I’m not sure if I’m coming to the right place, but I need some advice. Basically, I’m 16 and I started college (U.K.) in September. I’m taking psychology, English language and sociology. My psychology teacher is the head of my college, and she’s lovely. I have ocd and I’m not sure if she knows or not, and I don’t know if I should tell her. I won’t go into great detail, but something that I have to do is when my work isn’t neat enough, I re write it over and over again until it’s “just right / perfect”. I’ve also started washing my hands A LOT, like I put 5 pumps of soap on, and then wash them & repeat that 5 times (the germ side of ocd never affected me until I started college). This isn’t everything, something’s related to my ocd I can’t ever speak aloud, but I don’t know if I should tell her and speak to her about it? I’m not sure if she’ll be able to do anything and I’m sure she’s really busy. Plus, because she teaches me I don’t want her to judge me or think of me any differently. Any advice is welcome, Thank you!

Why do you want to tell her?

Ok yeah maybe you can tell her if you trust her. One time I was falling behind in school because I had a medical Issue that I was upset about so I told my professor and he gave me an extension on my work

I’ve been thinking the same thing lately, I’m a teaching assistant and I’m going to have a chat with my teacher to let her know, not for advice or for reassurance or anything just incase she she notices my obsessions with making things perfect so she understands why and may be more patient when I choose to stay late to sort through cupboards and decorate display boards perfectly! Only you can judge the person you’re working closely with at college/work but if you think they should have an explanation for some of you behaviour then do! Hope this helps

Well, that explains a lot, kelly324. But in this story what I would be worry the most is sleeping so little and eating badly. Those two things make symptoms worse. Are you getting any help from a therapist? Can you?

I would tell her why not? She’ll only want to be helpful

I don’t think it’s a good idea to tell her. She’s your teacher, not your therapist. I should find a therapist and keep things simple. In my humble opinion. Anyway, you know her better than anyone of us here so you should follow your instincts (not your OCD... OCD might be looking for reassurance or compassion).

I’m really struggling and falling behind in my classes as I’m not getting as much work done, and I don’t have time to revise for my exams since I’m copying my work up practically all night (I’m lucky to get 3 hours sleep a night, and I don’t eat much as there’s often not enough time)

I saw a psychologist once, but they never sent for another appointment and when I rang up to ask why, I had been taken off of the list, they put me back on but the waiting list is two years so I can’t really speak to anyone professional

Talking about it weakens it’s intensity. Take it out of the closet!

Look at the OCDI website for professionals who specialize in OCD

I uh just tell people I’m depressed and have paralyzing anxiety . . . People seem to get that OK. To be fair I only recently started to understand the role of OCD in that but anyway.