OCD & school teasing

[Guest guest]

Hi, I found out from my daughter her twin brother with OCD was teased

by school children for having germs. The children would say " eww ick

he has germs " and " dont touch that,he touched that " and " he left his

germs on it " and tease my son about leaving his germs on

playground,lunchroom and bathroom equipment. The kids would play the

" stay away from him cause he has germs " game. His OCD escalated

during the school year and his aggression towards teachers,staff and

students and what the school called his " freaking out " behaviors. His

washing rituals,bathroom rituals and cleaning/drying door knobs

became so time consuming the school assigned him to use the " cooks

bathroom " and denied him permission to the common students bathrooms.

I could hardly get him out of the house or into the school building.

I believe this teasing played a huge part in his OCD. My son has

never told me about the teasing. The school/ staff never told me,not

once!. His twin sister told me. She said her brother was teased

everyday about his germs. She is in a differant classroom,same grade.

They share lunch,recess,bus time. Both were in 4th grade. She never

disclosed this until last nite when we were talking about her request

to attend a new school. The only germ specifics I told my son was to

cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze and wash your hands after

using the bathroom. I firmly believe his washing rituals increased do

to teasing. Also his shoes were a issue with ritual, OCD. He wore

generic tennis shoes with velcro. Learning to tie his shoes has been

difficult for him. I found out kids at school were teasing him for

wearing " old man shoes " . Agin his twin told me about the shoe

problem. My son never told me. I am not saying the behaviors and

teasing caused the OCD. I do believe the teasing increased it.

Mixed emotions,

Tishanne