My little cousin obsesses over things, its a new thing every month or two, he gets his mind set on something and doesn't want to do or have anything to do with anything else, like now it's Space - the only thing he does is sit on the computer and watch space stuff...it was fireworks where he was on firework superstores website and watch fireworks, before that it was drag racing - he only watched drag videos - he wanted a junior dragster, you get the idea - is this a mental disorder, OCD, or what?
2007-04-02 13:39:43 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
Sorry, He's 10 going on 11, he's done this same thing for years though, it seems as if he'd get over these certain things, but our grandma thinks it is a mental disorder.
2007-04-02 13:44:16 · update #1
As a psychologist, I can tell you without a doubt that this is not OCD and this is not a mental disorder. This is actually a sign of intelligence. It may seem like he's "obsessing," but he's really learning. Something catches your cousin's interest, and he becomes very involved with it. He wants to learn everything there is to know about it. Then, once he's learned a lot about it, he moves onto something else. It's a cycle called "obsession and boredom" in the psychological world. It just means that your cousin constantly needs new things to keep his intelligence interested. Your little cousin is fine.
2007-04-02 14:26:44 · answer #1 · answered by lilmissmiss 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It might be boredum or may be just a stage he is going through. When you feel he is obsessing about something new, reintroduce the last thing he obsessed over and see if you can incorporate them. Now it is space, before it was fireworks and previous to that dragsters. Maybe he is interested in jet propulsion and is preparing himself to become an astronaut in the future. Don't let a doctor discount his dreams by prescribing medication and ruin what maybe his destiny.
2007-04-02 21:27:17 · answer #2 · answered by Angel of Mercy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is just curious about lots of things, and he can't make up his mind about which one to pick. I think that it's only O.C.D if he does the same thing for a really long time. I think this is a good way to find out what he is interested in. If he gets mad when you suggest other things, maybe he has a problem. Otherwise don't worry.
2007-04-02 20:44:35 · answer #3 · answered by buzz_e_me 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He may outgrow or it may be a mild form of OCD. It is hard to tell with his age. Most adults can tell if they really have an issue with something because it affects the rest of their lives; such as job, spouse, etc. Your cousin doesn't have these problems because he is so young. The questions your grandmother needs to ask herself are: does he have friends, how is his school work going, does he relate well to his family. After she answers these questions, she can talk to someone and see if this is a problem for him.
2007-04-02 20:55:43 · answer #4 · answered by Patti C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it certainly does not meet the criteria for OCD or any other mental illness.
i think he's just being a typical kid who keeps discovering new things and when he finds something he likes he wants to learn as much as he can about the topic. it's part of growing up and having his brain absorb information. my nephew is 2 1/2 yrs old and knows all the names of dinosaurs, ones i have never even heard of before as well. dinos are his big craze at the moment. a while ago it was whales and fish.
i wouldn't worry at all. he's just being a kid
2007-04-02 20:47:02 · answer #5 · answered by kittycat 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It seems like he is just a little kid finding out what kinds of things he likes. I wouldn't worry about OCD, your cousin has more "hobbies" than "obsessions". If he was obsessing over mundane/insignificant actions/events, then you might want to worry.
2007-04-02 20:44:41 · answer #6 · answered by ZAK ATTAK 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He sounds just like me. I have limited interests and don't care about anything else. Heavy Metal and shooting people with airsoft guns is what I'm stuck on...
2007-04-02 20:48:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
His age would play a part in answering this question.....lot's of little kids are like tht- no disorder.
2007-04-02 20:43:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read this about Asperger's syndrome:
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/tc/Aspergers-Syndrome-Symptoms
I have worked in a mental hospital for many years and everyone that I knew who talked incessantly about space had Asperger's.
2007-04-02 22:02:22 · answer #9 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, I really think that is normal behavior for his age.
2007-04-02 20:47:28 · answer #10 · answered by just julie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