Re: New to Group - OCD in my 5-year-old

[Guest guest]

Hi Tricia! Happy to hear things improved since last year.

Boy, you brought back some memories of when he was younger. I remember

wondering just how finely tuned were his senses or feelings, he asked about

every " feeling " he thought he felt in his body. Chest hurt, felt something in

his stomach, did I think he could have cancer, what is that mark on his arm, how

long til it heals...on and on. And even about foods, would this/that give him

cancer. And could come back within the hour a couple more times to ask again.

Yeah, we worry if they are/could be sick. I think with each of my sons (3) I've

probably brushed off some symptom only to find out they were sick (guilt!) but

we parents aren't perfect.

With school, do you think there is ANYthing going on that could possibly have

him wanting to avoid going? Whether it's someone bothering him, or he doesn't

have a friend in class, or someone this/that, or he doesn't understand what they

are learning, no one to play with outside...anything? Or just he has a bit of

separation anxiety?

I would handle the worries/questions as reassurance questions. Answer him the

first time or two but then have a *plan* with him that you will only answer X

times, or you could try to turn it around and ask him to repeat your last

answer.... Just change it up. We certainly want to check their symptoms, but

after that the same questions tend to need to be treated as reassurance type OCD

probably.

Quick thoughts (and typing!),

(whose typing is getting worse lately!)

>

>

>

> He is constantly talking about random pains. His hips hurt, his throat hurts,

his shoulder hurts....

>

> He has played sick a lot in the past to avoid going to school but over the

winter break this kept going. He constantly wants his temperature taken, he

always says his stomach hurts... I've taken him to the doctor for his throat and

they found nothing. Is this something that a lot of OCD parents have dealt with?

He is only 5 and I worry that maybe there is something actually wrong and I'm

just not going to believe him because I hear it so often.

>

> Thanks,

> Tricia

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Tricia! Happy to hear things improved since last year.

Boy, you brought back some memories of when he was younger. I remember

wondering just how finely tuned were his senses or feelings, he asked about

every " feeling " he thought he felt in his body. Chest hurt, felt something in

his stomach, did I think he could have cancer, what is that mark on his arm, how

long til it heals...on and on. And even about foods, would this/that give him

cancer. And could come back within the hour a couple more times to ask again.

Yeah, we worry if they are/could be sick. I think with each of my sons (3) I've

probably brushed off some symptom only to find out they were sick (guilt!) but

we parents aren't perfect.

With school, do you think there is ANYthing going on that could possibly have

him wanting to avoid going? Whether it's someone bothering him, or he doesn't

have a friend in class, or someone this/that, or he doesn't understand what they

are learning, no one to play with outside...anything? Or just he has a bit of

separation anxiety?

I would handle the worries/questions as reassurance questions. Answer him the

first time or two but then have a *plan* with him that you will only answer X

times, or you could try to turn it around and ask him to repeat your last

answer.... Just change it up. We certainly want to check their symptoms, but

after that the same questions tend to need to be treated as reassurance type OCD

probably.

Quick thoughts (and typing!),

(whose typing is getting worse lately!)

>

>

>

> He is constantly talking about random pains. His hips hurt, his throat hurts,

his shoulder hurts....

>

> He has played sick a lot in the past to avoid going to school but over the

winter break this kept going. He constantly wants his temperature taken, he

always says his stomach hurts... I've taken him to the doctor for his throat and

they found nothing. Is this something that a lot of OCD parents have dealt with?

He is only 5 and I worry that maybe there is something actually wrong and I'm

just not going to believe him because I hear it so often.

>

> Thanks,

> Tricia

>

[Guest guest]

My dd is so in tune with her body, she complains (or just lets me know)if

something feels a little " off " .  It isnt that she is sick, thinks she is sick,

or thinks something is wrong with her, she just feels a little off and needs to

tell me.

Sharon

________________________________

To:

Sent: Wednesday, January 4, 2012 12:05 AM

Subject: New to Group - OCD in my 5-year-old

 

Hi Everyone,

My son was diagnosed with OCD at 4 after his extreme attachment to rituals and

his need for " do-overs " especially in times of transition. I now find myself

trying to identify what behaviors he might be doing are just him being him and

what behaviors might be a sign of a new ritual. He is not currently on any meds

and we are seeing what we can do with behavior modification. I found this board

really helpful last year when I read a lot about other kids and their attachment

to nature and having trouble with seasonal changes. We worked through that. Now

he's doing something new and I'm trying to figure out if it's an OCD behavior or

something else and I'm hoping someone can help me.

He is constantly talking about random pains. His hips hurt, his throat hurts,

his shoulder hurts....

He has played sick a lot in the past to avoid going to school but over the

winter break this kept going. He constantly wants his temperature taken, he

always says his stomach hurts... I've taken him to the doctor for his throat and

they found nothing. Is this something that a lot of OCD parents have dealt with?

He is only 5 and I worry that maybe there is something actually wrong and I'm

just not going to believe him because I hear it so often.

Thanks,

Tricia