Unstuck: An OCD Kids Movie

Gr 3 Up—Some of the best experts on childhood obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) are children with the disorder. Here they talk about OCD and their success in overcoming their fears that are manifested through OCD. There are no parents or adult experts appearing in the documentary. Instead, six different children with the disorder and a few siblings share their experiences. An obsession is described by one as something you're afraid of, such as getting sick, being poisoned, or things not being perfect. The compulsion is an action one has to do as a result of the obsession. The children describe it as being stuck in rituals or avoidance of things related to their fears. They discuss wanting to stop the behaviors but being unable to because of the anxiety that something bad will happen. Therapy for OCD includes hierarchical exposures to their concerns: challenges of increasing difficulty related to the obsession. For example, one child with a fear that trees could poison her first touches a leaf, then a berry, dirt around the tree, and eventually hugs a tree. The children profiled are well spoken, clearly describing facing their complex feelings and overcoming them. A trailer for the film and a long list of resources can be found at ocdkidsmovie.com.