Student with OCD fears college will be too much to handle

Dear Harlan:

I'm a high-school senior, and I recently found out that I've been suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder for years. In eighth grade, I should have sought help, but I didn't want to tell anyone about my repressed thoughts or compulsions. It affected my quality of life by making me terrified to think for a few months for fear of what my mind would bring up. At the moment, I'm still living with it, but it isn't as disruptive - most of my more upsetting symptoms are gone. While it's at a low point, I'm afraid that when I go to college next year, with the added stress of living in a new place, away from home for the first time, with strangers, and so many pressures, that it'll come back full force - or even worse than before. I don't want this to make college unbearable. Thank you. It actually was a relief to write this down.

Thinking and Afraid

Dear Thinking:

Thank you for sharing this. You probably already know this, but more students than ever before are attending college with documented disabilities. One big reason: students are being identified and supported earlier than ever. The support part is key - support makes all the difference. Regarding your concerns, only choose a school where you can be supported. Investigate all the resources available on each campus. Find a psychiatrist and therapist in the local community who specialize in OCD and create a support network before ever stepping foot on campus. OCD doesn't define you. It's a part of you. And it's a part that needs to be embraced, supported and managed. The good news, more schools than ever before are equipped to support and educate you.