Education is one of many things that OCD can make more challenging, but it’s such a huge part of a lot of people’s lives that it is, at least for me, a lot more noticeable and can be very stressful. At times it has made me feel like I can’t go into my lessons without something bad happening and has stopped me wanting to have fun with my friends. Before I reached out to a teacher, I felt that I had to keep everything to myself, which just made my OCD feel more powerful.

Talking to someone about what had been going on was hard at first, but when I realised that he understood where I was coming from, I knew I had made the right decision. If your OCD makes education difficult, know that you don’t have to go through it by yourself. Whether it makes you doubt yourself, or stops you being able to concentrate. Whether it makes you not want to socialise with peers, or makes you feel unable to go to school altogether, or something else entirely, it can make studying and extra curricular activities particularly hard. If OCD makes you feel like this, remember you are not alone. You could think about talking to a friend or teacher for support when you are feeling anxious or stressed. OCD can be a bully, but remember that you are stronger than it, and that you can always reach out for help if you feel you need to.