Has he got OCD??

[LadyLou]

Hi

I have a 4.5yr old boy who in the last fortnight has started obsessing about hygeine and germs. It's gotten to the point where he won't even play with other kids at preschool or touch the centre's toys. Yesterday he didn't participate in any of the activities, he just followed the teachers around and asked them questions about the centre's cleaning regiemes (sp?). He wouldn't even touch the taps to wash his hands - he waited for someone else to turn them on/off for him!

He's driving me insane at home to. He continually asks "can I put my hands in my mouth if I touch my feet/this toy/the toilet/the bench etc etc...." it just goes on and on. Yet he doesn't ask the question just once - it's the same question over and over again.

I have tried answering him in a reassuring manner and explaining that it's alright, I have tried ignoring the questions, I have tried yelling, I have tried smacking (I am at the end of my tether - we don't usually smack him at all), I have tried using the naughty chair (to the point where I need to get him a cushion for it as he's on it so often!).

I have no stratagies on how best to deal with this. I feel like I could throw him at the wall!

My therory is that he is a smart little boy. He always asks a million questions about everything - things that little people don't think about like how does the tv work, how the universe continues to exist, how the blood flows through the body. He continually looks at the body book, universe book and encylopedia books that we have. He can't seem to be able to rationalise that mummy cleans the bathroom (for instance) cause it's dirty and has germs, so she uses posion to clean away the germs, yet posion is bad for you - so whats worse? the germs or the posion???? Mind you I clean with vinegar and have explained that it's a food!!

Ohhhh I could go on for hours! I really need some stratagies to help me deal with this.... Has anyone else ever had or has got a child like this?

I have invited a little friend of his over today to play with him and take his mind off it all - hopefully that works (for today anyway - I can't borrow everyones kids everyday!).

Please help!!!:banghead:

[BreakfastatTiffanys]

Sounds like you have a very intelligent little boy.

My son is the same he needs to know how everything works from the body, electricity, the garbage that gets taken away. He is now 7 and the questions just get more difficult.

No advice, just letting you know that my ears hurt, too.:yes:

[LadyLou]

Thanks kiahskeeper! my brain hurts to - soemtimes I'm just not smart enough to have all the answers he needs - we refer to daddy a lot!

[BreakfastatTiffanys]

Thanks kiahskeeper! my brain hurts to - soemtimes I'm just not smart enough to have all the answers he needs - we refer to daddy a lot!

We refer to Daddy a lot too. Mummy just doesn't always know the answers.:banghead:

In answer to your question about OCD. I doubt it.

Maybe I should have my ds tested too:banghead:

[reAllytee]

I highly doubt he has OCD especially at this age. He sounds highly intelligent thats for sure !

My DS has a thing about being dirty etc but thats all due to me being fanatical & actually having OCD myself :o
Everyone laughs when he starts cleaning up after lunch & cleans things down etc. They all comment " wonder where he got that from " :o

So they can actually learn the behaviour not saying that you are like this as such but we do also do things without realising it. You may have taught him at one stage to keep his hands clean etc & he is now figuring that out & what it all means. If that makes sense. Also if he is looked after by someone else they may have made a comment or even done something he has picked up on.

Try not to stress he is learning all about different things but if you do think its becoming extreme maybe a talk with your g.p will help.

Good luck !

[Rell]

I have a 5year old who is fasinated in how everything works (especially our body) so i can understand how it can get a little frustrating.
Maybe you could try explaing to him that our body actually needs to be exposed to germs so that we can build up antibodies. I think there is a "magic school bus" episode that deals with germs.
If you check out the local library you should be able to find a junior non fiction book that germs, their purpose and what the bodies defence mecegnisms are.

Good luck

[Blueberry Crumble]

I am sorry- but I haveto disagree and say that it sounds to me to be DEfinetely OCD. I have OCD and know how awful it is and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE dont reprimand him because it is an anxiety disorder and he cant help the thoughts that things are unclean! Smacking and yelling will make him so much worse.

