Symptom

[Mary M]

Has anyone else's child removed almost everything from their room? Removed art they've created from the walls of the house or photos of themself from the house?

[MomWithOCDSon]

Well, he would've removed all his artwork and pictures if I'd allowed him; but they're in "family rooms," as opposed to his own room, over which he can exert that kind of control.

 

In our DS's case, I think this was OCD perfectionism. He no longer liked his pictures because he looked "goofy" in them, and he didn't like it artwork because it wasn't "good."

[tired mom]

Yes mine once removed everything that was on her walls. Her ocd which only manifests mainly in her own home has made her do the weirdest things.

[Joan Pandas Mom]

My son has taken certain things out of his room or can't place certain things in his room. It's all OCD/PANDAS. I know there is definitely an obsession behind it, he doesn't always tell me what the obsession is though.

[thereishope]

My son would spend hours creating things then take scissors and cut it up into piece just to throw it out. Or he would crumple it up and toss it. This boy would put so much detail and though into his work and wouldn't keep it. He didn't necessarily take things off our walls, except for artwork on the fridge. However, we weren't allowed to take pictures of him. We learned to turn off the sound on the digital camera so he wouldn't know when they were being taken.

 

Now, he saves his art, smiles for photos and will even ask for pics to be taken.

[philamom]

One day a while back, my daughter came home from school and removed all toys, knick-knacks, and artwork from her bedroom. I think it was an ocd (orderly) thing. She didn't mind if it was placed somewhere else, just not where she spent her time. Now she is a HUGE HOARDER! She can't part with anything!!!

[mandyknowles]

yep. mine at one point took every picture off our walls because she said she was scared of them. screamed and cried and i just left them off until she stopped doing it.

[Mary M]

Thank you all for your responses. It is so reassuring to know that others experience the same symptoms, however unusual or seemingly trite. Occasionally I think...could this really be a PANDAS symptom? And then I read about the someone else's child doing the exact same thing. It's good to know we're all in the same boat...and our boat is really making a splash these days with the NIH update, Pepsi Refresh Grant for Dr Cunningham...