This is Diana. She's a pretty normal girl, but she has a problem. She can't stop worrying about germs. She worries she will get very sick. To make her feel better, she doesn't touch anything without a paper bag and washes her hands for a long time. This can sometimes make her hands hurt and cause her to be late for school.

This is Robert. He is also pretty normal, but he has a problem as well. Everything he owns has to be lined up perfectly, his books, his toys, his socks...He spends many hours each day making sure everything

is lined up perfectly. He believes that if he does not do this, something bad will happen.

Diana and Robert have a hard time at school. Their friends wonder why Diana always washes her hands and why Robert needs everything to be lined up. Sometimes, it can be hard for Diana and Robert to make friends because of their habits.

Although it may seem like Robert and Diana have two very different problems...

They actually are dealing with the same problem, OCD!

What is OCD?

OCD is what makes Robert and Diane worry so much. It tells them to worry about something, like how Diana worries about getting sick, and then tells them to do something to feel better. Robert lines things up to feel better, and Diana washes her hands. 

However, OCD has a trick!
After Diana washes her hands, and after Robert lines things up, they feel better for a little while.

But, very soon, Diana and Robert start worrying again, maybe EVEN MORE than before. It's a tricky cycle.

The OCD Cycle

1. Worried thought

2. Ritual

3. Temporary Relief

4. Back to 1.

This is the OCD monkey. His name is Quashy, but you can call him other names if you like.

He sends you worried thoughts, or bad bananas. The bad bananas make you want to do things to feel better. After you do want he wants, he goes away for a while, but then he comes back for more.

Quashy isn't trying to be mean! He's just lonely and bored. He wants your attention. But we need to learn how to teach Quashy that you CANNOT be tricked by his bad bananas!

Here's what you can do to show Quashy who's boss!!!

1.) Become more confident!

Before you start beating Quashy, you need to feel better about yourself. High-self esteem can help Quashy go away a lot faster. Here are some things to help you feel great about yourself!
1. OCD is not weird. It is common!
OCD is not uncommon at all. 1 in 100 kids have OCD, and 1 in 35 adults have it. 4 million Americans alone have it. Katy Perry and Daniel Radcliffe (the actor for Harry Potter) both have OCD.

2. You will never be your OCD!
If things get tough, remember, you are not your OCD! You are so much bigger than your OCD. You can have talents, strength and emotions, which will help you beat OCD.

Some things you can do to feel more confident are:
1. Remind yourself of all of the great things you have done, and what you are great at? Are you a great singer, or are you good at sports? Are you great at making friends, or do you make good grades? Remind yourself!
2. Get some exercise. Get some fresh air, this has been proven to boost your well-being!
3. Do things you're good at! This will not only help you feel AWESOME, but it also may help distract you from your OCD.

2.) Talk back to Quashy!
When Quashy sends you worried thoughts, you can FIGHT these thoughts! Here are some things you can say:

"You are not the boss of me Quashy!"
"Go away, Quashy!"

"I'm not listening to you right now, Quashy!"
"Don't you have better things to do, Quashy!"

"Bug someone else, Quashy!"
"You'll have to do better than that, Quashy!"
Talk to Quashy as if he were a bully, not as if he was yourself. Because, again, you are not your OCD.

I'm not listening to you right now, Quashy!

3.) Resist the urge to do a ritual.

Sometimes, Quashy will be very annoying and telling him to stop will not be enough. You need to resist the urge to do what Quashy tells you to. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IN OVERCOMING OCD. However, it can be hard sometimes, so here are some things you can do.

1. Don't spend much time doing it. Set a timer for how long you will do a ritual, and continue to shorten the timer over time.

2. Distract yourself. Instead of doing what Quashy tells you to, do something that you want to do! See a friend, or get some fresh air. You can do anything you like.

3. Don't do your ritual right. This will teach you that not doing your ritual will not put you in danger. Do the opposite of what Quashy tells you to. 

SHORTENING

DISTRACTING

CHANGING