RITUAL hand washing and extreme tidiness are just some of the symptoms caused by the strong anxiety and intrusive thoughts that come with obsessive compulsive disorder.
This week, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of the disorder has been launched – a campaign which coincided with the latest meeting of the Brentwood OCD Group on Monday.
The group manned a stall at Brentwood Library in New Road and gave visitors information about the condition.
Founded two years ago, the group meets on the third Monday of every month at the Slug and Lettuce on Brentwood High Street.
The informal sessions give members a chance to speak to others about how they are coping with their OCD.
One 31-year-old from Brentwood who is a member of the group, and whom the Gazette agreed not to name, said: "We help and support each other and talk about our problems.
"Most of our members are from Brentwood, but as this is the only club in Essex, many people come from further afield.
"There are usually around five of us at each meeting but many people only come once to get advice and then don't return."
He added: "The meetings are not in a pub, it's a separate part which you can enter through a different door as many people with OCD would find the prospect of entering a busy bar intimidating.
"I helped set up the group and understand how nervous the condition can make you.
"This is the nature of OCD and for this reason, Mind can arrange a chaperone for people who do not want to come alone.
"I've had OCD for a number of years and with good treatment the symptoms can get better.
"There is a secretive nature to the condition and many people are afraid to talk but the group is good to show you that you're not alone.
"There is a common misconception that OCD is just frequent hand- washing or being really tidy but there is much more to it than that.
"There are quite a lot of different types of OCD including frequent washing and showering as well as worrying – you get stuck worrying about things for hours, that's the obsessive part."
The meetings are free of charge and are held in the function room above the main bar of the Slug and Lettuce.
Speakers include cognitive behavioural therapists, who help advise members how to cope with their OCD.
Those interested in joining the meetings held by the Brentwood OCD club are referred by the mental health charity Mind.
National OCD Week has been orchestrated by OCD Action, which will involve lots of groups across the country.
Tony Robinson, senior mental health worker for Brentwood Mind, said: "There aren't that many OCD groups like this around.
"The self-help group is a chance for people living with OCD to swap coping strategies and techniques to relax.
"They have visiting speakers who share breathing exercises to help combat their anxiety attacks.
"They are also given cognitive behavioural therapy to help them change the way they think and challenge their intrusive thoughts.
"Such thoughts really affect the way these people live and the anxiety can be exhausting.
"One man who took part in the group was on a drive and had an intrusive thought that he had hit a man.
"He was so worried that he made the entire two-hour journey for a second time to check that he hadn't injured anyone."
Mr Robinson added: "The support group is a place for people with OCD to come and feel that they're not alone and there are other people that have to try to deal with it – there is a way forward and they don't have to struggle on their own."
