Could my son have OCD?

Question

This is a little embarrassing to ask...please only answer with kindness. I am looking for advice from other parents of kids with OCD; or answers from professionals. For about 9 months I have noticed that my 8yr old son has a problem during bathroom time. Every time he has a BM, he spends anywhere from 5-15 minutes wiping. He doesnt wipe properly, so the feces gets almost up to his back. I have also walked in to check on him and he will be standing- trying to wipe. So-I always end up doing it myself--fearful that he'll use the entire roll of toilet paper and flood the toilet. I started noticing this about 2 years ago--but always looked at it as a phase. He just turned 8 August 19th, and I feel like he should be able to do this himself. But today I got frustrated and drilled him until he told me that he's afraid the feces will get on his hands or arm. I feel so bad. I don't know what to do.

Also- he has issues with blowing his nose. He is afraid the snot or "boogers" will get on his skin-like his hands or lips. He has literally gagged and sometimes thrown up because mucus has touched his hand or lip. Even when hes sick-if he coughs up mucus he gags and freaks out looking for somewhere to spit. When he was very young, he refused to wear underwear if even 1 drop of urine got on them. By this I mean--when he finished urinating, did the normal shake-off routine and was about to pull up his underwear--he would tear off a small peice of tissue and dab off any drop of urine left behind. He said he did this so no "pee" would get on his underwear. I am very concerned with this whole situation. He is an otherwise normal 8 year old. He doesnt organize things or wash his hands too frequently...none of the other typical signs. What's going on with him? Please help.

No-his father is not in the picture. but an interesting fact: His father takes showers after almost every BM. (Unless he has somewhere to be.) I dont think my son was old enough at the time to remember that or to have picked that up.

Answer 1

Since his dad did some obcessive like behaviors, it is possible. The best thing I can suggest is to set up an apointment with a psychologist. Write down everything you just told us here and take it to the apointment. They can help you figure out what really is going on after observing your son.

OCD doesn't always mean washing hands 100 times, it can mean checking to see if the over is off repeatedly, or turning a doorknob a certain way. The thing with OCD is that they are usually trying to prevent something that may happen IF they don't do the repeated motions.

Now, for the BM, I might be able to help you there. My son has Autism and will literally use about a whole role going to potty. It's difficult for a child to get totally clean just by paper. My son would do the same thing, feces everywhere. What I do is to keep a box of baby wipes, flushable ones are best, and it helps my son get clearer better. I don't have to check him like I used to.

Don't worry about your son needing your help in the toilet. There's nothing wrong with you assisting where needed. It makes your son feel comfortable to know that you're there to help. My son, due to his Autism and bowel problems, didn't potty train completely until he was 6 years old. And then it wasn't until two years ago that he could fully do everything himself without a total mess. My son is high functioning and 11 years old.

Just talk to your son's dr. and get a referal to someone whom can help you.

Answer 2

A diagnosis of OCD would require more than just that one behavior (my boyfriend and my daughter both have it and it's defined by a number of fairly complex behaviors). Though OCD can be characterized in part by a germ phobia, it sounds like your son probably had a bad experience and might be a bit compulsive about that one behavior. Have you tried allowing him to use disposable latex gloves for a little while to see if that makes him feel 'cleaner' and moist bathroom tissues to do a better job? I know it sounds a bit out there, but a box of these gloves and the moist paper next to the toilet that he can use might assure him he won't get feces on him, then he'll wipe better, and you might be able to break the cycle and then you can slowly get rid of the gloves. Definitely better than being 8 and having mom wipe your butt, right?

Does he show any other compulsive behaviors? Touching items, lining things up, walking in a certain path all the time, compulsively washing his hands all day, etc? If it's just one thing, the potty issue, that's going on, I think you can break this by giving him some alternatives. Good luck.

Answer 3

not a professional but i do know a little due to studies and experience with 2 young boys. your son probably needed a bit more attention a couple of years ago while in the bathroom so nonetheless, can't change that or anything else that happened. if he has other habits or behaviors, which is the key here in my humble opinion, it might lead to making a stronger case for him having the disorder. one behavior does not a disorder make tho.
seeing a specialist is not a bad idea at all since they know more than most - but do your research locally to find the best one you can. lastly, sounds like he's working really hard to do the right thing, maybe out of fear of something such as consequences for not doing a good job or because of some other reason. ask him a couple of more questions without alariming him or in a way that sounds critical. and then be quiet for the next 5 minutes. good luck.

