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

[DENISE517]

Originally Posted by chloeandj

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I hope her appt goes very well.

My 7 year old started having some tendencies a year ago. His isn't about handwashing though. He needs certain things to be just perfect. He gets real bad during stressful times, like starting 1st grade and stressful times during the year, then 2nd grade started and it was real bad for about 2 weeks. Where he wasn't going to sleep until very late because something was just not right in his bed. Or one of his stuffed animals ear wouldn't stay just as he put it. He has other things that keep him from getting certain things done quickly like brushing his teeth. The knob on the bathroom sink wiggles when you turn it off, so it has to be in just a certain position before he'll stop touching it... When i tell him to hurry up from brushing his teeth as we'll be late for school, he gets overly upset, so i try to be very careful about what I say.



Fortunately he is at an age where we can talk about it and rationalize things, and try to find solutions. He was calling it his "bad habit", i told him he has no bad habits. He just needs to use his brain to help him stop. That he can be in control of his body and what he does. I see him trying and he's always very proud when he has stopped himself. He also erases so much with his homework to get each letter just so. Last year, his teacher suggested we let him erase each thing only once then he has to move on to the next. This works out most of the time but occasionally he erases so much he puts tears in his paper and gets upset.

The good thing is that i see him improving all the time, i feel like most of his little quirks are just a phase at this point and I try to give him lots of opportunity to be in control of other things and decisions in his life so he's not so involved in controlling all these other little things.

That is so good that he is improving. I never knew OCD was such a problem in so many kids. I pray that I can learn all I can and make it better for Lexi too.

[ILoveBingoo]

I suffer from OCD ever since I was a child I still deal with it today but sometimes it gets bad and sometimes I'm ok she must be having Compulsive thoughts maybe something harmful and scary that scares her maybe death or someone coming to hurt her or she fears blood etc you need to sit her down and write down a list of things she is scared of when she is done with the list you have to go about her dealing with it even if its her seeing someone dieing on tv or seeing you get blood taken from the doctor's and than she will see that nothing bad can happen to her or the one's she loves its all psychilogial but it is a annoying sickness and it can come back at anytime if she ask's you to pick up something for her or clean it don't do it because you are feeding into her ways she needs to learn to over come her fears I feared alot of thing's one to go out in the world i use to shelter myself at home because I was afraid I can die at any moment out in the world I hope this helps....and i had a bad habit always washing my hands which lead to me having eczema and I always fix things even today and when I over come my fears I still fix things it ends up as a habit you feel like if u dont fix it something is going to happen but its not but I had this for so long most of my ways became a habit....

[rbelland]

Originally Posted by DENISE517

We have an apt for Wed. of next week. She did better today. Didn't even have any symptoms til around lunch time. I swear I just don't understand how it comes and goes, then comes on strong. (Maybe I'll find out Wed) Although she did better she was extremely HYPER today. Almost like she need to get it out so instead of washing, etc. she was a mile a minutes. Maybe it all goes hand in hand.

When ever she touches her nose, she always needs to wash her hands, and we've been explaining to her that its ok to touch your nose, your hand is not dirty and full of germs, but if you feel the need to wash then go ahead. Well she was sooooooooo proud of herself tonight. She marched down stair to tell me that she had touched her nose and didn't feel the need to wash. Then she said Look what else I can do and not be scared ..........The finger went way up in the nose, came out and in her mouth. lol I about died laughing. I was like no no lets not go that far. We don't do that. lol I'd say now that's progress. hahahahaha

Lexi is my child who is always funny and makes us laugh with the things she comes up with. I'll share one more funny story about her. We were driving in the car the other day and lauryn was talking to me about her boy troubles. lauryn said uggg I just need to meet my prince charming. And Lexi pipped in from the back seat in a loud voice and said...."Lauryn prince charming is not real he is fake and beside, he has a girlfriend" We died with laughter and said back. Well who's his girlfriend. She said...Cinderella duh!
hahahahaha

LOL It is always amazing to me how young ones come up with the best to make us all laugh. Glad you and lexi are doing better. Keep us updated on how she is doing!

[MollyAndMe]

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!!!

Hi. I was just wondering how old Lexi is????

I've suffered with OCD off and on my entire life. There is medications to help with the obsessive/compulsiveness.....I personally don't agree with medication unless its a last resort.

OCD is triggered by stress.
Maybe she's anxious about something.

It's hard to make people with OCD feel like everything is "okay", when, in their head, it dosen't "feel" okay. It's very hard. The ONLY thing that helped me was therapy twice a week---no medication. [a counselor or psychologist----not a psychiatrist.]
They help you find the root of the problem and go from there. Anyone can develop OCD.

Make sure you keep lotion on her little hands. I suffer with excessive hand washing and my skin breaks and bleeds after a while if i don't keep lotion on them.

It's hard...........it really is. And it's heartbreaking.

I wish you the best of luck.



And just out of curiosity, does she ever make statements like, 'her brain hurts' [not her head].......I know with OCD and even ADD, sometimes it feels like your brain is overheating and it's painful, but not physical pain...mental pain.....

