10 Tell-Tale Signs That A Child Could Be Developing OCD

Would you know if a child was showing signs of OCD?

I didn't.

Looking back there was the odd clue, here and there, such as:

Sleeping in a hoodie (with the hood up)...

And wiping surfaces.

But I ignored them, as my daughter always had plausible excuses for any changes of behaviour.

Including: She felt more cozy sleeping in her hoodie.

Her friend was a 'clean freak', so she needed to wipe surfaces before she visited.

But that's the thing with OCD...

It's sneaky and sufferers keep it a secret.

Until boom! it's taken full control of not just the child's life, but that of the whole family.

So how do you know if a child is developing OCD ?

Here are 10 clues to look out for.

1. Asking for constant reassurance

Most children will ask for reassurance at one time or another. The difference with OCD is that the need for reassurance becomes constant.

And it will usually be around a specific theme.

Things such as contamination issues, fear of loved ones dying, or checking that items have been switched off.

2. Taking longer to do everyday things

If a child is taking longer to do everyday things such as showering or getting dressed, this could indicate that they have OCD.

The reason that they take longer to do these things is due to them having to carry out compulsions to calm the intrusive thoughts.

3. Having meltdown over minor things

OCD meltdowns are different from normal tantrums, in that they are triggered by extreme anxiety around a particular issue.

For example: if a child has contamination OCD, then something as simple as a person refusing to engage in a ritual, or touching something deemed to be "contaminated," can cause a child to have an outburst, due to them believing that this action will lead to something bad happening.

You will be amazed by how quickly a calm household can develop into a screaming match, with everyone trying to outshout OCD's voice.

4. Being late

Children suffering from OCD will often be late (or not turn up at all) due to feeling the need to carry out exhausting compulsions to calm their anxiety and fears.

This can be extremely frustrating, especially as this will often happen without any warning, which can be frustrating not just for the child, but for the whole family, including siblings.

5. Avoiding people or places

As mentioned earlier, OCD compulsions can be exhausting to the extent that children with OCD will often start avoiding certain situations, altogether, in order to escape having to carry out these rituals.

This can include school too, which can lead to low attendance levels and not achieving their true potential.

It can also leave them (and you) feeling very isolated from the outside world.

6. Sleeping more than normal

Children affected by OCD will often sleep for long periods during the day.

This is due to constant thoughts around OCD issues and the ensuing rituals.

7. Sudden change in eating habits

OCD can control eating too.

It's almost like a 'whack a mole' game.

The minute you tackle one OCD issue, up pops another, often in the form of an eating disorder.

OCD and eating disorders, sadly often go hand in hand.

8. Struggling with everyday life

This one sort of ties in with some of the other points covered, in that it affects everyday life.

Life for a child with OCD can become a real struggle and everyday things that we take for granted, such as:

• Socialising with friends and family
• Going out for meals
• Relaxing in the home

Are a real challenge for a child with OCD.

9. Doing something over and over

Doing something over and over, such as washing hands, can be a strong indicator that a child could be developing OCD.

10. Discarding items

Throwing items away, such as clothing, school books, or jewellery, could be a sign of contamination OCD.

This can be both frustrating, and expensive, especially as there is nothing wrong with the items.

But is simply a case of them being deemed "contaminated" and posing a "risk" to the child suffering from OCD.

If you suspect that a child is suffering from OCD, it is advisable to:

1. Contact your GP straight away. They will then refer you to a specialist if they feel it is appropriate.
2. Try to keep their anxiety in check in the meantime, as OCD is largely triggered by extreme anxiety. Using distraction methods can help to achieve this.
3. Avoid getting recruited, as this will make the OCD worse and much harder to treat.

I now write children's books to help parents and teachers to support children with OCD.

They are written for children aged 5-8 years old and share ways that I found useful in tackling OCD, via a simple story.

My books are available to purchase via my website, which is:

www.themindmonsters.co.uk

Or alternatively from Amazon, Waterstones, The Book Depository, and most other leading book retailers.

I will also be providing some OCD workshops shortly...

Watch this space for more details. ??