UBC Mental Health Awareness Club

OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is a term that is often misused and misunderstood.  A person’s preference for tidiness, tendency to colour-code all of his or her possessions, or perfectionism might be, inaccurately, referred to as “OCD” for the sake of exaggeration.  The reality of OCD, however, is that it can cause serious anxiety and stress especially for students adjusting to university life away from home.

Emily House, a first-year university student in the UK, recounts her experiences in the Independent article, “My story: living with OCD”.  In addition to the loneliness of living away from family for the first time and the pressures of everyday university life, Emily was faced with the lack of support and awareness surrounding her condition.  All university students get stressed or have periods of emotional struggle, but these ‘typical’ hardships especially took a toll on Emily because they worsened her obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Emily describes being teased for her obsessive-compulsive tendencies by even those closest to her.  At their peak, however, her symptoms grew increasingly severe and beyond her control.  At a time when young adults hope to take control over their lives, OCD can seem like an obstacle and may cause self-doubt and anxiety left untreated.

If you or someone you know has OCD, here are some potential steps to take:

1. Visit a doctor at the UBC Medical Clinic or a counsellor at the UBC Counselling Centre.  Discussing ways to control compulsions with a healthcare/counselling professional may help relieve stress and anxiety in addition to tackling the issue at hand.
2. Ask your doctor about behavioural therapy programs that may help with controlling OCD.
3. Ask a counsellor about peer groups in the community where you can meet other people with OCD or other mental illnesses and form a positive support network.  Not only might this provide the opportunity to discuss ways that worked for others in controlling their symptoms, but simply talking to people who have had similar experiences and struggles can be very encouraging.
4. Talk to those close to you – a friend, coach, family member, anyone who will provide a listening ear and non-judgemental attitude.  They may or may not be able to provide practical advice, but simply getting those around you to better understand your situation can help uplift stress.

This is by no means a complete list, or a “cure” for OCD; however, these practical steps can be taken to begin working towards a less stressful and more positive university experience.

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/student/student-life/health/my-story-living-with-ocd-8502609.html

Making the effort to maintain your mental health is just as important as keeping your body in shape!  Need ideas?  Here are 10 Mental Fitness Tips from the Canadian Mental Health Association:

1. Collect positive emotional moments. – store moments in your memory when you experience positive emotions like pleasure, comfort, tenderness, or confidence, and pull them out to lift your mood or confidence when you’re feeling down, stressed, or anxious.
2. Learn how to cope with negative thoughts. – When you notice negativity start invading your thoughts, interrupt it.  Blocking them out probably won’t work, but you can prevent them from becoming a priority by distracting or comforting yourself if you can’t resolve the problem immediately.  Talking to a friend or family member, or anyone with a positive attitude, is a good idea.
3. Focus on 1 activity at a time. – When out for a walk or with friends, turn off your cell phone and don’t think about your “to do” list for the evening.  Don’t forget to take in all the sights, sounds, and smells around you; enjoy your surroundings.
4. Exercise. – Staying physically fit is key to being emotionally fit!  Regular physical activity improves mental health and reduces the likelihood or effects of depression or anxiety.  Suggestion: if you’re feeling lonely, join a fitness group, gym, or one of the many athletic intramurals/clubs at UBC to connect with positive, health-minded people with common interests!
5. Don’t neglect your hobbies—or pick up some new ones. – Enjoying hobbies helps balance your life since it gives you time for yourself, free from daily pressures from school, work, or home.  Hobbies are also great because they keep your brain active.
6. Get personal goals. – Both large and small.  It might be finishing one novel a month if you’re trying to improve your literacy skills, running a few laps around the block every day if you want to improve physical fitness, going to office hours once a week this term if you’re struggling to keep up in your classes.  Setting goals provides tangible motivation for you to improve yourself, builds confidence, and brings satisfaction.
7. Keep a journal. – Express your thoughts and feelings through a written journal, a diary app on your phone, or an online personal blog.  Writing about a stressful time often helps put things into perspective and reduce the negative emotions that may have built up.  It’s also helpful to keep a record of positive experiences that you can look back on, perhaps after a long and tiring day.
8. Share humour. – When you see something that makes you smile or laugh pass it along to brighten someone else’s day!  It could be as small as a funny phrase you see on a street sign or a humorous youtube video.  A little humour can go a long way.
9. Volunteer. – Volunteering is golden because it’s a “win-win” activity.  If you want to feel better, widen your social network, gain valuable learning experiences, and bring balance to your life—and most importantly, directly improve other people’s lives—find a volunteering opportunity with a UBC club or in your community!  govolunteer.ca, UBC Careers Online, and the AMS club listings are great places to start your search.
10. Treat yourself. – Cook yourself a delicious meal, have a bubble bath, explore the natural beauty of your neighbourhood on a walk, see a movie with friends, hang out with your brother or sister for the afternoon…whatever you want.  Take time to do something for yourself.

Source: http://www.cmha.ca/mental_health/mental-fitness-tips/#.UU3o-hysiSp

We know from past studies that depression in adults is linked to heart disease and risk of serious complications. New studies have found that teens who were depressed as children are more likely to suffer from obesity, increased likelihood of smoking cigarettes, and living sedentary lives. This increases heart risks later in life, even when teens are no longer suffering from depression.

In 2004, researchers gathered information from 201 children with clinical depression, 195 healthy siblings, and 161 unrelated children with no depression. The average age for the children was nine years old. Later in 2011, at the age of 16, scientists looked at the rate of smoking, obesity and sedentary lifestyle. The kids who were clinically depressed at the age of nine had a 22% obesity rate, while 17% of their siblings were obese and 11% of unrelated children who were never depressed. Similar trends were recorded among smoking and physical activity.

Researchers then used statistical methods to eliminate confounding factors and found the effect of depression to be pronounced. For example, the siblings of depressed children were also 5 times more likely to smoke than the control group, however the depressed children were an additional 2.5 times more likely to smoke.

Finally, researchers found heart disease risk factors were more common in depressed children whether they continued to suffer from depression in their teens or not. Researchers conclude that depression seem to play a causal role in the development of cardiac risks, however more studies will need to be conducted.

Source: http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/03/17/depression-in-kids-linked-to-cardiac-risks-as-teens/52678.html?utm_source=PsychCentral&utm_medium=twitter