How do you explain ocd to a child?
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Video answer: What is ocd? explaining child ocd to kids
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition that causes kids to have unwanted thoughts, feelings, and fears. These are called obsessions, and they can make kids feel anxious. To relieve the obsessions and anxiety, OCD leads kids to do behaviors called compulsions (also called rituals).
Video answer: Ocd explained by the kids from unstuck: an ocd kids movie
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Externalizing the concept of OCD is important. If a child has been diagnosed with OCD, try to give the disorder an identity. You might want to ask the child to draw a picture of it, to give it a name, and to even talk in a different voice to personify it. For example, the kid might draw a picture of a scary monster, or of a “mean guy.”
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OCD is only a diagnosable disorder if its symptoms get in the way of your child’s ability to function on a daily level. Being conscious of hygiene is a healthy and positive quality that a child should be praised for. It is when it is in excess and creates problems that it could potentially be OCD.
Kids and parents have meetings with their therapist. These meetings are like lessons that help kids learn more about OCD and how it works. In therapy, kids learn that doing rituals keeps OCD going strong. They learn that not doing rituals weakens OCD. They learn and practice ways to face fears. They gain confidence. Kids learn to ignore worry messages caused by OCD. They learn to resist doing rituals. They talk and practice these new skills. As they do these things, kids stop the cycle of OCD.
Starve the OCD. Teach your child that compulsions are what feeds the OCD and makes it worse. To demonstrate this, ask your child to draw a picture of the OCD (perhaps a monster) standing next to his or herself. Teach your child that the compulsions are feeding the monster and making it stronger.
OCD typically includes uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions or rituals) that a child feels an urgent need to repeat again and again. For example, your child may repeat a grooming routine until he feels “just right.” A child may engage in compulsions or rituals to temporarily reduce distress.
Although we often think of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as an illness that affects mostly adults, between 0.25% and 4% of children will develop OCD. The average age of onset is approximately 10 years old, although children as young as 5 or 6 may be diagnosed. In rare cases, children can start showing symptoms around age 3.
Try to learn as much about OCD as you can. Your child still needs your encouragement and your acceptance as a person, but remember that acceptance and support does not mean ignoring the OCD behaviors. Do your best to not participate in compulsions or rituals. In an even tone of voice explain that the compulsions are symptoms of OCD and that you will not assist in carrying them out because you want him or her to resist as well. Gang up on the OCD, not on each other! 7.
As long as you do not think about it, picture it in your head, or have any urges to do X, then you are I are good. Me: OK, do not think of X. Oh darn, I just thought of X. OCD: Hey, I told you not to think of X, and you just did what I told you not to do. Me: Well, it is pretty hard not to think of something when you are told not to think of it.
Video answer: Kids with ocd speak out
