OCD Live Forum: "You Can Get Better!" October 10th in Chicago |
We invite you to discover the power that shared personal stories have to encourage and motivate people to stand up to their OCD.
Help us kick off OCD Awareness Week by meeting six people--including a teenager--who faced their OCD head-on with exposure therapy. Learn how cognitive behavior therapy can be a life-changer for you or a loved one at this informal evening of support, connections and awareness.
Read about the presenters >
Learn more & register for the event >
This event sponsored by Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital. |
Eight-Part Series on OCD Set to Air on BlogTalkRadio Next Month
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Experts at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Department of Psychiatry will team up to discuss diagnosis, new treatments, and available resources for adults and children with OCD throughout the month of October. Listeners can submit questions in advance and tune in each Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. EST.
You can listen online or via phone by dialing into 347-996-5875.
10/1 What is OCD?
10/3 How Do We Treat OCD?
10/8 Cognitive Behavior Therapy for OCD
10/10 Novel Medications for OCD
10/15 Parenting a Child with OCD
10/17 Supporting a Loved One with OCD
10/22 How Does Hoarding Disorder Differ from OCD
10/24 Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder:
How Does It Differ from OCD?
10/29 Neurosurgery for OCD
10/31 Future Directions in OCD Treatment & Research
Learn more >
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University of Chicago Seeking Volunteers for a New OCD Drug Study |
Have you tried different medications but still struggle to stop OCD symptoms? The University of Chicago is currently seeking volunteers for a 21-week research study using a drug for OCD. The study involves 11 visits, and participants will be reimbursed for time and travel. Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 65. This project is one of the first OCD treatment studies in almost 20 years in the city of Chicago. Dr. Jon Grant is the director of the study. To learn more, visit the study web site or call 773-702-9066. To find out if you're eligible to participate in the study, complete the screening survey. |
Extreme OCD Camp |
The BBC created a powerful two-part documentary film that followed six British teens and young adults living with OCD as they embarked on a life-changing course of exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy in the United States.
You can watch clips from the two episodes and read first-hand experiences written by the participants and the founder of the teen OCD camp in Washington State on the BBC web site.
"My hope is that viewers of the programme gain a better understanding of how challenging it can be to live with OCD and that those watching who may have OCD, or other forms of anxiety, feel less alone and learn that effective treatment is available. I also hope that those watching are as inspired by the six individuals who had the courage to participate in this programme as I was. They are exceptional people who also happen to have OCD. Their stories have the power to challenge stereotypes about mental health problems and raise awareness about the need for more dialogue, particularly among young people, about these problems. I have a feeling that if their stories could inspire me in such a significant way, they will inspire others as well." ~ Travis Osborne, Ph.D., Co-founder of Camp DCO 
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Development News
New Young Professionals Board Kicks Off Work with Cocktails for a Cause
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We're excited to announce the formation of the Beyond OCD Young Professional Board! This group will connect and foster relationships with the OCD community at large, young professionals and the general public by creating special events and other activities. Their mission is to increase overall awareness about OCD and about Beyond OCD's comprehensive resources. Serving as its president, Julia M. Momkus of Per Se Group, Inc. will lead this group of energetic men and women.
The Young Professional Board is also tasked with creating meaningful relationships with a new generation of donors; their year one revenue goal is $50,000. Join us for Cocktails for a Cause on October 19th in Chicago to meet the new board members, honor National OCD Awareness Week, contribute to Beyond OCD and have fun!
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Check Out Our All-New OCD Guide for College Students!
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Lighten your Load..Lose the OCD! A Guide for College Students is our updated publication created specifically for college students. It addresses the unique challenges of managing OCD on a college campus. The guide is available in English, with a Spanish version coming soon.
Download the guide >
Special thanks to Dr. Gail Adams, Scientific Advisory Board member, for contributing her expertise and to board member Andrea Kayne Kaufman for donating funds that made this new guide possible!
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Recent News on Depression  | |
Why does Giving Voice regularly bring you news about depression? Because people who have OCD are at a greater risk for developing other forms of mental illness, and as many as two-thirds of people with OCD will experience an episode of major depression their lifetime. Not only is depression a challenging illness on its own, but it also can get in the way of OCD treatment.
Eliminating the Stigma of Workplace Depression
The new Right Direction program is designed to help end the stigma of depression in the workplace by raising awareness about stress and depression, demystifying the symptoms and treatments, and providing helpful resources.
Light Drinking Linked To Lower Risk Of Depression
Recent research suggests that drinking wine in moderation may be associated with a lower risk of developing depression.
The Answer: $23 Billion
The question: How much money do American employers lose each year because of lost productivity due to depression?
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This Is Your Brain on CBT
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You've read it here countless times, but this fact bears repeating: cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is the gold standard of OCD treatment. It is the treatment recommended by nationally-recognized institutions such as the National Institutes of Mental Health, the Mayo Clinic and Harvard Medical School.
CBT can actually change the way your brain functions.
A recent article on the BBC web site provides a terrific overview of how CBT works. Read the article >
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New Expert Perspectives Articles |
We've recently added two new articles to our Expert Perspectives series, both by Dr. Fred Penzel, licensed psychologist, executive director of Western Suffolk Psychological Services, in Huntington, NY, and member of IOCDF's scientific advisory board. |
Free Tourette Syndrome Workshop for Educators and Parents |
If you have questions about Tourette Syndrome, its associated disorders and the impact of these disorders on social and emotional well-being, school performance and behavior, Susan Conners, M.Ed., has the answers. Author of The Tourette Syndrome & OCD Checklist -- A Practical Reference for Parents and Teachers, Connors is a leading authority and internationally recognized speaker on Tourette Syndrome.
When: Sunday, September 29th, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. CDT Where: Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Elmhurst, IL
The free workshop is sponsored by the Tourette Syndrome Association of Illinois. Registration is required. Learn more >
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