Friend Scared Her Son May Be OCD

It sounds like he might have OCD. I am an adult psychiatrist, so I can tell you that it's more common in kids and they can often grow out of it, but a trip to a child psychologist (for an evaluation and behavioral interventions) or a child psychiatrist (for evaluation and medication recommendations) or both, may be useful. These interventions could help with the suffering of the mom and child and prevent unwanted consequences of the behavior. For example distraction in school because of intrusive thoughts about "feeling dirty" or knocks to the self-esteem because of peer or frustrated caregiver's feedback, or simply cracked and chapped hands. Seems like an evaluation from a specialist is the way to go!

I would recommend filming his OCD behaviors. Maybe the doctor isn't concerned because he looks okay in the doctor's office and he thinks the mom is exaggerating. I read about a similar case and once they showed him a video he became very concerned.

L..
I would recommend that you friend look into a definite diet change. Food can cause a lot of strange behavior. I would google elimination diets. Dye in food can cause this as well. Makes my nieces daughter go crazy! Google food dyes and health. Dairy, wheat, gluten, etc. All triggers of this or can perpetuate the already drive to behave a certain way. Let me know if you need clarification. I talk riddles sometimes. Sorry.
Bless you in wanting to help your friend.
W. from Indiana

Many behavioral disorders are the result of chemicals in foods, personal care products, and household cleaners. If I were her I would not allow those toxic products and foods in my home - I don't even allow them in my home now and I don't have a child with those sort of problems.

I would also NOT allow my child to drink fluoridated water, take fluoride tablets, fluoridated dental care products, and I would avoid foods that are sources of fluoride... seriously. I wouldn't be at all surprised if many of our ills and diseases today are the direct result of fluoride, which we get in very large amounts because it is all over the place. It has never even been studied for efficacy or safety, I'm serious.

Learn more about the severe dangers of fluoride here (watch Christopr Bryson's video too)... http://www.fluoridealert.org/bryson.htm

Learn all the sources of where we get fluoride and how it's literally poisoning us and our kids...
http://www.fluoridealert.org/f-sources.htm

Plan to spend some time at that website, it's extremely educational. It will also change your thinking... the good things we've been conditioned to think are good.

The US government is even allowing fluoride to be used as a pesticide on potato plants and others.

I personally would not turn to conventional medicine for an issue like this because a drug will only be a bandaid covering the symptoms. I'm in Asheville, NC and there is an Integrative Medicine office where the doctor's are very keen on toxic things that cause weird health issues and common health issues. Their website is http://www.docbiddle.com
TN is not far from NC, if there isn't an Integrative practitioner near your friend I'd think it would be worth the trip to Asheville.

I'm not saying your friends sons problems are due to fluoride toxicity... what I do know is that it's extremely likely it's not helping the kid... or anyones kid or us for that matter.

If you're looking for effective, fluoride free, edible, dental care products contact me - I sell them.

Good luck!
E.

He needs to be evaluated by a child psychologist/psychiatrist. She needs to find one who will actually listen to her, and she needs to demand that they do. A lot of OCD-type behaviors, if they don't affect everyday life, can really be dismissed as no big deal. Some kids just do weird things sometimes. But when they get to the point of him not being able to stop, or where they are interfering with life/school, the behaviors need to be taken seriously and dealt with.
Good luck to your friend!

Your friend needs to stop being paralyzed by fear and get into action. Speaking as a clinical psychologist, I can say that she needs to take the boy to a child clinical psychologist or child psychiatrist or such professional who specializes in OCD and get him evaluated, NOW. If it is OCD, all the hand-wringing in the world won't stop it because it's biochemical. Research and my own experience shows that medications can make a great difference in the strength of the compulsions kids experience, and when this is lightened, then talk therapy can have a fighting chance. Good luck. Tell her to get going!

Please don't get freaked out till you know for sure, but could he be being molested by someone? I would take him to a child psychologist. They would be able to figure out if its OCD or someone is hurting him.

I agree with the other responses. Have your friend find a good child psychiatrist (or psychologist) so their child can get the help he needs. It should work. I also want to say that neither this little boy or his parents caused this or did anything wrong, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. This is more common than most people think, and there is help for it. Good luck to them.

Sounds like your friend needs to take her son to a pediatric therapist. Yes, it does sound like OCD but that is not the end of the world. It just needs to be identified and dealt with sooner rather than later. Just continue to encourage her to look for answers and not give up - and also keep telling her it's not her fault in case she feels guilty or something. She is lucky to have a good friend who cares so much!

