My 5 year old has OCD

[Santi]

My 5 year old has classic OCD. He has to touch things twice (both sides), taps people on the head, repeats words and phrases, etc. I am wondering what the best way to handle this. Do I ignore or bring attention to what he is doing in a nice way and tell him its not appropriate? Andrea

[Wombat140]

Hm. If it really is OCD, "telling him it's not appropriate" is not going to get you very far. Most people with OCD would rather not do their compulsions, but they can't help it. But it may not be OCD. Does he have other autistic spectrum issues? Some kids on the autistic spectrum do things like that just because they like to. I read about one autistic kid who used to lick visitors' feet...

The best thing might be just to ask him why he does it (do this when you've got time in hand, in case it takes a lot of sorting out). Don't suggest anything, e.g. don't ask him "do you do that because you like to, or do you do it because you're worried?" Just ask him why he does it and let him answer - be prepared for a long wait while he works out how to explain. If he turns out to be doing it of his own accord, that's the time to tell him you'd rather he didn't.

Not that I've ever done this myself. I'm just speaking as someone who's been on the other end of it. It took several months, and I'm afraid quite a few meltdowns, before my parents managed to work out what it was all about. I think the above might possibly have made things easier, is all.

[peglem]

My 5 year old has classic OCD. He has to touch things twice (both sides), taps people on the head, repeats words and phrases, etc. I am wondering what the best way to handle this. Do I ignore or bring attention to what he is doing in a nice way and tell him its not appropriate? Andrea

You might want to check out the PANDAS/PITANDS forum. Even if you don't think your child's OCD comes from an underlying immune problem, there are parents on that forum w/ expert advice on helping your child get control of obsessions and compulsions.

[dcmom]

Santi-

 

If your child has ocd- I strongly suggest getting an ERP trained therapist to work with you, on how to handle your son.

 

I also strongly recommend the book "what to do when your brain gets stuck". It is a workbook for kids (and their parents) about fighting back ocd. It is excellent, and will help you with tools and a language to use with your son.

 

Good luck.

 

Have you looked into the possibility of pandas?

[Lynn777]

My son started having mild OCD symptoms in April, the same time he started with motor and vocal tics. We immediately found a CT specialist that was trained to work with 0-5 year olds. She explained to us that the therapy is very slow at this age, but the sooner you start the better long term results. That said, we are already seeing improvement after 5-6 weeks. I know from reading the boards there is mixed opinions on trying to control the OCD behaviors, especially when they are accompanied by Tics or Tourettes. However, our therapist thinks it is important to deal with the socially inappropriate OCD behaviors and has coached us in how to discuss this with our son. Again, we have seen improvement.

 

I wouldn't suggest doing it on your own, I think you should seek professional help and I want to reiterate that my sons OCD is very mild, so what is working for him might not work or be the best approach for every child.

 

Best of Luck!

 

~Lynn

[Chemar]

Hi Santi

 

personally I wouldnt put much faith in getting any help from a neurologist for OCD at all! They will likely just write a rx for a pill that will add a bunch of unwanted side effects and not necessarily help the OCD much

 

as you know, my son has OCD comorbid with his TS, and it is classified Tourettic OCD when tics and OCD symptoms morph

 

by far the best treatment we have found has been cognitive behavioral therapy

along with natural supplements to help elevate serotonin worked wonders for my son.

 

trying to tell someone, especially a child, with OCD to control things is usually counterproductive, whereas the CBT training helps in a different way to teach coping and more socially appropriate alternatives. However, as your son is still so younf, I am not sure how effective it would be, but you may want to see if any pediatric psychologists are around who are trained in CBT

[OCDgirl21]

I suggest first getting a proper diagnosis from a child psychologst and follow their advice on how to best treat your son based on the severity of his symptoms.

DO NOT try to force your son to stop performing his compulsions because this will cause him severe anxiety and overwhelm him with obsessive thoughts. You need to understand that if your son truly has OCD (and it sounds like he does but again you need a proper diagnosis) he is performing these rituals (touching things, repeating words etc.) because he has obsessive thoughts that cause him so much anxiety that he is required to perform these actions and not performing them would result in severe overwhelming anxiety.

 

I was a child sufferer of OCD and from my personal experience I can say that the best thing you can do for your son is to suport him through this disease. He will probably suffer from it in some form for his entire life and you need to accept that as a parent and learn to help your son cope with his symtpoms. Forcing a child with OCD to stop perfoming his/her rituals is the WORST thing you can do. People with OCD especially children can not just stop perfoming their compulsions as doing sao results in severe anxiety and overwhelming obsessive thoughts.

 

Also do not let the psyhcoloigts drug your son up. Remember that many of them are there to sell drugs as this is how they pay their rent. Be aware of this and do what YOU think is best for your son based on the psychologts suggestions. Do not be afraid to get a second opinion if something doesn't sound right.

[Tyr]

I suggest first getting a proper diagnosis from a child psychologst and follow their advice on how to best treat your son based on the severity of his symptoms.

DO NOT try to force your son to stop performing his compulsions because this will cause him severe anxiety and overwhelm him with obsessive thoughts. You need to understand that if your son truly has OCD (and it sounds like he does but again you need a proper diagnosis) he is performing these rituals (touching things, repeating words etc.) because he has obsessive thoughts that cause him so much anxiety that he is required to perform these actions and not performing them would result in severe overwhelming anxiety.

 

I was a child sufferer of OCD and from my personal experience I can say that the best thing you can do for your son is to suport him through this disease. He will probably suffer from it in some form for his entire life and you need to accept that as a parent and learn to help your son cope with his symtpoms. Forcing a child with OCD to stop perfoming his/her rituals is the WORST thing you can do. People with OCD especially children can not just stop perfoming their compulsions as doing sao results in severe anxiety and overwhelming obsessive thoughts.

 

Also do not let the psyhcoloigts drug your son up. Remember that many of them are there to sell drugs as this is how they pay their rent. Be aware of this and do what YOU think is best for your son based on the psychologts suggestions. Do not be afraid to get a second opinion if something doesn't sound right.

I think this is quiet helpful since you speak from personal experience. Whatever you do,do not rush the child or get impatient with him. Asking him in a light way why he does that might help. It would also be advisable to inquire from his therapist and see what he/ she says about it.

[ClaytonSotomayor]

Quote

I think this is quiet helpful since you speak from personal experience. Whatever you do,do not rush the child or get impatient with him. Asking him in a light way why he does that might help. It would also be advisable to inquire from his therapist and see what he/ she says about it.

Hi Santi,

Can you please share whichever strategy you adopted with your five-year-old

Edited September 29, 2021 by ClaytonSotomayor