A student who washed his hands a lot...another who wandered the hallways, lightly tapping the walls for relief...a different kid with obsessive thoughts who answered yes to everything you asked him. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is not uncommon for those on the Autism Spectrum. I'd seen it in students over the past 20 years, often showing in different ways, with different habits that students would pick up to provide a quick release or salve for their thoughts (though the relief was often incredibly short lived).
This story from NPR.org highlights the experiences of 4 young adults dealing with different manifestations of OCD and shares their challenges of managing it. I liked hearing the different perspectives as well as the fact that all of us have ways to control our own anxiety; OCD is when it gets to a more significant level, and it can also take different forms over the years. Check out the full story and audio clip:
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