OCD in a child...does anyone know anything.

[DENISE517]

Well in the mist of everything else Lexi has really been going through a rough week. I truely think she is OCD.

She has a dr. apt. on Thurs. For the last year we've been dealing with the whole hand washing/ germs/ asking the same questions over and over, etc. Well it got better and thought maybe just a phase. (That is what the Dr.s said at that time for me not to worry, etc) Well this last week it has been insane!!!! She is at the point in Sunday school class that she was interputing the class due to her excessive hand washing and even cried when she touched a boy and couldn't wash her hands after that.

I'm really worried about her. She is soooo stress. There have been a few ladybugs in the house (happens every spring it seem) and she is soooo afraid of them. There was one on the floor and she made me pick it up, wash the floor and still everytime she walked over that spot had to wash her feet. She's now scared to touch some people. She'll say I touched (so in so) Mommy, Do I need to wash my hands. etc.

I've tried to reassure her that germs will not harm her, its ok and nothing is going to happen to her. We've prayed and prayed with her that Jesus would take her fears away, etc. (Which afterwards she told us ..."Jesus has long hair, he needs a hair cut" lol) I told her the ladybugs were good luck, etc. I've tried to think of every trick in the book. Now it is interferring with her sleep. She wakes up, finds a fuzzy on her blanket and won't go back to sleep. She puts her finger near her ear and says...I think it has ear wax on it and has to wash her hands. Its just crazy...There are a million more things that she has been doing.

She was even walking around the house today saying to herself.."its ok Lexi, Mommy said germs wont hurt you." What is up with that. I'm so scared for her and Just want her to feel better.

Has anyone had any experience with this. I know there are meds for this kind of stuff but she is only 4. I meet with the dr. again on thurs. so hopefully will get more insite. I don't want to hear its a phase thing again. This child is really bothered. I tried to think of anything that could have trigger this and can't think of nothing.

Please keep her in your prayers that God will bring peace over her!!!

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by DENISE517

Well in the mist of everything else Lexi has really been going through a rough week. I truely think she is OCD.

She has a dr. apt. on Thurs. For the last year we've been dealing with the whole hand washing/ germs/ asking the same questions over and over, etc. Well it got better and thought maybe just a phase. (That is what the Dr.s said at that time for me not to worry, etc) Well this last week it has been insane!!!! She is at the point in Sunday school class that she was interputing the class due to her excessive hand washing and even cried when she touched a boy and couldn't wash her hands after that.

I'm really worried about her. She is soooo stress. There have been a few ladybugs in the house (happens every spring it seem) and she is soooo afraid of them. There was one on the floor and she made me pick it up, wash the floor and still everytime she walked over that spot had to wash her feet. She's now scared to touch some people. She'll say I touched (so in so) Mommy, Do I need to wash my hands. etc.

I've tried to reassure her that germs will not harm her, its ok and nothing is going to happen to her. We've prayed and prayed with her that Jesus would take her fears away, etc. (Which afterwards she told us ..."Jesus has long hair, he needs a hair cut" lol) I told her the ladybugs were good luck, etc. I've tried to think of every trick in the book. Now it is interferring with her sleep. She wakes up, finds a fuzzy on her blanket and won't go back to sleep. She puts her finger near her ear and says...I think it has ear wax on it and has to wash her hands. Its just crazy...There are a million more things that she has been doing.

She was even walking around the house today saying to herself.."its ok Lexi, Mommy said germs wont hurt you." What is up with that. I'm so scared for her and Just want her to feel better.

Has anyone had any experience with this. I know there are meds for this kind of stuff but she is only 4. I meet with the dr. again on thurs. so hopefully will get more insite. I don't want to hear its a phase thing again. This child is really bothered. I tried to think of anything that could have trigger this and can't think of nothing.

Please keep her in your prayers that God will bring peace over her!!!

I have a 6 year old son with ODD, ADD, OCD... We just took him to the doctors about 2 months ago, we were reluctant to but could not hold off any longer. The doctor started him on Concerta 18mg and just bumped him last week to 27mg. He is doing awesome. We see such a difference and so does the school. He is learning, able to function normally and happier.

I also know several other children that have also been put on meds with improvement. It is not everyone's choice to do this, but for us it is working. The only side effect we see is loss of appetite, so we have to make sure he is eating. As well he is also seeing a psychologist for the behavioral parts.

All the best, I understand.

[DENISE517]

Lexi doesn't seen to have any behavior problems, but I do see a change in her behavior (not bad, just different) and listening skills. She just seems so overwhelmed when she is going through this and I feel so sorry that I can't take the pain away.

The last 3 days have been mind blowing. I feel like she is loosing it. I've tried to keep her mind occupied with other things, but she always goes back. I just pray for guidance. Is there a test they do, for this kind of stuff.

[juliaw04]

Wow, I really don't have any advice to give but I truly feel for you and your daughter. It is very clear that something isn't right and the both of you will be in my thoughts. I hope that the doctors appointment goes well and that soon you will have the answers you need.

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by DENISE517

Lexi doesn't seen to have any behavior problems, but I do see a change in her behavior (not bad, just different) and listening skills. She just seems so overwhelmed when she is going through this and I feel so sorry that I can't take the pain away.

The last 3 days have been mind blowing. I feel like she is loosing it. I've tried to keep her mind occupied with other things, but she always goes back. I just pray for guidance. Is there a test they do, for this kind of stuff.

Yes there is. Here anyway, we saw our regular doctor who listened to us and our concerns and then asked us many questions. It was kinda like a basic ask questions, see answers make a quick diagnose of disorder..... Then after that he then referred us to a specialist who did the proper diagnosis and decide a treatment from there.

