OCD Action Week - infographic

It's OCD Action Week - an awareness week that looks to dispel common myths about the condition, raise awareness and help encourage sufferers to take action. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) causes those affected to have intrusive thoughts that can often only be quelled by repeating a certain action.

When some people think of the term OCD, they tend to picture someone who is compulsively neat and likes to be clean. While this is how the condition manifests in some people, cleaning, washing or tidying are not the only actions that occur with OCD.

For some the action may not even be visible. They may count or repeat a phrase in their head for example. Constantly 'checking' things for safety is another common manifestation, so a sufferer may feel the need to turn a light switch on and off a number of times before they feel comfortable leaving a room.

These actions become troublesome when they interfere with someone's daily life. It can lead to anxiety and depression, and it can make everyday life exhausting. Worryingly, statistics show that on average there is a 12 year delay in being diagnosed with OCD and receiving treatment.

Treatment for OCD is readily available however. A common combination of therapies is anti-obsessional medication and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), however treatments will depend on individual circumstances.

This week we want to shed some light on the lesser known facts about OCD to encourage people to seek treatment earlier and improve their quality of life. To help us, please share our infographic on Facebook and Twitter.