OCD Behavior in Children

The worries of the children who suffer from OCD never cease. Such worries include the fear of:

• Being lost

• Falling sick

• Dying

• Some worse happenings to parents

• Hurting others or getting injured

• Burglars

• Things not being perfectly right

• Floods or earthquakes

• Germs and dirt

• Unlucky objects or words

• Committing mistakes

• Crooked thinking
  

The frequency, occurrence and the intensity at which these worries surface in a child’s behavior determine the extent of this disorder.

OCD Behavior in Children – The Form it take.

The reason why the child does the compulsive action is just because he feels that the some bad happenings are prevented when acting so. Generally, whenever a child indulges himself into the compulsive actions, he believes that the bad feelings are postponed for a while.

It is important however that few actions which are connected to luck and superstition of the child should not be wrongly interpreted as OCD which include:

• Selection of a lucky color or a number

• Tapping the pen repeatedly during examination

• Singing just before a high dive jump.

• Preferring the same lucky pair of socks for a game.

OCD Behavior in Children – Is it a Disorder or a Superstition?

The following factors indicate if a child moves towards the OCD from the concept of superstition:

• The child is of the opinion that only the rituals could prevent the unlucky events

• The child believes rituals are the only way to stop worries and fears

• The child feels forced to do certain rituals unwillingly

• The rituals are so done that it affects the normal life of the child

• The child experiences severe distress when someone prevents the child from doing such rituals.

OCD Behavior in Children

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