Re: Telling a child they have OCD

[Guest guest]

I think it is a relief for them to know that they have ocd.  Prior to telling

my son, he truly thought he was going crazy.  Learning he had ocd, for him,

alleviated so much stress.

________________________________

To:

Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 10:58 AM

Subject: Telling a child they have OCD

 

Hello everyone - I am seeking advice on whether or not to tell children (ages

10+) that they have OCD (rather than just terming it anxiety). Both negative

and positive opinions would be welcomed. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Guest guest]

When my son was 7 or 8, I read him the book " What to do When Your Brain Gets

Stuck, " and explained to him that he had OCD, and that lots of kids have it.

For him, it was a huge relief to finally have a name for what he was

experiencing. I can't imagine at this point telling him that he was just

anxious, because he knows what that means, and that's not the same as what he

experiences.

I would definitely tell the child, but as with anything, kids take their cues

from their parents, so don't make a big deal about it. I remember telling my

son that a lot of famous people have it, and also a lot of very smart people

have it. Try to stay as positive as possible with the explanation, and act like

it's not a big deal. This was very hard for me to do, but I mustered through,

and he remains very positive about having OCD, and fights with all his might

whenever he has a flair-up.

I hope this helps.

[Guest guest]

When my son was 7 or 8, I read him the book " What to do When Your Brain Gets

Stuck, " and explained to him that he had OCD, and that lots of kids have it.

For him, it was a huge relief to finally have a name for what he was

experiencing. I can't imagine at this point telling him that he was just

anxious, because he knows what that means, and that's not the same as what he

experiences.

I would definitely tell the child, but as with anything, kids take their cues

from their parents, so don't make a big deal about it. I remember telling my

son that a lot of famous people have it, and also a lot of very smart people

have it. Try to stay as positive as possible with the explanation, and act like

it's not a big deal. This was very hard for me to do, but I mustered through,

and he remains very positive about having OCD, and fights with all his might

whenever he has a flair-up.

I hope this helps.

[Guest guest]

My son diagnosed at 8 knows what he has is OCD. We explained in detail, read

kids books etc. His OCD is mild but when OCD happens he knows to identify it and

handle it well.

AR - San

Sent from my iPhone

> Hello everyone - I am seeking advice on whether or not to tell children (ages

10+) that they have OCD (rather than just terming it anxiety). Both negative and

positive opinions would be welcomed. Thanks in advance for your help!

>

>

[Guest guest]

My son diagnosed at 8 knows what he has is OCD. We explained in detail, read

kids books etc. His OCD is mild but when OCD happens he knows to identify it and

handle it well.

AR - San

Sent from my iPhone

> Hello everyone - I am seeking advice on whether or not to tell children (ages

10+) that they have OCD (rather than just terming it anxiety). Both negative and

positive opinions would be welcomed. Thanks in advance for your help!

>

>

[Guest guest]

My daughter was so happy to have a name for it.

 

-JuLeah

The test of whether you are a good parent is not whether your child likes you at

every moment, but whether your child knows she is loved and firmly held by

predictable boundaries. AD

________________________________

To: " " < >

Cc: " " < >

Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 12:38 PM

Subject: Re: Telling a child they have OCD

 

My son diagnosed at 8 knows what he has is OCD. We explained in detail, read

kids books etc. His OCD is mild but when OCD happens he knows to identify it and

handle it well.

AR - San

Sent from my iPhone

> Hello everyone - I am seeking advice on whether or not to tell children (ages

10+) that they have OCD (rather than just terming it anxiety). Both negative and

positive opinions would be welcomed. Thanks in advance for your help!

>

>

[Guest guest]

My daughter was so happy to have a name for it.

 

-JuLeah

The test of whether you are a good parent is not whether your child likes you at

every moment, but whether your child knows she is loved and firmly held by

predictable boundaries. AD

________________________________

To: " " < >

Cc: " " < >

Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 12:38 PM

Subject: Re: Telling a child they have OCD

 

My son diagnosed at 8 knows what he has is OCD. We explained in detail, read

kids books etc. His OCD is mild but when OCD happens he knows to identify it and

handle it well.

AR - San

Sent from my iPhone

> Hello everyone - I am seeking advice on whether or not to tell children (ages

10+) that they have OCD (rather than just terming it anxiety). Both negative and

positive opinions would be welcomed. Thanks in advance for your help!

>

>

[Guest guest]

I gave ds, 13 at the time, a brief description of ocd, and then the therapist

explained ocd to him in greater detail. Think it helped having someone else

explain it to him, also. I know he was very relived just knowing what it was.

Sue

-- In , " placzekg " wrote:

>

> Hello everyone - I am seeking advice on whether or not to tell children (ages

10+) that they have OCD (rather than just terming it anxiety). Both negative

and positive opinions would be welcomed. Thanks in advance for your help!

>

[Guest guest]

I would tell them. I told my son when he was 8 and like the others said, he was

relieved to know this was something other people deal with. He had never heard

of it, didn't know anything like this existed, etc. We read children's books

about it and you could see a wash of relief come over him realizing he wasn't

alone.

>

> Hello everyone - I am seeking advice on whether or not to tell children (ages

10+) that they have OCD (rather than just terming it anxiety). Both negative

and positive opinions would be welcomed. Thanks in advance for your help!

>

[Guest guest]

The neg....labels can be self-fulfilling. the pos....they can realize that

they're not alone and that they can cope, ect...

OCD can resemble other disorders....be sure of the diagnosis first

Bonnie

>

> Hello everyone - I am seeking advice on whether or not to tell children (ages

10+) that they have OCD (rather than just terming it anxiety). Both negative

and positive opinions would be welcomed. Thanks in advance for your help!

>

[Guest guest]

My daughter is 12 and I told her it was OCD. I think it helped her and she is

seeking help on her own now. She is reading books about it. I am not saying

that is for everyone, but for her, I think it was the right thing to do.

Of course she is very precocious, so she even tried applying it to the dog (who

has a huge fear of storm drains). Hey...you gotta laugh sometimes to keep

from crying.

> >

> > Hello everyone - I am seeking advice on whether or not to tell children

(ages 10+) that they have OCD (rather than just terming it anxiety). Both

negative and positive opinions would be welcomed. Thanks in advance for your

help!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I agree.  I think, with ANY diagnosis, there would be no reason to NOT tell the

child.  IMO, that would not be fair to them.  Knowing he has a dx, a NAME for

what is going on with him, will help.  He will know he is not crazy and that

what is happening to him is common and IS treatable.

Sharon

________________________________

To: " " < >

Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 1:59 PM

Subject: Re: Telling a child they have OCD

 

I think it is a relief for them to know that they have ocd.  Prior to telling

my son, he truly thought he was going crazy.  Learning he had ocd, for him,

alleviated so much stress.

________________________________

To:

Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 10:58 AM

Subject: Telling a child they have OCD

 

Hello everyone - I am seeking advice on whether or not to tell children (ages

10+) that they have OCD (rather than just terming it anxiety). Both negative

and positive opinions would be welcomed. Thanks in advance for your help!