Guest guest Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 My now seven year old daughter first presented with OCD symptoms when she was five. We are now seeing a familiar pattern emerge with her younger sister, who is about to turn six. We recently had a baby and it seemed to trigger the OCD. She is developing bathroom and bedtime rituals, has " meltdowns, " and is having issues at school. The family therapist noted that there is a " strong genetic component " based on the family history. Luckily we've learned tools that help us deal with the behavior but we still need outside help in getting the younger sibling to a calm, happy place. Just wondering who else deals with multiple children with OCD/anxiety issues. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I didn't cause this or am somehow fundamentally flawed in my parenting. There's multi-generational hoarding issues in the family and the paternal grandfather was institutionalized for anxiety. But still. There's always that, " It's my fault, " feeling. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 I have dealt with pretty severe OCD since my teens, and I was probably born with it. My daughter was pulling her hair out from infancy and it developed into really bad trich and she seemed to have OCD fears from as early as I can remember as well. Her twin, my son, has always had separation anxiety from as young as I can remember, and by elementary school, he also had generalized and social anxiety, possibly OCD. They are both 12 now and on medication. They have both been in therapy with OCD specialists. The good news is that they are both straight A students, and in general they are doing really well. OCD in siblings My now seven year old daughter first presented with OCD symptoms when she was five. We are now seeing a familiar pattern emerge with her younger sister, who is about to turn six. We recently had a baby and it seemed to trigger the OCD. She is developing bathroom and bedtime rituals, has " meltdowns, " and is having issues at school. The family therapist noted that there is a " strong genetic component " based on the family history. Luckily we've learned tools that help us deal with the behavior but we still need outside help in getting the younger sibling to a calm, happy place. Just wondering who else deals with multiple children with OCD/anxiety issues. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I didn't cause this or am somehow fundamentally flawed in my parenting. There's multi-generational hoarding issues in the family and the paternal grandfather was institutionalized for anxiety. But still. There's always that, " It's my fault, " feeling. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2012 Report Share Posted March 18, 2012 My son is the one who really suffers from OCD. My other 2 sons just have their " quirks " as I call them. got the full disorder! With my own OCD/quirks it isn't any daily/24/7 thing, I can shrug off stuff or it just is able to stop at some point. Over the years I've down some counting, some germ issues and I do deal with scrupulosity/thoughts but can easily shrug them off for what they are. I hope the recent trigger of your dd's OCD (congrats on the new baby!) is something that settles down after a few weeks, but if not then at least you've got your " tools " in place and experience now. It's not your parenting, and when it's obvious some disorders seem to run in family history, we certainly don't get mad at our relatives. If so, I blame my mom, lol, could see the OCD and all from her when I think back to growing up with her. > > My now seven year old daughter first presented with OCD symptoms when she was five. We are now seeing a familiar pattern emerge with her younger sister, who is about to turn six. We recently had a baby and it seemed to trigger the OCD. She is developing bathroom and bedtime rituals, has " meltdowns, " and is having issues at school. The family therapist noted that there is a " strong genetic component " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2012 Report Share Posted March 18, 2012 My son is the one who really suffers from OCD. My other 2 sons just have their " quirks " as I call them. got the full disorder! With my own OCD/quirks it isn't any daily/24/7 thing, I can shrug off stuff or it just is able to stop at some point. Over the years I've down some counting, some germ issues and I do deal with scrupulosity/thoughts but can easily shrug them off for what they are. I hope the recent trigger of your dd's OCD (congrats on the new baby!) is something that settles down after a few weeks, but if not then at least you've got your " tools " in place and experience now. It's not your parenting, and when it's obvious some disorders seem to run in family history, we certainly don't get mad at our relatives. If so, I blame my mom, lol, could see the OCD and all from her when I think back to growing up with her. > > My now seven year old daughter first presented with OCD symptoms when she was five. We are now seeing a familiar pattern emerge with her younger sister, who is about to turn six. We recently had a baby and it seemed to trigger the OCD. She is developing bathroom and bedtime rituals, has " meltdowns, " and is having issues at school. The family therapist noted that there is a " strong genetic component " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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