from lists of therapists and self-help groups to detailed information on medications used to treat the disorder.
• Awareness Foundation for OCD (AFOCD): This site uses a variety of media, including lectures, emails, consulting, films and books to broaden visitors’ understanding of OCD.
• Beyond OCD: This site offers educational and support materials for people with OCD and their families. It also keeps visitors abreast of the latest research into new treatments.
• Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous (OCA): This resource approaches OCD the way AA approaches alcoholism and OA approaches compulsive overeating. It’s a 12-step program that guides visitors to meetings, literature and other tools.
• The OCD Challenge: This site offers a series of interactive exercises for OCD sufferers. It was developed by psychologists specializing in behavior therapy. According to the site, OCD Challenge has three modules: Assessment, Gaining Awareness and Intervention.
• Peace of Mind Foundation: OCD sufferer Elizabeth McIngvale learned to bring her condition to heel using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and was the first national spokesperson for the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation (now IOCDF). She established this site to supply sufferers with information about different types of OCD, treatment, and other resources. It’s also chock-full of videos from OCD sufferers and their families.