'What do I do?'

John Votta's withdrawal from his friends and other things he enjoyed in life happened so gradually that he didn't even notice the signs.

But a friend did and brought it to his attention. Then, Votta understood that "it" – obsessive compulsive disorder – might be a real issue.

“The question was, what do I do?” recalled Votta, now 83 and 15 years into his treatment for OCD. “Fifteen years ago in Richmond, the information about OCD available to the public was not well known or easily accessible.”

Local resources for those suffering from OCD and health professionals alike were frustratingly absent even in recent years, and so last year, local mental health professionals and members of the OCD community formed a grassroots organization called OCD Connect RVA. Its goal: to raise awareness of the reality of the disorder.

Throughout the country, mental health awareness campaigns have been springing up in an effort to combat the stigma of disorders and mental disease in society. Common efforts target disorders such as autism, anxiety and depression, leaving other stigmatized disorders lacking treatment and awareness reform within the mental health community.

OCD involves obsessive thinking that results in “compulsions” or actions that a person takes in an effort to stop the obsessive thoughts. Common obsessive thinking includes anxiety about contamination (which is commonly seen in pop culture examples); losing control; perfectionism; religious obsessions; and harm coming to others. But many mental health professionals and members of the public don't know or understand the signs of OCD, let alone how to treat those with OCD in a way that helps them live more productive lives.

OCD, like many other mental health disorders, carries a strong stigma in society. Often, OCD is treated as a joke, with pop culture representations usually used for comedic value.

'A lot of shame'

Lee Anne Hausler, a licensed clinical psychologist in the Richmond area and member of OCD Connect RVA, finds it important to fight OCD stigma present in both the public and professional community.

“OCD happens in a lot of ways that people don’t recognize or realize,” Hausler said. “Many don’t recognize it as something serious and critical. There’s a lot of shame and sometimes the content of obsessional thoughts bring about humiliation and secrecy and guilt because it's hard to say aloud.”

Both Haulser and Votta hope that OCD Connect RVA will help break that stigma through awareness events such as OCD Awareness Week in October, spreading articles and new OCD research on the organization’s Facebook page and by hosting 1 Million Steps 4 OCD Richmond Walk, which will take place at Deep Run Park June 10.

The 1 Million Steps 4 OCD was started by the International OCD Foundation in an effort to raise funds for OCD research and spread awareness to communities nationwide. OCD Connect RVA’s walk will be hosted in partnership with OCD Mid Atlantic, the branch of the foundation that serves the northern Virginia/DC/Maryland area.

Gail Quick, a psychologist, member of OCD Connect RVA and representative on OCD Mid Atlantic’s board, hopes that this walk and OCD Connect RVA will help bring OCD Mid Atlantic’s services to the Richmond region, allowing even more resources to be spread.

Quick and Hausler both agree that the biggest block between mental health professionals and OCD awareness the lack of knowledge about what they don’t know.

Professionals don’t realize they’re overlooking symptoms, they said, and some don’t feel the need to receive OCD-specific training. Because of their years treating OCD patients, they both believe it is vital to receive that training to offer the best treatment available.

“I’ve worked with a lot of individuals who have OCD,” Quick said. “When I was trained, I barely recognized the signs and had to find more professional training to learn how to treat the disorder.”

'It's important to talk about it'

Fortunately for Votta, a 23-year Henrico resident with four children and nine grandchildren, he was able to find a therapist who offered him cognitive behavior therapy – the treatment that has been shown to be the most effective among OCD patients. it involves “Exposure and Response Prevention," through which OCD sufferers confront their stressors head on by coming into contact with whatever causes their compulsions and forcing themselves to not give into the compulsive behavior.

With dedication to the therapy, Votta has never felt more freedom in life, he said – and he's been able to live more fully than in the past.

He is so satisfied with his progress that he wants others in the OCD community to know about and have access to the same therapy he received. That's why he joined OCD Connect RVA in an effort to spread the word.

“I’m very committed and motivated to reach out to others who may be experiencing the same issue,” Votta said. “I want others to understand it is an anxiety disorder like any other illness and there’s no reason to feel reluctant talking about it.

"It’s important to talk about it.”

Organizers of OCD Connect RVA hope that by offering different awareness events and offering free online resources, more people can recognize the signs of OCD and offer or receive the treatment they need.

“If you are experiencing OCD symptoms or things that are interfering with your life, pay attention and address it as early as you can before it overcomes you,” Votta said. “There is help available right here in Richmond to assist people with their OCD.”

Registration for the 1 Million Steps 4 OCD Walk June 10 at Deep Run Park is free, but donations are encouraged. Check-in begins at 9 a.m., and the walk will be from 10 a.m. to noon. To register or donate, go to IOCDF.org/walk and select Richmond Walk. For details, e-mail ocdrva@gmail.com or visit the organization's Facebook page, OCD Connect RVA.