Tips for Helping a Child with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

as an adult with OCD, i admire your family. I wish anyone would have recognized my problem when i was a child. I am happy to see that you are supporting your son and helping him through this. The other suggestions are great, i would have recomeneded the same (minus the medication). I will also suggest two books that i found after I noticed my daughter (who is 8) struggling the way i was when i was child. She has not been diagnosed, but i see it.
1.Talking Back to OCD: The Program That Helps Kids and Teens Say "No Way" -- and Parents Say "Way to Go"
by John S. March
and (a bit younger but still nice)
2.What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming OCD
by Dawn Huebner

Of course there are more, but these were my favorites.
Best of luck to you and your family.

Hi S.,
There is a support group in the Tampa Bay area that helps parents of kids with mood and anxiety disorders, Families of Kids with Mood and Anxiety Disorders. www.familiesofkids.org We have many resources on our website that you might find helpful. Many books,ideas, and local care providers are listed. We also meet once a month. The second Sunday of each month (last night). My son also has ocd. Check the website or pm me. Take care.
L.

Families of Kids
www.familiesofkids.org

Yes,

Go to OC Foundation website and learn all you can. There is a procedure called CBT or cognitive behavorial therapy. If severe enough they may put him on a small dose anti-depressent to get him off of the merry go round which will allow CBT to work. YOu must however find someone who knows how to do CBT and specializes in OCD. The OC Foundation can help with that(finding one). LEarn all you can. A great book to start out with is Brain Lock by Jeffrey Schwartz. I to have OCD mostly mental obsession and can now say I'm 95% OCD free. Don't settle for just any counselor, I have went thru 3 or 4 until I found the right one. It isn't his fault that he has it. He has a brain glitch. PLease remember that and remind him. The more he owns it and doesn't blame himself or isn't blamed or shamed the easier it will be. God Bless.

Just got back from holidays, but wanted to tell you that the best nutrition helps with OCD- check out WEston Price Foundation on line- and sugar makes it MUCH worse.
best wishes- Ky