Has Anyone Dealt with OCD in Thier Child? ( Obsessive Compulsive)

Hi. I have a son who is OCD. He has always been a huge worrier and it has taken us this long to figure it out. He started when he started kindergarden. He cried every day and even the start of this year, 6th grade. he cried for about 3 months. Every morning I had to practically drag him out of the car and in to the school. Then he started washing his hands alot, and constantly telling me "mom, I had a bad thought". It about drove me in sane!! He has seen a couselor for a while, and is taking Luvox. It seems to be doing pretty good. I also notice that if he gets overly tired, He gets much worse!! He wont' eat anything he touches. He tells me every morning when I drop him off at school, "mom, don't wreck". I would like to communicate with other parents who go through the same thing. Thanks, Loco

My seven year old daughter is in the process of being diagnosed with OCD. There is an excellent book for parents by Tamar Chansky called "Freeing your Child from OCD." It not only helps you to understand what your child is experiencing, but also gives so much hope because OCD is very treatable. Dr. Chansky is in Plymouth Meeting and sees patients - her specialty is OCD in children and she is "the" expert. I met with her once a while ago and am doing so again next week. Can't recommend her enough. Also, two excellent workbooks for kids by Dawn Huebner are "What to do When you Worry Too Much" and also "What to do When Your Brain Gets Stuck." My daughter found it amazing that her feelings were so clearly described in these books and that allowed her to start to open up and talk about those feelings with me for the first time.

My brother & sister both were diagnosed with OCD as children. Excessive worrying & hand washing. They saw a child psycologist/psychatrist (not sure which). It helped a lot. But for some reason after a year or so, they stopped going. I'm not really sure why (my family is very secretive). My brother (now 26) is on medicine (don't know which) but he says it has changed his life. He wishes he got on it sooner. He says everything is better.
I highly recommend you take your child to a doctor & have him evaluated. If he needs meds, put him on them.

You could try "Tapping" with him. You can get a free manual at www.emofree.com. He might enjoy the excercise if you make it like a game.

My husband is diagnosed with OCD and it is a difficult illness. He takes Zoloft which really helps him. I am not suggesting that your 9 year old needs medicine, but perhaps finding a childrens therapist that treats OCD would not be a bad idea. Anxiety is crippling and you want to help him find ways to manage it. I use the tapping for mine and I already use that with my 2 year old before bed (just the tapping part) and he thinks it is fun and it seems to relax him.

You being understanding of your son and supportive is the first step in the right direction!

Hi, P.. I think we have a lot to talk about! My son is the same way - with the anxiety and OCD. He also has irrational fears about someone breaking into our windows and hurting him and other things too (even though nothing bad has ever happened to him). He obsesses over negative things and worries a lot. We're just starting to get help for him, which he really needs. I'm hoping that we don't have to medicate him, but I'm not counting it out either (if we can ever find a psychiatrist that takes our insurance! - I pray that we will). My son, Kal, is 7 and a half and I live pretty close to Williamstown (in Newfield). We may have to get together! Kal has behavioral and social problems, which is not helping at all in school. Just warning you: trying to get them help is the most frustrating thing - I was just writing about it in another response to a mom with a son with ADD (you should click on my name and check out that response -Warning! It's really LONG!).
I just want my son to be a happy child!! I feel bad that he's being tormented by his own mind. We're gonna get them help, P.! I'm gonna message you my info so we can talk more. God bless, Tabi

HI P., Talk to your doctor. It sounds like your son may need to see a counslor to work through his fears. There is a lot in our world that is scary and he needs to understand that you can't live in fear. I don't think this is one of those things that he will outgrow or work out on his own so get some help. Best wishes.