Is this OCD or Not?

March 16, 2008

My daughter over-reacts to anything negative directed towards her. She seems to

have a hyper-active " guilt reflex " if there is such a thing.

She is 8 and has recently been diagnosed with OCD but it's very mild. The

psychologist told us that she has a pretty strong " scrupulosity " obsession but

I'm maybe not real clear on what that is because when I think it's OCD she

totally denies it. Says, " Mom! Not EVERYTHING is OCD! "

Today we went skiing and 75 miles down the road we realized she'd left her

jacket, gloves, etc. on the table up at the ski area. We were frustrated

because her things should have been with the rest of the family's gear but we

also acknowledged that we should have made sure all our things were in the bags

when we packed up. It wasn't entirely her fault and we told her that.

But she was SO upset. Wants my husband to drive back up there tomorrow so that

she " can have a fun St. 's Day. " She will hang onto this intense guilt

until we have her things back safe and sound. I don't know what she'll do if

they're gone for good. It isn't that SHE is attached to them but she has a

" money " obsession and is afraid that we'll have to spend money to replace them.

We haven't mentioned that it will cost more in gas to retrieve them than it

would to replace them -- that would real send her off.

Back to the topic, though. When I saw that she was too upset to eat dinner I

tried to calm her and explain that she looked scared and that maybe OCD was at

work. That it was okay to drop it and move on. She got very upset with me and

insisted it had nothing to do with OCD. She cried that she wasn't upset (@@)

and that she wasn't worried about the money or that we were going to stay mad

about it. She said she was just so mad at herself and she did not want to move

on.

A bit later something funny happened and she suddenly snapped out of it. Was

back to her happy old self again. This is how the OCD is with her so it seems

pretty suspicious to me.

So, what's your call? OCD or Not OCD?

Beth

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