Many new situations a young person with OCD encounters as he graduates from high school and goes on to college or employment raise the potentially tricky issue of disclosure: Whether he should tell those with whom he comes into regular or occasional contact about his disorder. Of course, this is an issue only for the individual who can hide his OCD, since in more severe cases hiding is not an option. But as many parents of children with OCD have learned, their children become very good at keeping the most obvious signs of the disorder hidden — sometimes even from you.

For a younger child, this attempt to avoid disclosure may have been more habit than choice. But as your child matures, he may come to see the distinct advantages of selective disclosure.

For one thing, chances are that people in his world sense something is “wrong” with him. But if he acts ashamed, or embarrassed, their tendency will be to treat him in the same manner — as an object of pity or, in the case of school-age children, potentially with teasing. If, on the other hand, he discloses the challenge of his OCD to others, they will be put more at ease because the issue is out in the open. And, there is an excellent chance that they will get “on his side” and be more sympathetic and supportive. Of course, this is always a judgment call. If your child has seen evidence that those around him at school or work will not be supportive, than the right decision may be to disclose nothing to those individuals.