[ILoveBingoo]

i suffered with ocd for all my life until i was 20 i was not treated i became a maniac depression person i wanted to go on ramp pages and just kill people but luckily i kept reminding myself i'm not like that and thoise compulsive thoughts came erking in my head i continue to fix things and clean things etc i got over the whole hand thing now im not afraid to die but i take meds and my doc said ocd never go's away especally if u had it for so long and it wasnt treated now i talk to a therapist and get meds i dont know what i was so miserable about but i was and the doc's couldnt understand the root of my problem because it wasn't that i was lacking on bill's or homeless so ocd is very effective and should be treated if worsen i didnt believe in meds until i had to choose my life or meds i was hospitalized and now im a whole new person im ocd free for now but every so often something dramatic comes to mind and i react obsessive towards everything its a serious issue and horrible to live with so for people who do not have it should not judge........

[DENISE517]

Lexi was to have an apt. today but Dr. got called away on family emergency. So they rescheduled her for the 9th. She has been doing alot better. Not so freaked out about things. Still issues, sooo much better. We've tried to really keeping her on a set schedule and it seems to help. Not sure what else to do til we meet with her doctor. The issues she has lately are so much smaller. I' feel like we are making head way with her by talking her through it. I'll keep ya updated after her apt. She seems almost back to normal. But from what I've read it can come back again strong with stress or something that triggers it.

[bella_mia_hairy]

Just checking to see how Lexi's appt with the doctor went! Hope all is well!

[DENISE517]

I was a little disappointed. They had us feel out a butt load of paper work and only talked for a little. They met with me and dan and ask us question, we told them what she was doing, etc. They ask Lexi if she wanted to go play puzzle and she left with two ladies. She was excited to play and it was all good. We could see her the whole time, but she couldn't hear us. She told us this was just kinda a pre apt so she could hear from us and then the next meeting she will talk to Lexi and tell us stuff to try. We go Wed. again so We'll know alot more HOPEFULLY then. She been doing a new thing. not washing her hands, but asking a ton of questions. Like Mom I'm not sure but did you see we touch that bug, I'm not sure if I did? I hope I didnt lick my hands. Then we will reassure her and say... Well I didn't see you, but I'm sure you didnt and if you did, it wont hurt you. Then we may say....I'm not sure, but I think I could of said Stupid...did I say stupid, cause I know that's not a nice word. Its diff. question like that allllllllll day long. Its really strange. Other than that acting good. Very emotional and hyper. Then sometimes every couple of days she will just start crying very hard. When we ask her what is wrong, she will say....Well a long long long time ago, I think I call Bella ugly...or it will be some weird response like that. But she will be crying extremely bad. Still doing that hand washing, but more this weird repeated question thing, over and over. Its not necessary the same question, but just weird things like that.

[DENISE517]

Most of the question are about licking her hands, or items. Like I hope I didn't lick that bug, or I hope I didnt lick Bella's pee pad. Its things she knows she'd never do! Or did you see me do this, etc.

[DENISE517]

Its like her mind is going a mile a minute and we wonder how she comes up with this stuff all day long.

Yesterday I told her everytime she wanted to ask me a question that she knows she didn't do to pray and say Jesus take away my worries. This has helped, still doing it today, but not ask much. I will hear her say...Jesus take away my worries and she won't ask me the question. Who know how long it will last. The mouse idea worked for a while, but then she quit doing it.

Thanks for every ones support and please keep praying Other than this is acts like any other normal smart child. Laughs all the time, funny, plays great, etc.

[marcerella02]

Oh Denise, I feel just awful for Lexi, and how difficult it must be for you to have to go through this with her, not knowing what it is that is causing it. I took an abnormal psych class (not saying that Lexi is abnormal) that was focused on children, and like a previous poster said, it is caused by something that she is stressing over and the actions like hand washing is something she feels she has control over, and thus does when she is feeling stressed about something. I also agree with someone else who said, the younger the better- It is horrible that this is happening, but thankfully she is young and can probably benefit from behavioural therapy. Please keep us posted. She must be feeling so much anxiety- i too suffer from anxiety and i know how overwhelming it can be and how profoundly it can affect my life- I hope she is able to find relief soon.

I think her grandpa is VERY wise- I love the pocket mouse idea!!

[Rosiegirl]

I would write down the different examples of things she 'dwells' on and give that to your doctor. I am not surprised they didn't do much the first appointment, they need to get your little one used to that office and the people if she is going to open up with them, she will need to trust them a bit first. I used to have to do everything on an even number when I was a kid for just a little while, not really a long time at all, I actually forgot about that until I read your post here. I am sure everything will be fine after you get some councelling for her, she just needs to re-direct her thoughts to some other things and realize that what she thinks about now can be overlooked. I really feel for her and your family too, she sounds so cute and adorable, and there is nothing like having to worry about your children. Be careful how you tell her to think until the experts get a chance to help you word things, it sounds like she is at a very sensitive age. I think everything you've tried is amazing and supportive of her, she trusts you and that is amazing, she sounds very special. Lexi and your family will be in our prayes tonight, please keep us posted.

