Information resources
Intended for: Post Treatment, Member, Newly DiagnosedHighlighted Resources 4 resources
Simple overview of OCD
A short film explaining OCD and the treatment available.
A new NHS complaints leaflet
A resource put together by the National and Specialist OCD, BDD and Related Disorders Clinic, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
Our Factsheets 11 resources
Getting a diagnosis of OCD.
What good CBT should look like
The Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) of Australia's resources for overcoming Body Dysmorphia
Tips on how to tell a loved one about your OCD, written by Youth Advisory Panel volunteer, Nicole.
The term 'Pure O' is often used to describe a certain manifestation of OCD, but what does it actually mean? Find out more in this factsheet.
If you live in the UK, you can be assessed and, once you’ve been diagnosed, treated for your OCD through the NHS. Some people choose instead to have treatment privately. This factsheet explains how to find a private therapist and what to look out for when choosing who you work with.
OCD is a treatable illness, and with the right treatment a majority of people who engage with therapy get a good quality of life back. This factsheet can take you through some steps to help you engage with the right treatment and achieve this for yourself.
There are a number of therapies and mental health treatments out there that can help with a variety of things, and that are sometimes suggested or sought out for treatment of OCD.Apart from medication, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the only therap
Self Advocacy information and worksheets 19 resources
Information and worksheets to help you to navigate the treatment system and to communicate more effectively.
A simple guide to help you identify which routes you can take to access treatment for your OCD or BDD
Information and top tips to help you to develop a plan of action so you can self advocate.
The first step to self advocating is making a plan, this worksheet will help you set out what it is that you want to achieve.
Communicating effectively is essential when it comes to self advocating. This guide provides information and useful tips to help you communicate clearly to ensure you are being heard.
A useful resource which will help you prepare for any upcoming meetings and/or appointments.
It can be difficult to describe the symptoms of your OCD/BDD, but the information you provide the healthcare professional with is vital in ensuring you receive the right diagnosis/treatment.
A brief overview of the recommended treatments for OCD/BDD.
A useful worksheet to help you plan for meetings and appointments.
A useful worksheet to help you summarise important appointments.
A worksheet which will help you keep track of the medication you are prescribed.
A worksheet aimed to help you keep track of your CBT sessions.
Information and tips on how to effectively communicate through letter writing.
Information and tips on how to effectively communicate during telephone calls.
A useful way to keep track of telephone conversations.
IAPT services provide a range of talking therapies for various mental health conditions (including OCD). They are free to access as they are part of the NHS.
CMHTs are secondary care services provided by the NHS. They are made up of a multi-disciplinary team of mental health professionals working with adults, often between 18 and 65.
Information and tips on how to effectively make a formal complaint, including a useful worksheet.
The Equality Act 2010 can provide you with protection from discrimination and give you the right to request reasonable adjustments when accessing services or at work/in housing/in education.
Advocacy and Your Rights 7 resources
Covering your rights if you are detained under the Mental Health Act because of your OCD.
Please note that this is a newly revised resource.
A report on our last 300 advocacy cases
Information about our advocacy service
Having a clear understanding of your rights and the help that is available to you means that you can be more in control of your treatment.
Whether you are a tenant or a home owner, there could be times when your OCD is making your life very difficult.
Information about Community Mental Health Teams, referrals to them, and the assessment process.
An NHS Improvement document on Choice when it comes to treatment for mental ill health
Videos and Presentations 31 resources
Coping with Depression
Looking at how you can help yourself
Looking at coping day to day
Satwant Singh looks at the role that support groups can play in supporting a person with OCD
A look at depression and OCD
Looking at reassurance in OCD
A presentation by Lynne Drummond on revisiting Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), given at National Conference, 2014
An inspirational speech by Jo, given at National Conference, 2014
A presentation given by David Veale at our 2015 National Conference, on whether Mindfulness meditation is relevant to OCD and BDD.
A presentation given by David Veale at our 2015 National Conference, on how to recognize symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety, and useful tips to help manage your mood.
A presentation on 'How we see OCD', given by journalist and author, David Adam, at our 2015 National Conference.
A truly inspirational speech given by Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) member, Ellen, about her experiences of living with OCD
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2018 National Conference: Developing a different relationship with intrusive thoughts and images, Professor David Veale
2018 National Conference: Developing a different relationship with intrusive thoughts and images, Professor David Veale
A talk given by Professor David Veale at our 2018 National Conference.
A presentation given by Dr Lynne Drummond at our 2018 National Conference.
An inspirational speech about overcoming intrusive thoughts, given by Rose Bretécher at our 2018 National Conference.
An inspirational speech given by David and Laurenne Goldstone at our 2018 National Conference.
A truly inspirational speech given by Chair of the OCD Youth Panel, Richard Taylor, at our 2018 National Conference.
A Q&A session with crew and contributors from the film 'UNSTUCK: An OCD Kids Movie', which took place at our 2018 National Conference.
A workshop delivered by the OCD Action Advocacy team on how to get what you want using self-advocacy skills.
A question and answer session about effective treatment for OCD, with Professor David Veale, Dr Lynne Drummond, Dr Rob Willson, Dr Amita Jassi and Ashley Curry.
An inspirational speech given by Sophie and David Goldstone, at our 2019 National Conference.
Author Rose Cartwright and TV presenter Sean Fletcher speak about how OCD is represented in media.