Answer 4

Let me put it this way. OCD is something that can be a none issue, if it is looked at, with the proper perspective and information. I have OCD, but I never notice it because It used to be an issue. It is something that can control you, as I've heard it has taken control of other peoples lives, and has never been a problem for others. Lets get one thing straight, you can't kinda have ocd or kinda not. You either have it or you don't. Even the psychiatric community is wrong on this because they allow the public to feel that they might kinda have it. Anyways...your son should just take a break for five minutes from his ocd...if thats what he has. ask him to take a five minute break, and that than he can go back to his compulsions. this technique should let him think of his actions outside the box. when he understands the error in his anxiety, he will notice again, how his actions have made life difficult both on him and his family. This technique should be used, and it will work to rid him of the mental burden of the disorder. To actually have any compulsions still after that is okay, because the main issue should be addressing his burden and not yours. This technique reliefs the mental burden for him, because he has again his former perspective on life pre ocd. this is the only thing that is important, and you should acknowledge it with him. his routines may seem alot less important and trivial to him, and he should be capable of going on again in the same fashion. he may still have some anxiety about germs and wiping, but it will not ever be a big deal. I have many mental disorders, and can say that ocd is nothing. Ocd treated properly is nothing. Just be thankful that your son has OCD and not some other mental disorders. Keep your fingers crossed, and my prayers are with you.
one more note. i used this technique before i went to a psychiatrist for some other problems. but this technique i explained to you, works, and is the only one that works. I know this because someone with ocd would literally torture me telling me about how their ocd was far worse and how their ocd was worse than any of my mental problems. we were chat buddies and we ocassionally argued about his ocd, and i would tell him many things about how it is not as bad. I just couldn't understand how he was in the bad side and i was in the good side, and he was very arrogant believing that some peoples ocd was worse than others. my belief was you either have it or you don't. I just knew he wasn't going about it the right way, so by luck i gave him good advice upon my own introspective of what worked for me. this was about a month after i'd continued talking to him about his ocd. I gave him the five minute talk, and he said it was like he had completely regained his common sense back in those five minutes, and completely and fully realized what he was doing, and how he was wrong. he was thanking God, and something to the way of expressing that. Anyways, he felt himself cured, or atleast cured the major aspect of OCD, and felt his anxiety about germs after that, to be completely trivial. I still have little rituals i keep to myself, but it is nothing. So don't hold this cloud over your sons head or try to stigmatize him. I know its not in your interest to do either one, but to be responsible as a parent you should understand it isn't a big deal once it is being addressed and worked on. The miracle will be when the five minute technique works, but don't worry if the little rituals are still their. They are a superficial aspect of OCD, and not the marrow of the problem. The five minute technique addresses the marrow of the problem. I'm also the inventor of the five minute technique according to myself as of now. :D

Answer 5

Don't worry too much about it. I'm afraid this is simply a case of you having to step in and be strong. You didn't mention his father. If he is present it's time for him to step in, too. You'll just have to use some tough love. Tell him it's time to quit fooling around in the bathroom. Do his business and get out. Tell him to quit being afraid of anything getting on him. If he wipes correctly, it won't get on him. And "boogers" are not lethal. Just be strong - he'll come around.

Answer 6

I dont think that it is OCD but you should contact a profesional, kids have those weird quirks about them, so you talk with a consler first and ask her for some idea about fixing this. and also maybe confront him, he is eight and mamture enough to do things the right way, try to stop the habit that he is in and if that does not work go seek professional help

Answer 7

Well, it looks as though the concensus is that he is pretty normal, and I agree. I have an eight year old daughter, and not infrequently have to help her with this aspect of her hygiene. But, hey, that is what parenting is all about, right? Not infrequently we have to put her in the shower for a quick "bidet" type thing afterward. Not once have I entertained the idea that she is anything but normal.

Please don't saddle him with thinking this is abnormal, or dragging him to doctors to isolate and label him in the eyes of his peers.

Answer 8

It could go either way, as far as it OCD or not. Try going and getting some disposable gloves and encourage him to wear them when he wipes. If you see that he is still spending a lot of time wiping see your doctor about the OCD.

Answer 9

it is my opinion that he does NOT have OCD...it is a stage and one of true fear; he sounds like a smart boy to understand feces is loaded with bacteria. he may has sn something on the news about the "skin eating bacteria".....which is a true diagnosis in laymens terms.....
i know you're being understanding.....but maybe take him to the store and let him purchase the flushable wet wipes to make clean up easier....how about some pureel...the hand sanitizer, so he can be sure he is clean after washing.......we know he is clean but it will give him "peace of mind"......

Answer 10

Not necessarily.
Just take some time out to coach him on his unusual behavior. Hes still young, so make medication as your last resort. It'll take some time, but I'm pretty sure.. with him being young and all..that kind of behavior will naturally go away as he gets a lil older.