My son who is now 12yrs old has always done stuff like this. They first that he was hyeperactive and one doctor wanted to put him on the medicine but I refused. Another doctor that I spook with said as long as his school work was doing good which he's an a and b student when he applies himself not to give him the medicine. My son didn't do the same things as your son but he would like make noises grunting noises, shake his head, scrath his head etc. We have learned that it's nothing but habit so we try to bear with him but we do correct him when he decises to pick up one of his habits. The doctor said he believed it was his nerves. I know lots people think a kids not have a nervous problem but the do specially in the world we live in today. He has to be doing something all the time. The last episode we had was last year and he was biting his fingernails until they were just about down to the quick. If we saw him doing this we would just bring his attention to it. No of these habits last long and we try to incourage him that he has nothing to be nervous bout and that he can talk to us about anything that is troubling him. I don't know if this is your case but if it is just try to work with him and see if it helps. It can also start with in school. Notice when he returns to see if the habits get worst. I know our son was having trouble with boys in his grade giving him a hard time and about every school year he picks up a new habit we just work with him until he calms down about it. People are so quick to judge kids and then it passes onto the kids. I had one teacher that thought he had a bad problem almost stating that he was a little retarded needless to say we proved to her and the principle that it was the teacher judging him and making his life miserable in her room and had him switched to a new one and he started doing better and stopped his habit. I hope this helps. I'm a 49yr old raising my second child. My daugter had nerve problems when she was around 8 and developed an ulser. We got everything under control with her find out that she too had bad nerves too. Now she's an RN and just gave me a grandson in November. And she's had no problem with nerves and the ulcer went away in months.

If I can help answer anymore questions please write.

Have him checked..better to know then not know..good luck to your friend..
S. B

My daughter who is twelve shows some symtoms of OCD but it is triggered by stress. For example, if she has a rough day at school, I will come home to her SEVERELY cleaning the house.
We have underwent counseling and life is better. We learned about stress (mostly her) and triggers of stress. And then we (together) learned to notice signs of being stressed and healthy ways to deal with it. She was also triggered by my stress which I never thought of.
Although, we cannot keep her from ever feeling stress, this has helped TONS.
I also want to add that I am not a fan of counseling...I would never want it to be a crutch or long term situation. We attended once a week for about 3 to 4 months and once every other week for 2 months and then had our final visit. It was very successful!

Take him to a therapist.

It does sound like OCD. When he starts to school, it could be devastating for him to bear the remarks of the other students. Perhaps evaluation by a Christian psychologist would be helpful. She could contact any large church in her area. They usually have counseling staffs. I actually washed my hands excessively as child, but I eventually stopped. My siblings noticed my odd behaviors and encouraged them because they thought it was funny. Even now, I check things several times when I know very well that I've already finished the work, or put the keys in the right place. I also had an adult friend whose problems developed into full blown OCD. He was miserable in school until he was evaluated and received the proper help. I could see no signs of the disorder in him as an adult, so I know that there is help out there.

My questions would be: is he exhibiting compulsivity as well? OCD means both the obsessiveness and compulsivity go hand in hand. Many times they will be obsessive for periods of a few months and then start being compulsive. If he is being compulsive during times when he isn't obsessive I would wonder. She should keep a journal of his behavior for the next 6 months. After 6 months she should review it and see if there is a pattern. She should seek the advice of a pediatric psychologist if she is still concerned. There's a little girl in my husbands youth group at church that didn't get diagnosed with OCD until she was 11 years old even though she displayed symptoms for years before. Her mom started keeping a journal when she was 10 years old for 6 months. Afterwards she took her to see a psychologist who talked with her for 6 months before the determined she had OCD. The girl was put on medication to help with the symptoms and they have seemed to help her.

ask the doc for a refferal to a therapist. i have terrible ocd and anxiety. if it would have been treated when it was first noticed (around that age) then my life would be a lot better. PLEASES tell her to go asap!!

I don't know about helping, but I can commiserate. My son would do odd things, also. For months, he blinked his eyes constantly, then he went on to making this weird noise in his throat, then it was on to tapping his fingers. He usually starts when school starts back and stops sometime in the middle of the year. The doc said it was probably stress related and he would grow out of it. We'll see! School starts in 2 weeks. (although he doesn't seem too worried about this year, and is actually looking forward to school!)

.

Oh the memories that flood in when reading your post! The most frustrating part about this is that the docs can't give a clear answer so you can't understand your own child.
My daughter has so many quirks and so many docs and school faculty argue with each other as to what it is. To the school I say, "Shut up." They have no business questioning any doc, although they must not know that.
OCD sufferers perform tasks to relieve obsessive related anxiety. To stop them is horrifying. It's like putting a claustrophobic in a coffin and telling them to not be bothered by it. Or having acid on your hands and being told you can't wash it off. The anxiety sets in in both situations and then you almost go crazy.
Whether the doc gives a proper diagnosis or not, this child needs everyone's support and cooperation. My daughter's autism teacher once said that no one should ever take away a child's coping mechanism (that being either washing the hands, hitting everything they walk by, etc.) She said that whenever it's taken away the child will find something else to replace it and that runs the risk of the child finding something dangerous to replace it with.
I have two children with OCD. They act differently. One acts more like OCPD. Look that one up. That in itself is quite interesting. My daughter changes her obsessions often but my son does not. I have learned to be supportive and help them to not feel less of a person, just as long as it's not a dangerous obsession. If you have anymore questions just private message me.

