Society depicts beauty as skinny waistlines, big muscles, tan skin, full lips, large breasts and six-pack abs; dismissing the fact that true beauty originates from the inside. These household products are widely known among teenage girls in America. Television commercials, female movie actors and fashion magazines teach young adolescents how to dress and portray themselves in society. Beauty is a multi-million dollar industry. The beauty barrage.

Unfortunately, for a small percentage of teens, these quirks and unusual behaviors are indicators of a serious mental health issue — obsessive-compulsive disorder. Typically referred to as OCD for short, this psychiatric disorder can cause significant distress. In more severe cases of the disorder, OCD can become debilitating. This brief guide is designed to help you recognize the signs to watch for and know the steps to take if you believe your teen is suffering from OCD. The obsessions present as repetitive thoughts, mental images, or urges that are both unwanted and intrusive.

Timothy Legg, N. Even young children are likely to become obsessed with a superhero or cartoon character, but for teens, hero worship of a singer or movie star is almost a rite of passage. But in most cases, what strikes you as extreme behavior is probably normal.