International OCD Awareness Week – October 8-14, 2023
In additional to all the terrific events sponsored directly by the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF.org) for OCD Awareness Week, OCD North Carolina (ocdnc.org) is offering two free virtual programs for the community, on OCD and hoarding disorder. The programs are geared for people impacted with these conditions, yet all are welcome to attend. We do ask that people register so it can be a safer, more secure experience.
Understanding and Getting Help for OCD: 14th Annual Evening with Experts
Tuesday, October 10th, 7:00 – 8:30pm Register Here or at iocdf.org
It’s estimated that up to 4 million Americans, including 1 million children and teens, suffer from OCD. Early recognition of OCD symptoms is important, and OCD can be managed effectively with the right treatments. Drs. Jon Abramowitz, Annette Perot and Jeff Sapyta will discuss various aspects of OCD and treatment before answering your questions regarding OCD in children, teens, and adults.
Jon Abramowitz, Ph.D., is a professor and director of the OCD/Anxiety Disorders Clinic at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and author of a self-help book for people with OCD entitled, Getting Over OCD: A 10-Step Workbook for Taking Back Your Life.
Annette Perot, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist in Durham, NC, specializing in the treatment of adults with OCD and related disorders. She is also a founding Board member and officer of OCD North Carolina.
Jeff Sapyta, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at Duke University School of Medicine. His research has mostly focused on improving family-based OCD interventions for children and adolescents. He is also a founding Board member and officer of OCD North Carolina.
Questions: Contact Annette Perot, PhD with OCD NC at drperot@gmail.com or (919) 205-8623
Hoarding Disorder: More Than Meets the Eye
Wednesday, October 11th, 7:00-8:30pm Register Here or at iocdf.org
It’s estimated that 2-6% of the population, including up to 19 million Americans, have hoarding disorder. This program will focus on information regarding what hoarding disorder is and ways to address it, followed by a Q&A period with the presenter.
Annette R. Perot, PhD is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Durham, NC. For the past 29 years she has specialized in working with adults with anxiety disorders, OCD, and hoarding disorder.
Great big shout outs and giant rounds of applause!
Vase Your Fears, a mental health & OCD themed pottery (and other items!) online store, is donating $2 from every pot sold in the month of October to the IOCDF and $2 from every pair of earrings sold in the month of October to OCD NC, to support OCD awareness and advocacy.
The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel in Winston-Salem will glow teal (the color representing OCD Awareness) from Sunday, October 8th to Thursday, October 12th , to support awareness of OCD and related disorders. Let’s thank them for their support!
The Wells Fargo building, at 550 Tryon in Charlotte, will also glow teal for awareness of OCD and related conditions on Saturday, October 14th. Thanks so much, Wells Fargo!
IOCDF Online OCD Conference & OCD NC Scholarships
October 21-22, 2023
OCD North Carolina is pleased to offer scholarships, covering the registration cost, for the upcoming International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) online OCD conference, as a way to support our community members in attending talks, support groups, and networking opportunities with others in the OCD community from around the world. Scholarships are available for individuals in NC with OCD lived experience, loved ones of someone with OCD, and mental health professionals. We encourage you to spread the word to anyone who may be interested.
Deadline for scholarship application is Monday October 9th.
To apply for a scholarship, please submit a paragraph about why you would like to participate in the event, along with your name and contact information. Submissions can be emailed to Annette Perot at president@OCDNC.org.
The Online OCD Conference will be full of terrific presentations and we are fortunate to have several North Carolinians presenting this year, so mark your calendars!
Dr. Jon Abramowitz (UNC-Chapel Hill) will present on “Family Affair: How to Effectively Support Your Loved One with OCD” on Saturday, October 21st at 11:00am-12:15pm. He’ll also present that same day on “Applying Inhibitory Learning Theory to Exposure Therapy for OCD” at 2:30-3:45pm.
Allison Bell, Ben Eckstein, and Erin Jones (Bull City Anxiety & OCD Treatment Center in Durham, NC) will present on “Thinking about Thinking: How to Break the Cycle of Compulsive Rumination” on Saturday, October 21st at 12:45pm-2:00pm. Ben Eckstein will also present on “OCD & ADHD: Making Sense of Overlapping Symptoms” on Sunday, October 22nd, at 11:00am-12:15pm.
Dr. Aureen Wagner (The Anxiety Wellness Center in Cary, NC) will present on “CBT for Children and Teens with OCD” on Saturday, October 21st at 2:30-3:45pm. She will also present on “Staying the Course: Tips for Enhancing Perseverance Through Treatment” on Sunday, October 22nd, at 4:15-5:30pm
Heidi Ojalehto and Dr. Jon Abramowitz (UNC-Chapel Hill) will present on “Trauma-Related OCD: When Trauma and OCD Merge” on Sunday, October 22nd, at 2:30-3:45pm. And Jon will present on “The Ultimate Guide to Scrupulosity Treatment” that same day at 4:15-5:30pm.
Last, but not least, OCD North Carolina Board Members, Ben Eckstein and Erin Jones, will present about fear during the “Science of Fear” event at Durham’s Museum of Life + Science. The event will be on October 26th from 6:30-10:00pm. Creepy crawly critters, adult beverages, and some of the crew from Bull City Anxiety & OCD Treatment Center geeking out about brains; it doesn’t get better than that.