How to Help a Child with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
An estimated one per cent of children in the United States experience obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), according to KidsHealth.org. OCD is an anxiety disorder characterized by strong urges to perform certain rituals and behaviors in order to alleviate unwanted thoughts or obsessions. It is not caused by parents, and it cannot be controlled by simply "trying harder." OCD requires professional help from a licensed health care professional.
Instructions
Know the signs of OCD and take note of them in your child. Signs may include repeating tasks, constantly asking for reassurance, feeling responsible for harm that happens to others, washing too much or avoiding certain people, places or activities, according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Take your child to see a health care professional and express your concerns. Development of a treatment regiment is the responsibility of the parents, the health care professional and the child. Even if your child is very young, he or she may still express treatment preferences. Participate actively in your child's treatment program. Educate yourself about the disorder and ask questions of your child's treatment provider. Pay attention to your child's progress so you can report back to the health care provider. Support your child by modifying your expectations. KidsHealth.org recommends avoiding criticism and praising small improvements. Remember that children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) will show progress at different rates. Keep calm and don't lose your temper. Involve the rest of the family in treatment, but keep routines as normal as possible. Family members should learn treatment strategies, but not allow OCD to control family activities. Family therapy classes may be helpful. Communicate with your child about the disorder. State your expectations directly, avoiding criticism. Tell your child that he must be ready for school by 7:30 am, regardless of whether washing rituals are finished. Explain that the condition is common and shouldn't be a source of shame. Help your child to see the humorous side of their symptoms, unless you don't think your child is ready to laugh about them. For instance, ask your child to picture a stuffed animal performing the same rituals as him. Live your life as normally as possible by not participating in your child's rituals. Don't wait on your child to finish a ritual, such as cleaning her room, before starting a fun activity, like playing a movie. If your child hoards items, don't buy him a special storage container for all of his materials. Supporting the rituals can hinder progress because it's easy for the behavior to continue, according to HelpGuide.org. Take care of yourself too. Rely on a support network. Develop interests outside of the family. For instance, exercise can help build your self-esteem. Avoid judging yourself by your reactions to your child's problem. Occasionally, you will be tempted to participate in your child's rituals to avoid conflict. Helping a child with OCD is a long, difficult process. Your mistakes don't make or break a child's success.