It is also possible for children to get OCD that young.

Having it myself since i was 9, I have done tonnes of research. Is he an anxious little boy? I am not saying that he definetely has it, but from what I know about the condition, it sounds to me like he does. And if he does, it needs to be nipped in the butt asap because it is horrible.

Visit this site- www.ocduk.org (http://www.ocduk.org) and read up about it. It is a very helpful site. Also a trip to a good GP will be a good idea.

I hope it turns out okay

[Blueberry Crumble]

Oh, and I just wanted to add that the fact that he is asking the same questions over and over again even after you have reassured him is a very strong symptom of OCD.

[LadyLou]

Thanks everyone for your help!

I have been wondering if maybe he "caught" it from me..... I am pretty borderline I think, I wash my hands constantly (he asks me why I am washing them sometimes), I get panicky when we eat out and always choose the "safest" meal available (not for flavour but the food with the less chance of being contaminated). I continually wipe his hands before he eats when we are out. I hate touching the trolley handles, atm, door handles, money etc etc. I hate touching absolutely anything at his childcare centre.

I try to hide this all from him - I never verbalise my thoughts and make light of it when he is around - it more like an internal panic for me.

I really didn't think it was all that obvious to him!

Now I feel worse :gloomy: Oh god what have I done??? :banghead:

[reAllytee]

Thanks everyone for your help!

I have been wondering if maybe he "caught" it from me..... I am pretty borderline I think, I wash my hands constantly (he asks me why I am washing them sometimes), I get panicky when we eat out and always choose the "safest" meal available (not for flavour but the food with the less chance of being contaminated). I continually wipe his hands before he eats when we are out. I hate touching the trolley handles, atm, door handles, money etc etc. I hate touching absolutely anything at his childcare centre.

I try to hide this all from him - I never verbalise my thoughts and make light of it when he is around - it more like an internal panic for me.

I really didn't think it was all that obvious to him!

Now I feel worse :gloomy: Oh god what have I done??? :banghead:

Hey dont feel bad :hugs:

You have realised there is now an issue & dealing with it from here on in is the way to go.

We all pass things onto our kids in some way you arent a bad mum !!!!

[Blueberry Crumble]

I agree with allyoo- Dont feel bad, you shouldnt at all :) It isnt your fault. Your obsession with germs is probably as hard to control as your sons. I think he would have picked it up from you more from genetics (OCD can be passed on through families) than from watching your everyday actions.

The most important thing now is to try and be as patient with your son as you can possibly be. If he is anxious about germs, he needs patience. No amount of reassurance will get rid of his thoughts because that is what OCD is like- the thoughts always come back harder and stronger.

Please, take him to a good GP and tell him you think he may have OCD. And do research on it yourself to help him.

But please dont blame yourself!

:)

[mum2peanut]

I just wanted to say :hugs: to you.
My Dh has OCD, his is realtion to germs etc. And my biggest fear is that DD will pick up on it. I finally convinced DH to get help last year. I def think get it looked into. I feel that my DH's mother overlooked/ignored it, and it's just gotten worse. The sad thing is his mum is a psychologist, and when he went to her for help last year, she pretty much dismissed it.
Goodluck with it all. And don't blame yourself, if you think you're borderline OCD you can't help what you're doing.
PS And I know what you mean when it comes to losing your temper, some days my patience with DH wears very thin.

[Blueberry Crumble]

The sad thing is his mum is a psychologist, and when he went to her for help last year, she pretty much dismissed it.


That is terrible:crying:

I have had OCD since a young child and I didnt get it diagnosed until I got so fed up with it that I took myself to see a psychologist and had it diagnosed.

There have been times when it has been so bad that I havent been able to think straight, been so anxious, that I was even hospitalised for a couple of weeks after DS was born because I was so worried about my son, couldnt stop checking him at night to see he was safe. I would have been in and out of the room 50 times a night if I let myself.

So, if it goes untreated, it definetely does get worse.