Spot and Support: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A pupil who keeps rewriting the same paragraph, or asks for the toilet again and again, may not be avoiding work at all. With obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), the ritual eases an anxiety that feels unbearable, and blocking it usually makes things worse. It isn't deliberate, and the pupil may be exhausted from being up half the night with it.

You'll learn the signs, from fears about germs to constant reassurance-seeking, and why the relief a ritual brings keeps the cycle going. In class, a quiet spot, a distraction such as running an errand, and every adult agreeing not to punish the behaviour all help.

For older pupils there's more, like asking about typed answers in exams, helping maths staff with a number the pupil thinks is unlucky, and keeping a log with home to spot triggers.