Children and OCD
Obsessive Compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder. People who suffer from this disorder have thoughts which cause them extreme anxiety, and the only way the anxiety can be relieved is to complete rituals. These rituals might include repetitive hand washing, excessive cleaning, having to do things a certain number of times, repeated checking, or hoarding. Obsessive Compulsive disorder is very common, and unfortunately strikes children as well as adults.
Children can develop Obsessive Compulsive disorder as early as seven years of age. Some of a child’s obsessions may include fear of contamination, fear of accidentally or purposefully harming others, or an obsession with symmetry and having things placed in exactly the same way every time. Compulsions are the behaviors that a child must do in order to relieve their anxieties. Some of the compulsions may include checking, counting, or touching objects in a certain way a certain number of times. Other compulsions include arranging items in a certain way, or washing themselves in a specific order. If the compulsion is not completed correctly it must be done again until the child feels that it is “right”. In other words, the child will repeat the compulsive activity until their anxiety has been relieved. MOre info about child anxiety is available here.
Children who suffer from Obsessive-Compulsive disorders need to seek professional help. A mental health professional can teach children other coping techniques to relieve anxiety in place of compulsive behaviors. They may also prescribe medication designed to help relieve the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Learning how to control their Obsessive-Compulsive tendencies from a young age will help children go on to lead more fulfilling and healthy lives.
