Script for my documentary

OPENING: *In the living room with a white background in everyday casual clothes talking straight into the camera*
Bethany: My names Bethany, I'm 17 years old and I'm learning to live with OCD. I've suffered from OCD for 5 years now without knowing much about it and feeling like I had to suffer in silence because if I ever admitted I had OCD the stigma attached to it would ruin any chances of a normal life. However I'm now ready to find out more about my OCD and I'm ready to learn how to live with it and to learn to not be ashamed.
VoiceOver: OCD stands for obsessive compulsive disorder. In the UK twelve out of everyone one thousand people have OCD. There are many different types of OCD that vary from constant washing of hands or constant checking. The symptoms and the severity of the OCD depending on the person.
*Whilst voice over speaking shows the footage of looking on the internet at the OCD website*
VoiceOver: To help learn more about my OCD and to try and learn ways to deal with it, I am going to meet lead psychologist Dr. Helen True.
*Whilst voice over speaking shows the footage of the train moving*
*In the psychologists office*
Psychologist. Dr. Christine House: Learning to live with OCD can be very difficult so it helps knowing the background of OCD and the theories of it to help you understand it because when you understand it that’s when it becomes easier to deal with. Theories suggests that people with OCD associate certain objects or situations with fear and therefore avoid things or perform rituals that reduce the fear. These things usually start when you’ve gone through a period of high emotional stress, so you should consider what that might have been and you may be able to learn what started off your ocd? When going through this time you then make connections with what may set of your fear. So in your case you developed a fear of someone hurting you which then leads to you locking and checking things to try which is your performing of rituals to try and control your anxiety that comes from the fear. Theories also recognise that most people have intrusive or uninvited thoughts but individuals with OCD might exaggerate the importance of the though and respond as though it represents an actual thought. For example in your case, a lot of people may be worried about having their house broken into or fear being mugged or hurt by someone but you respond to it as an actual threat which makes you struggle to get on buses and constantly checking the doors to try and control the threat. It suggests that as long as you believe in your fear you will continue performing the rituals. This is why I’m going to suggest you look into different therapies available for OCD suffers, such as cognitive behaviour therapy which is a talking therapy which looks at how we think, how it affects us and other ways we could think. So we would look at the thoughts you get, then what impact it has on your life and could we think of it in any other way that is more rational. I can then also teach you how to deal with it by yourself and manage it yourself, meaning it will make it easier for you to go out as long as you’re always practising our techniques we learn together. Research has shown that 75% of people with OCD are significantly helped with CBT and it’s one of the best ways to deal with your OCD because it has been shown to be very effective and has no side effect that medication may have. Another thing that I think may help you is talking to another girl the same age as you who has OCD, however she does have a different type of OCD but sometimes this can be better talking to someone with different symptoms. Hopefully by having this conversation, talking to someone else with OCD and starting cognitive behavioural therapy you will learn that you can live with OCD and can live a normal and happy life.
VoiceOver: Through looking at OCD charities online I have seen different support groups where you can meet up with other people who also have OCD. One of the girls agreed to let me meet her at her house to talk about the obsessions she has with being clean.
*Show footage of the cleaning products on window sill and the camera moving around her bedroom*
Bethany: Thanks so much for agreeing to meet me. How long have you suffered from OCD? How does it affect your life?
Maddi: I've suffered from OCD ever since I was little, Ive always loved to be clean but it only became a problem as I got older and started cleaning all the time and constantly washing my hands. I've been diagnosed with having OCD for four years now, it affected my life before more when I didn't know what was wrong with me or didn't know what to do about it. It made me feel so ashamed that I just gave up trying to explain to people what was wrong so instead just stayed inside all the time. Ever since meeting other people that have OCD I have learned that i am different, but not a bad different. They have helped me know that Its not going to ruin my life and you can live with it, the sooner you realise that you happier you will feel as well.
Bethany: I guess not knowing what is wrong or how to deal with it is the hardest thing about having OCD, but i still struggle to be able to explain to people what is wrong with me when I can't go out in the dark, or can't get on buses or have sleepovers. How do you do this?
Maddi: There is no need for you to explain to anyone why you can't do something. You need to learn that living with OCD isn't about learning how to explain to other people what is wrong with you its about learning to understand yourself whats wrong with you. If people ask me why I wash my hands so much I just tell them "I suffer from OCD" and I walk away. You do not need to explain yourself to anyone.
Bethany: Thank you so much, I really understand so much better now hearing from someone else who suffers from OCD point of view.
Maddi: You'll learn to cope with OCD and you'll also learn how to live with OCD but how to live happily with it.
*In the living room with a white background in everyday casual clothes talking straight into the camera*
Bethany: Going on this journey to find out about my OCD has taught me so much. I start therapy next week and I'm really looking forward to getting better and dealing with my problems. I don't think anyone should be ashamed to admit they have OCD, it happens to so many people that if you are suffering you need to realize that you are not alone, and you never will be.