Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children
In recent years doctors, specialists, psychologists, and psychiatrists have started correctly identifying the issue of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in children. For children with OCD, it is very important that a correct diagnosis is made as early in their life as possible. This will give the child the best chance of living a healthy and normal lifestyle. It is also important for parent’s to accept that their child has a mental disorder and is not simply a difficult or disobedient child.
Approximately 2% of children in the world are estimated to suffer from some form of OCD. It is believed that the actual numbers are much higher but that another 2% aren’t being diagnosed properly or their parents haven’t taken them for an assessment. Suffering from OCD can affect their relationships with their family, their education, and hinder their ability to have friends.
One of the main reasons why parents and educators don’t realize that a child may be suffering from OCD is because it often starts to develop around the time the child is becoming a teenager and going through puberty. Their anxiety and strange behaviors are often dismissed as nothing more than typical teenager issues.
While the main symptoms of OCD are that the child is focused on particular issues and can’t seem to let them go, it is very common for the child to be embarrassed by their concerns so they don’t share them. Yet their OCD carries over to not getting enough sleep, being irritable, and not being able to focus on their school work.
The actual fears that lead to anxiety can be very different for each child and the degree that they affect their life will be different as well. Some of the common OCD issues for children include a fear of germs, an extreme need for everything to be in order, fear of getting sick, and a fear of failure.
Some common signs that parents can watch out for that may mean their child is suffering from OCD is raw looking hands due to washing them too often, changing their clothes several times each day, a continuous fear that a family member is going to get hurt, or keeping everything in perfect order throughout their day until they are exhausted with the process.
If you suspect your child may have a form of OCD, take the time to ask your doctor to complete an assessment. Don’t let them continue to struggle on their own. It will have a negative impact on their education and their social interactions. With the right combination of therapy and medication any child can learn to cope with their OCD.
