Dear Harlan,

I'm a high-school senior, and I recently found out that I've been suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder for years. In eighth grade, I should have sought help, but I didn't want to tell anyone about my repressed thoughts or compulsions. It affected my quality of life by making me terrified to think for a few months for fear of what my mind would bring up. At the moment, I'm still living with it, but it isn't as disruptive - most of my more upsetting symptoms are gone. While it's at a low point, I'm afraid that when I go to college next year, with the added stress of living in a new place, away from home for the first time, with strangers, and so many pressures, that it'll come back full force - or even worse than before. I don't want this to make college unbearable. Thank you. It actually was a relief to write this down.

Thinking and Afraid

 

Dear Thinking,

Thank you for sharing this. You probably already know this, but more students than ever before are attending college with documented disabilities. One big reason: students are being identified and supported earlier than ever. The support part is key - support makes all the difference. Regarding your concerns, only choose a school where you can be supported. Investigate all the resources available on each campus. Find a psychiatrist and therapist in the local community who specialize in OCD and create a support network before ever stepping foot on campus. OCD doesn't define you. It's a part of you. And it's a part that needs to be embraced, supported and managed. The good news, more schools than ever before are equipped to support and educate you.