A presentation delivered by professor David Leave at our 2019 National Conference, in which he asked audience members to speak to and challenge their OCD on stage.
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2019 National Conference: Current and Future Psychological Help for OCD, Professor Paul Salkovskis
2019 National Conference: Current and Future Psychological Help for OCD, Professor Paul Salkovskis
Professor Paul Salkovskis provided an update on current treatments for OCD and explored future psychological help during his talk at our 2019 National Conference.
A presentation given by leading OCD expert Professor Paul Salkovskis at our 2019 National Conference.
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2019 National Conference: Overcoming Intrusive Sexual and Violent Thoughts and Images, Professor David Veale & Rose Cartwright
2019 National Conference: Overcoming Intrusive Sexual and Violent Thoughts and Images, Professor David Veale & Rose Cartwright
Professor David Veale and author Rose Cartwright discuss intrusive sexual and violent thoughts and answer questions from the audience, at our 2019 National Conference.
A Q&A panel with Dr Amita Jassi, Dr Bruce Clarke, Professor David Veale, Dr Ilenia Pampaloni and Professor Paul Salkovskis - chaired by Maria Bavetta (Maternal OCD).
A panel discussion with OCD Action's Advocacy team at our 2019 National Conference.
The closing inspirational speech given by Dan Furlong at our 2019 National Conference
Answering your questions on recovering from Maternal OCD - Dr Fiona Challacombe, Catherine Benfield, Kim French and Diana Wilson (Maternal OCD)
A video message about OCD from Johnny Mercer MP who is also the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Mental Health
Campaigning 4 resources
OCD Action's manifesto for improving access to quality treatment for people with OCD
Template letter to MPs
A downloadable poster for OCD Week of Action
Facebook and Twitter banners for OCD Week of Action
From the Online Community 14 resources
Inspirational Quotes submitted by Forum users
Forum members share their tips on dealing with OCD day to day
[View the story "Week of Action - Twitter chat on changing stigma" on Storify]
[View the story "OCD Week of Action - twitter chat on support groups" on Storify]
[View the story "OCD Week of Action - Twitter chat on Advocacy" on Storify]
[View the story "OCD Week of Action - Twitter chat on OCD, BDD and Treatment" on Storify]
[View the story "OCD Week of Action - Twitter chat on Child and Adolescent Mental Health" on Storify]
Ashley Curry and Kirsty Inman's appearance on HCR104fm, where they speak about OCD and their experiences with it.
A booklet put together by service users from The Wirral and Liverpool areas, which combines artwork, poetry and personal stories from people battling mental health issues, and aims to inspire, provide hope and useful tips to help on the journey to recovery.
MAN_AGE aims to publish meaningful stories of perseverance amidst mental health struggles in an effort to challenge unnecessary societal pressures, create a community of voices and combat isolation.Visit the MAN_AGE websiteTwitter: @ManAgeOfficialInstagram: @ManAgeOfficialFacebook: @M
An article looking at Trichotillomania, the facts, treatment and personal stories
An article written by Daisy Yuhas for Spectrum News: www.spectrumnews.org
Resources from the Miscarriage Association detailing support available during and after pregnancy loss.
Books and further reading 6 resources
Full NICE Guidelines
Outlines how OCD should be treated
Overview of the approved treatment for OCD
Recommended reading for CBT
General OCD book list, including personal accounts of OCD, as well as books written by OCD specialists.
Other recommended reading relating to OCD
Policies & Website Guides 4 resources
About the Support Group Charter, an OCD Action initiative working with support group facilitators to identify best practice
More detail about our Helpline and Email service.
Revised 01/14
Review date: 01/15
More information about how the charity handles confidentiality
Our Reports 17 resources
Our report and accounts for 2011-12
Our report and accounts for 2009-10
Our report and accounts for 2008-09
Our report and accounts for 2007-08
Our report and accounts for 2006-7
OCD Action's Report and Accounts for 2010-11
Our current strategic plan that sets out our objectives.
The Charity's strategic plan for 2009-12
Our signed Trustees Report and Accounts for the year ending March 2013
OCD Action's official report and accounts for 2013-14
Our advocacy service for adults with a diagnosis of OCD has now been running for 5 years and remains the only OCD-specific service in the UK. Our evaluation looks back over the difference we have made to the lives of those we have worked with, what we have learned along the way and how we see the future of the service.
OCD Action's Official Report and Accounts for 2014-15
OCD Action's Official Report and Accounts for 2015-16
Newsletters 8 resources
The OCD Action Magazine, Issue 40
The OCD Action Magazine, Issue 41
The OCD Action Magazine, Issue 42
The OCD Action Magazine, Issue 43
The OCD Action Magazine, Issue 44
The OCD Action Magazine, Issue 45
The OCD Action Magazine, Issue 46
These issues of the OCD Action newsletter; "Action" are currently only available to members. If you would like to know more about the Charity's membership scheme please see our membership pages under the "I want to get involved" section of this website
External Links 1 resource
"Everything works for somebody, but nothing works for everybody."-quoted from this article 'Ten things you need to know to over come OCD'
An article by Fred Penzel who has been involved in over 850 different OCD cases. Here is his take on what 'Ten thing you need to know to over come OCD'. Talking about the different methods, and treatments available, as well as how to get the best uses out of them.