Recommend having your friend speak with a child psychologist who is aware of sensory integaration disorder that accompanies many other disorders. Child and Family Development in Charlotte, NC is a great resource. Through occupational therapy his behavior and needs will improve. My daughter had similar / different issues. Through reading and learning about sensory integration disorder I have found many children and adults have behavior issues that can be addressed naturally. For 3 years I would discuss concerns with pediatric doctors. The response - her behavior was normal. At 3.5 years old - I needed help. A friend recommended me to Child and Family Developement and oh how refreshing. Someone who could identify and read my child. Meet her needs and help me as a parent. Good luck.

I would definitely advise your friend to speak to her pediatrician and or a child psychiatrist. What you are describing could very well be OCD or Sensory Processing Disorder or both. One thing is for sure this little boy is miserable and needs support from an expert!!

This is definitely not an issue the child is going to "grow out of". It is more likely that he will "grow INTO it"---and it will become a defining part of his future life...better to act NOW!

L.,

My son also has a touch of OCD, but not as severe as what you describe here. When he was finally diagnosed (~near age 4), a wave of relief washed over me. For years, my family kept telling me that if we didn't get a hold of him, he'd be out of control and that we were bad parents for not using the methods (usually borderline abusive) they used to discipline us. Truth is, we did everything in the book to help w/ his behaviors. His teachers refused to help us by not letting us know what happened at school and essentially wrote him off as a bad child. Other family members this this is a crock and refuse to belive. When we had a name, it took the pain away that this thing influences him to act a certain way, and not that our son was a monster.

If his is showing OCD signs, get him diagnosed NOW. Once there is a name, there is a way to deal with that name and help the son. Research, talk to specialists like psychologists, Occupational Therapists, etc not just peditricians. Truth is, the peds may not know what to do unless they've been through it. Never use the disorder as a crutch, but use it as a means to better understand him and direct him in the way he should go.

The things that helped our son were consistency and the same routine (there was no consistancy between family members about discipline). We used the marble jar for rewards/consequences and had to have such tough love. We DEMANDED the proper behavior at all times. We had to. If people saw us on the street, I'm sure they would have called social services b/c we were so strict. We had to be, it was the only thing that worked. The other thing was sticking fiercely to the routine. The routine was his security. Any deviation and he acted horrible!

Hope this helps. Hang in there!

She really has a problem there.I have an eight year old with asd/adhd/transiat tick disorder.Trust me I know odd behavior.She needs to do research,but there are treatments out there for ocd.Has she seen a psychologist?We have a counselor at our church,maybe there is one at your church.I would ask around.Sounds like she has her hands full.Good luck.GM

I can imagine that this is very frustrating! If she is worried about OCD, maybe the doctor could refer her to a child psychologist. If the doctor still won't help her after asking for a referral, she should switch doctors. She clearly knows her stuff with 5 kids. I don't see why the doctor would ignore her requests!

This may sound weird, but I'd check out allergies -- not the kind that give you hives or anything, but maybe "sensitivity" would be a better word. I just read a book called "No More Allergies" by Fred Null and he talked about how that many diseases and other problems (including ADD and other behavioral problems) have been reversed by changing one's diet or eliminating chemicals that one might be sensitive to.

The problem is, that so much of the time, these things can't be found by current medically accepted tests, so most Western doctors don't believe it exists -- they think it's all hogwash or in your head; but many people have been helped simply by paying attention to what they eat. Dr. Denise Punger (PermissionToMother.wordpress.com) has written several posts about her food sensitivities and diet. She is an American doctor, a board-certified Family Practitioner, but doesn't believe that modern medical doctors have all the answers, the way they seem to think they do.

Dear L.,

Please tell your friend to look up www.feingold.org. Feingold is a 30yr old non-profit organization whose purpose is to inform the public about harmful artificial additives in our food supply. These artificial colors, flavors and preservatives are made from petroleum and cause ADD,ADHD,OCD and many other disorders. Feingold has helped hundreds of thousands families over the past 30 yrs - ours included. It was truly a Godsend for us. I'll be praying for your friend.

L. B.

I agree with Ingrid...
OCD is a mental illness and the child needs to be evaluated by a mental health professional. The child's pediatrician isnt equiped to diagnose mental illness.

I think there are meds to help him, and yes, I would say that he will be easy to diagnose. I am surprised that she has not taken him long before this. Surely there have been signs all along.