Pediatric OCD, Could she have it?

Question

Im in the process of keeping a journal about my DD(3) behavior so I can show her DR. If she is OCD, Im sure it is mild so far, Im just starting on this to see if we can control it, help it not get out of hand. At her age I don't want drugs/threapy.

She is into hand washing, but she is not aware of germs; her socks and shoes have to be put on a certain way, then tied in order; checks bottom of shoes when outside,gets upset if dirt is in tred; blankets on her bed have to be flat on her, no wrinkle, no corners turned over. I know this might seem minor to those who have a child with even a more complusive nature, or one who actually has fear surface, ours is more of a panic that it is not 'perfect' or correct. I guess I want to help her cope, help her not become more severe. Anyone dealing with Pedieatric OCD?

Answer 1

all very normal child behavior!!
All kids obsess over something or other, it's normal.
they have control over very few things and what you talked about are the things she can control and so this is how she gains some control over her life. My daughter use to freak out if her hands where dirty and have to wash then right away but now it doesn't bother her as much and now she fusses over having the right glass to drink out of and I'm sure in a month or two she'll fuss over something different and I'm sur if you give your daughter more opportunities to choose things she'll grow out of this"ocd" behavior and do something different.

Answer 2

I don't have a child with Ped. OCD, but from reading those child rearing books that are popular, know that a lot of toddlers go through phases like that. Where things have to be a certain way. Like no foods can touch each other, using the same glass to drink all the time, only wearing certain clothing, etc.

However, a trip to the local psych or doctor is the only way you'll find out for sure.

Answer 3

It sounds like she has ocd. Is there anyone else in the family with ocd, Tourette syndrome (tics) or adhd? All of these disorders are pretty much the same, just various symptoms in different people.

Just looking at the front of this book will help understand the genetics involved:
http://www.hopepress.com/html/tourette_syndrome_and_human_be.html

If medication is needed, I would suggest Strattera. It is a nonamphetamine for add but should work well for ocd. Whatever you do, make sure she starts out at low doses. Doctors don't seem to understand that.

(I have a 9 year old niece with mild ocd who has to have her shoes tied so tight that it seems like her circulation to feet would be cut off).

Answer 4

OCD can make a child's day-to-day life very difficult and stressful. The OCD symptoms often take up a great deal of the child's time and energy, making it difficult to complete tasks such as homework or household chores. In the morning, they often feel they must do their rituals exactly right, or the rest of the day will not go well. Meanwhile, they are probably feeling rushed to be on time for school. In the evenings, they may feel they have compulsive rituals to do before they can go to bed and at the same time they have to get their homework finished, as well as tidy their rooms!

All this stress and pressure means that children with OCD frequently don't feel well physically and are prone to stress-related ailments such as headaches or upset stomaches. Very often, they stay up into the night because of their OCD, and are then exhausted the next day.

Children will often say their obsessions feel like a lot of worries. They may worry about having a serious illness or worry that intruders might enter the house. They may worry about germs and toxic substances. Whatever fear it is, no matter how busy the child is or how much they try to think about other things, the worries just wont go away. Children may worry that they're "crazy" because they are aware that their thinking is different than that of their friends and family.

When the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is severe, the child may get teased or ridiculed and a child's self-esteem can be negatively affected because the OCD has led to embarrasment time-after-time. It can affect friendships because of the amount of time spent preoccupied with obsessions and compulsions, or because friends react negatively to unusual OCD-related behaviors.

Although we're not sure why, the obsessions will often change as the child gets older. For example, a child of six or seven may worry about germs but then at seventeen this might change to a fear of fires.

At around the age of eight, children will begin to notice that their behaviours are abnormal and will try to hide them. They become embarrassed talking about their rituals and may deny that they have OCD. Younger children are not as aware and make no attempt to hide their behaviour.

Casual observers of parents of OCD children will often say they are too lax with them and shouldn't give in to their behaviours. But whilst to these observers the children may just appear to be naughty, to the children themselves, and their parents, their behaviour is the only way they can express their obsessions.

Diagnosis of OCD in children can often be very difficult. The children have a harder time articulating their OCD symptoms and this makes both diagnosis and treatment much harder.

OCD children very often do not get the emotional support that they need, not because their parents are uncaring, but because their parents are as confused and bewildered as they are. This confusion sometimes comes across as frustration and anger.

Children with OCD sometimes have episodes in which they are extremely angry with their parents. This is usually because they have been unwilling (or unable!) to comply with the child's OCD demands. It can be very difficult when a child obsessed with germs demands that they be allowed to shower for hours, or that their clothes be washed numerous times or in a certain way.

Medication doses are more difficult to initially regulate for children than for adults. Most children metabolize medications quite rapidly. So although they will probably be started on a very low dose, later it can be necessary to use higher, adult-sized doses.

Answer 5

She won't have OCD. As she gets older you may observe a transformation in her behaviors. She won't have those compulsions anymore or they could worsen. often times little ones will advance out of it and often times they gained't. purely save an eye fixed on her and observe if she has obessions she needs to regulate of with rituals.

Answer 6

Not personally dealing with it but this certainly sounds like it. "Mild" can go to moderate & severe. I have heard of girls going thru a phase of not being able to stand dirt, but the blankets on bed are a sure give-away, and the fact that you say a panic is involved. Get her evaluated. OCD is not funny like on "Monk." People with it are miserable unless successfully treated.

Answer 7

My 5 year old is the same and the doctor reassures me that she is picky and likes things a certain way