Just wondering if she has any activities she likes to participate in that would help to wear her out, maybe dance classes, soccer, etc? It also sounds like she has a lot of energy.

[DanicaBraggs]

Hello I to have severe OCD,I was always a VERY clean child and my Mom always bragged about it.I always had to have things a certain way ect ect...Anyway my life wasn'y exactly easy I was always worried and stressed over everything.I knew I had problems and so did my family but it wasn't until I was in my mid-twenties that I was diagnosed.I did well with therapy and had bad bouts of it from time to time but there were a lot of normal times inbetween.Anyway once I started a family it came back pretty hard,bfore it was managable you know my cans in the cabinet a certain way,my house PERFECT my clothes and my hair just right but once the kids came it was pretty hard for me.Kids are busy and make messes and they can care less about your problem :-) I went back to see a Doctor and am now doing monthly sesions.OCD is managable you just have to find out what triggers the sever outbreaks.Then you find something to get your mind off of it.For instance my kids would make meses and when I started to lose it because I just couldn't keep up quick enough on the cleaning I would loe it.Cry,scream,yell,anyway I was shown techniques scream in a pillow,slam my hands on the wooden floor.All this released the tension that was building up in me because I had no control over the situation.This is a BIG thing with someone who has OCD having control.Research it,read stories of people so many kinds of OCDs.Your daughter will be fine and she has amazing parents.Once she finds techniques that work and learn to manage the OCD she will be fine.Managing is the big thing and until your little girl understands this...well it will be hard for everyone around her.Keep in mind she might think she is fine and sees nothing wrong with what she is doing,it is you that has the problem.Trut me I thought the same thing,matter-of-fact I still think I am the normal one and everyone else is wierd because they don't do what I do.Good luck!

[DENISE517]

Originally Posted by Rosiegirl

I would write down the different examples of things she 'dwells' on and give that to your doctor. I am not surprised they didn't do much the first appointment, they need to get your little one used to that office and the people if she is going to open up with them, she will need to trust them a bit first. I used to have to do everything on an even number when I was a kid for just a little while, not really a long time at all, I actually forgot about that until I read your post here. I am sure everything will be fine after you get some councelling for her, she just needs to re-direct her thoughts to some other things and realize that what she thinks about now can be overlooked. I really feel for her and your family too, she sounds so cute and adorable, and there is nothing like having to worry about your children. Be careful how you tell her to think until the experts get a chance to help you word things, it sounds like she is at a very sensitive age. I think everything you've tried is amazing and supportive of her, she trusts you and that is amazing, she sounds very special. Lexi and your family will be in our prayes tonight, please keep us posted.

Just wondering if she has any activities she likes to participate in that would help to wear her out, maybe dance classes, soccer, etc? It also sounds like she has a lot of energy.

She does dance and a roller skating class on sat. when we are in town. He is very high energy so we try to keep her busy. She will also sit down a watch a movie too, so can be calm...lol

They did say they do the Cognitive Behavior Therapy which I've read about and really like.

[DENISE517]

Originally Posted by DanicaBraggs

Hello I to have severe OCD,I was always a VERY clean child and my Mom always bragged about it.I always had to have things a certain way ect ect...Anyway my life wasn'y exactly easy I was always worried and stressed over everything.I knew I had problems and so did my family but it wasn't until I was in my mid-twenties that I was diagnosed.I did well with therapy and had bad bouts of it from time to time but there were a lot of normal times inbetween.Anyway once I started a family it came back pretty hard,bfore it was managable you know my cans in the cabinet a certain way,my house PERFECT my clothes and my hair just right but once the kids came it was pretty hard for me.Kids are busy and make messes and they can care less about your problem :-) I went back to see a Doctor and am now doing monthly sesions.OCD is managable you just have to find out what triggers the sever outbreaks.Then you find something to get your mind off of it.For instance my kids would make meses and when I started to lose it because I just couldn't keep up quick enough on the cleaning I would loe it.Cry,scream,yell,anyway I was shown techniques scream in a pillow,slam my hands on the wooden floor.All this released the tension that was building up in me because I had no control over the situation.This is a BIG thing with someone who has OCD having control.Research it,read stories of people so many kinds of OCDs.Your daughter will be fine and she has amazing parents.Once she finds techniques that work and learn to manage the OCD she will be fine.Managing is the big thing and until your little girl understands this...well it will be hard for everyone around her.Keep in mind she might think she is fine and sees nothing wrong with what she is doing,it is you that has the problem.Trut me I thought the same thing,matter-of-fact I still think I am the normal one and everyone else is wierd because they don't do what I do.Good luck!

I'm OCD myself. Never been treated but drive myself crazy sometimes. I have a terrible fear of SOMEONE else driving. As long as I am the one driving I can drive anywhere in the usa on any highway. (doesn't bother me) but when someone else drives....I have issues. I always feel like we are going to get into a terrible accident. Don't under stand it. Drive hubby crazy. Also I can't stand to see any type of cords/wires. I can notice if something in the house has moved the slightest bit. Dan and Lauryn will tease me and go around moving stuff over an inch and see if I notice and I always do. lol