It is good that you are doing this for her so young, I have a friend (a teacher) who works with all types of disorders and she says the sooner you seek treament, the better the results. She says before eight years old has the best results.

[DENISE517]

thank you. She actually is a very outgoing child and meets friends so fast. She is more of a leader than a follower. Tonight she wouldn't even go to bed. Kept getting back up crying, etc. So finally hubby went to bed and she said she wanted to sleep in our room. She is currently on my side of the bed, but at least sleeping. Yesterday morning she was up at 5 am. (which is not like her) saying she couldn't sleep. Today same thing. I told if she wakes up in the middle of the night to wake me up and not just sit in her room. She said she was waiting for Daddy to get up cause she didn't want to wake us up early. Bless her heart.

[DENISE517]

Originally Posted by Breeze

Yes there is. Here anyway, we saw our regular doctor who listened to us and our concerns and then asked us many questions. It was kinda like a basic ask questions, see answers make a quick diagnose of disorder..... Then after that he then referred us to a specialist who did the proper diagnosis and decide a treatment from there.

It is good that you are doing this for her so young, I have a friend (a teacher) who works with all types of disorders and she says the sooner you seek treament, the better the results. She says before eight years old has the best results.

that is good. She has been doing this on and off the over a year. It comes and goes and keeps getting a little worse each time. I swear even at 2 years of age she was obsessed with keeping her room clean. She would not sleep in her crib if a toy was on the floor. She would cry until someone came in the room, she pointed to the toy, we picked it up and put it away, then she'd lay down and go to sleep. I was worried about it them. I mean it was super bad! The doctor said it was way to early for her to get something like that. Now I'm thinking it wasn't

[Mybabyboymax]

I have 3 children and while reading your post I tried to think if any of my kids have ever reacted to situations in the same manner and they havent. I know that kids go through many phases as they grow up and no 2 children are the same. I just wanted to say that Im sure you are nervous and afraid...they are our babies but you are doing the right thing as a mommy....trying to find help. she will be ok, she has a great mom who is trying her best to find out if there are any problems and early intervention is key. without turning this thread into my own, I will say that something with my son at one was point was not right, at age 2 he was dx with autism, all these professionals told me"prepare yourself for a long hard road, he will never be the child you thought you were going to have". He is 8 yrs old today in regular ed, happy normal 8 year old. so while it is scary and we worry so much, we are so strong and god helps us through it all. if you ever need to talk I am a PM away

[Connie]

Ahhh shoot, Denise! I know you were concerned a while back and we talked about it, but I thought it had gotten better. I will be praying for Lexi. Poor girl! She shouldn't have any worries at that age. How is she with Bella? Does she think Bella has germs? I just feel so bad and wish I had answers for you. I didn't realize how complicated OCD could be until I did some searching on the internet when you first mentioned this. I hope and pray you get answers and help so she can live a happy and carefree life! Hugs to you!

[emilyann]

Denise, I am so sorry, I feel for you and your babygirl! God will see you through this hon. I can definitely see where you're coming from... it sounds like it's really wearing on her and on you too. It has to be exhausting. I know I have a bad thing with washing my hands too much. I was them sooo many times throughout the day, my hands will actually get raw. I also have to wash them before I go to bed or I can't go to sleep.

Please know we're all here to support you though and please let me know what the doctors end up saying. I thought about you today and wanted to send you a few little things in the mail for baby Bella but can't find your address so I'm going to PM you tomorrow.

Prayers!

[missj2007]

I am so sorry. I will keep both of you in my prayers because I know it is hard. I think my brother was about 7 when he would keep washing his hands. He would count also and if he messed up he would start all over again so we wouldn't bother him. I forgot how my mom stopped it but she was close to going to the doctor. I really hope everything turns out okay.

[Lolapup]

I have a son with autism. OCD just goes along with the diagnosis. I can't stress enough to you that anyone around her needs to understand that her fears are VERY real to her. She can't help herself!!

I was against medicating at first until his doctor told me "As long as you medicate the child FOR the child, not yourself or those around him, you are doing the right thing"

Bless her little heart. I hope you can find some relief for her.

[MindieRose]

My son Morgan went through a couple of months of obsessive hand washing. I took him to his doctor and she said that her daughter had similar issue for awhile and told me to give him flax seed oil. I did that, but I don't know if that was what helped so much as finding the cause of the anxiety. With Morgan it turns out it was because we were getting ready to move, and he thought that we were leaving his stuff and his grandma (my mom) behind. Once we got moved and he seen that everything was in order, it went away completely. It's not always the case with all kids and OCD hand washing, but sometimes it can be something simple.
Ethan has dealt with several different OCD phases because of his genetic disorder. Its always something, but we just take it in stride and just educate him and ourselves about whatever it is he is obsessing about at the time. Right now it is nothing major besides clock watching. I am not an OCD expert by any means, but maybe if you allot her a certain number of hand washings a day, she can mark off when she washes, or you could set an egg timer and let her wash them every so many minutes, and gradually make that time longer week to week?

[Little Bit]

I can only imagine how upsetting this is for you and poor little Lexie. Praying for you both and that you will find the help you need.

[LuvMySissy]

Oh Denise - I didn't know you were having issues with Lexi. It does sound like she needs to see a specialis - a child psychologist. I would never rely on a regular pediatrician to make an accurate diagnosis for something like this. Just the fact that you said she has done this before and it gets worse each time concerns me.

Mental health issues should not be taken lightly as they can exacerbate quickly. I have a cousin who was diagnosed as bi-polar, schizoprehnic, with OCD when she was 12. It had been going on for years before they finally took her in to be diagnosed. It is so much easier to treat when the symptoms are newer than when it has been around for a long time.

Sending my heartfelt prayers for you and Lexi and tons of hugs as well......