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                                   Kimberly 

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                                   Kimberly 

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Being a mother of a child with any type of disorder can be challenging. You want to do anything possible to make sure your child is safe. I recall seeing Kimberly having a tendency for introversion, rigidity and perfectionism from a young age. By the age of 6 she began to present obsessive symptoms in the form of obsessions of doubt and verification (she had to continually check that she had turned the light on and off a couple times, put her barbies away in a specific order, etc.). It would get to the point that sometimes it prevented her from sleeping more than 3 hours a night and resulted in sleep-maintenance insomnia. She also presented symptoms in the form of fears of contamination with the need to wash her hands repeatedly until she would cause skin lesions as well as the need for continuous cleaning at home and school, which she acknowledged was beginning to cause problems in her school environment and at home with her family. At that time we had consulted a psychologist, with whom we continued to visit for months with her and we were able to recall her grandmother having minor OCD which influenced her to pursue the obsession of perfectionism into her early adolescence years. For years, we reported that she had been able to function, recognizing exacerbation of symptoms in periods of increased anxiety, although they were not serious enough to make her consult a psychiatrist. From the initial moment, with the first treatment, we noticed a significant improvement in her intense anxiety and sleep habits. Every day is a new day and little by little we are improving with her OCD. She is still young, and as she gets older seeking treatments will help her in school, at home, and when socializing with others. The school provides her with help too, and accommodates to her needs to focus in her classroom.

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Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder. Parents see anxiety as a normal issue therefore they are not aware it can be a serious mental disorder. Parents involved in a child's life should take note of when they start doing things in particular for example flickering lights on and off at night which may seem cute at first but it can be indicative of an ongoing mental issue.

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The causes of OCD are not fully comprehended.  There are several theories about the causes of OCD, involving:

Compulsions are learned behaviors, which become repetitive when they are associated with relief from anxiety.

OCD comes from genetics and is hereditary.

What causes OCD are chemical, structural and functional abnormalities in the brain.

Misrepresented beliefs reinforce and maintain symptoms associated with OCD.

It is possible that several interactions trigger the development of OCD. The elemental  causes may be impacted by stressful life events, hormonal changes and personality attributes.

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Obsessions are usually overemphasized versions of concerns and worries that most people have at some time. Common obsessions include:

fear of contamination from germs, dirt, poisons, and other physical and environmental matter

fear of harm from illness, accidents or death that may occur to oneself or to others. This may include an excessive sense of responsibility for preventing this harm

excessive concern with symmetry, exactness and orderliness

needing to know and remember things.

Obsessions may be on a person’s mind 24/7. They may be triggered by objects, circumstances, smells or something heard on television, radio or in a conversation. Obsessive fears usually move beyond a specific, anything that might look like it or have been near it, such as toys, car keys, a flower on the street, book shelves and stores.

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Compulsions can be behavioral or mental. Behavioral in actions, and mental in thoughts. Compulsions are routines that are often fulfilled in a pattern or according to special rules. Compulsions are usually done to try and stop obsessive fear from happening, to lower the anxiety the obsessive thought creates, or to make things feel “just right”.

Common compulsions include:

excessive hand washing, showering and brushing teeth

excessive cleaning and washing of house, household items, food, car and other areas

excessive checking of locks, and other things associated with safety

repeating routine activities and actions such as reading, writing, walking, picking up something or opening a door

applying uncommon rules and patterns to the placement of objects, furniture, books, clothes and other items

touching, tapping or moving in a particular way or a certain number of times

needing to constantly ask questions or confess to seek reassurance

mentally repeating words or numbers a certain number of times, or concentrating on "good" or "safe" numbers

replacing a "bad thought" with a "good thought"

Compulsions become like routine; they follow certain rules and patterns, and require continual repetitions. Compulsions give a delusional sense of short-term relief to their anxiety an ocd child is experiencing. Usually, they fortify anxiety and make the obsessions seem more real to them, so that the anxiety soon returns and can continue to have these rituals.

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Treatment for OCD can include:
• psychological treatments such as cognitive behavior therapy
• anxiety management techniques
• support groups and education
• medications.

Psychological treatment such as cognitive behavior therapy can improve symptoms, and this improvement is often maintained in the long term.

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Teacher Strategies in helping children with OCD 

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Teacher Strategies in helping children with OCD 

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Assigned seats: If the school has noisy hallways, you might not want to assigned the seat of a child with OCD by the door. You might have him/her sit in the front, where he/she’s  able to be focused on her class work and not able to hear the noise from the outside hallways. If there is a child who has very observable symptoms, and does not want other kids to see her fidgeting with her hands, rocking or getting up a lot, might be better off closer to the door, toward the back of the room.

More time for tests and papers: If writing is a problem for a child who needs to find the perfect way to say something, she/he’s going to need more time to finish those essay questions or papers.

Computer or Laptops for writing: If writing and rewriting/erasing is a problem for a student, contemplate letting him/her use a laptop for taking notes, and having all assignments be typed at home on a computer instead of being handwritten.

Private testing rooms: Researchers have stated that kids with OCD achieve better, are not overwhelmed and are greater in control of their thoughts and their reactions if they’re in a quiet place away from the other classmates.

Skip reading out loud: Kids who feel they need to read perfectly may have to go back and reread sentences or whole paragraphs over and over to make sure they’ve got them right. So reading becomes a difficult task, and reading in front of the class can become a nightmare.

Audio books: If children have trouble with reading that it takes forever, audio books can be a solution.

Break homework into sections: It helps kids stay focused on doing the problems instead of worrying, if the homework is divided into sections. It will not overwhelm them and cause anxiety.

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OCD Anxiety Program (310) 488-5850
They offer a comprehensive Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for adolescents who need intensive treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders such as Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder,and others. This unique program allows adolescents to receive a specialized cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention in a compassionate and individualized treatment environment. It is located in Santa Monica, CA.

Websites to help your child at home

International OCD Foundation (2016). OCD in Kids.

TeenMentalHealth.org (2016). Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

AnxietyBC (2016). Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Renewal Behavioral Health (888) 818-8471
Renewal Behavioral Health is a luxury mental health treatment center located in the heart of Los Angeles. They specialize in treating a wide variety of mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, personality disorders, and other thought and mood disorders. At Renewal Behavioral Health, they take a fresh approach to treatment and recovery. They see success not only in the prism of recovery, but rather in the larger context of happiness and dignity.