Mild Ritualistic Behaviors in Children With OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder -- or OCD -- is marked by ritualistic behaviors known as compulsions. Yet, mild forms of compulsions are common in many young children, according to child development expert Arnold Gesell, in a piece for AllAboutBaby.com. They often outgrow them as they mature. Examples include repetitive behaviors such as watching the same movie over and over or using the same fork at every meal. For parents, it can be tough to tell the difference between what is normal and what is not. Always err on the side of caution. Seek help from a licensed mental health professional if you have concerns about your child̵7;s behavior.
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What Is OCD?
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According to MayoClinic.com, OCD encompasses two distinct sets of symptoms: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive, often repetitive thoughts that come to mind when the sufferer is thinking about other things. Compulsions are ritualistic behaviors designed to prevent or reduce the obsessive thoughts. Consequently, the choice of compulsive behaviors is driven by the obsessive thoughts. For example, if your child is afraid of contamination, she might wash her hands until they are raw.
Magical Thinking
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Children use magical thinking to help them define their world, according to Scholastic̵7;s ̶0;Early Childhood Today.̶1; Especially at age 6 and under, children tend to be superstitious, believe in fantasy worlds and assign their own thoughts as the reason for things that are beyond their control. Early childhood sayings such as, ̶0;Step on a crack, break your mother̵7;s back,̶1; are often taken quite literally. Many children develop rituals to help ward off what they see as the effects of their thought processes.
Diagnosis
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The OCD Resource Center of Florida notes that approximately 1 percent of children are diagnosed with OCD. Although an OCD diagnosis in adults requires that the person recognizes that his thoughts or behaviors are excessive, this is not necessary in children. Obsessions and compulsions typically fall into one or more of several common categories. Contamination fears, checking rituals, counting patterns, symmetry obsessions and fears of harming someone else are among the most often seen rituals in children. Note any patterns you observe before approaching your child̵7;s doctor or a mental health expert for diagnosis.
Treatment
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In children as well as adults, OCD is treated with medications and therapy. Cognitive-behavior therapy exposes children to their most-feared situations while supplying them with the tools they need to cope with those situations without resorting to compulsive behaviors. A wide variety of antidepressant medications are commonly used to treat OCD, and some medications work better than others for individual patients. Your child might need to try several prescriptions before finding the one that is best for her.
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