The common signs or symptoms of pediatric OCD include obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior. Obsessions include fear of contamination or germs, self-harming thoughts, and thoughts of harming others, while compulsions include repeatedly cleaning or washing hands, checking the locks of doors or windows, etc.
Most Common Signs of Pediatric OCD
As a parent, it’s your responsibility to help your child get rid of OCD symptoms. They can analyze the behavior of their child to identify the symptoms of OCD. Then, by choosing the early or timely intervention and treatment, they can help their child get relief from the OCD symptoms.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health disorder that comprises obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior. Any individual, including men, women, children, teens, or adults, can suffer from this mental issue. However, the main difference lies in the way OCD symptoms manifest differently in each individual.
The onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder usually occurs between the ages of 9 to 13 years. Moreover, 50% of OCD usually occurs at the time of childhood, which can persist for a longer period if not treated on time. Likewise, males suffer early as compared to females.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the most recent prevalence of OCD in children and teenagers is approximately 1% to 3%. The untreated symptoms of OCD directly interfere with the normal functioning of individuals. Therefore, early diagnosis and effective treatment of pediatric OCD are crucial so children can live their lives without the presence of any mental issue.
Common Signs or Symptoms of OCD in Children
The most common signs or symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children include:
Obsessions: Obsessions are undesired, disturbing, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger stress in children, and they feel like they do not have control over their minds. The obsessive thoughts are persistent and also occur in a repeated manner, and exert a negative effect on their normal life functioning.
Common Obsessions
The most common obsessions are as follows:
Fear of contamination
Children experience excessive stress from getting exposed to any germs or dirt, or suffer from any serious illness
Intrusive thoughts
Several intrusive thoughts appear in the minds of OCD children. They think that they can hurt themselves or become a source of danger for others. Likewise, they also fear doing any kind of forbidden act.
Doubts and perfectionism
Children with OCD also repeatedly question themselves about whatever they do in their daily lives. Even if they lock the doors, they keep checking them. They just chase perfectionism and want to do all the things right.
Urge of symmetry
They always think to arrange things in the right order or symmetry. They become more concerned with exactness.
Extra concerns
Children suffering from OCD usually remain excessively concerned with what is right or wrong. Having pure intentions, they fear that God will curse them.
Compulsions: Compulsions or compulsive behavior are the repeated actions or certain mental acts that children think can help them get rid of their anxiety. But in reality, this is just a way to temporarily distract their mind from negative thoughts their stress, or anxiety.
Moreover, most of the children with OCD also think that if they engage in compulsive behavior, they can also stay away from doing bad things in their daily life.
Most common compulsions include:
Extra cleaning: They repeatedly wash their hands, take a shower, or clean things multiple times.
Checking: Even if they lock the doors of appliances, doors, or windows, they repeatedly check them until they feel safe or secure.
Arranging things: They spend their time organizing different things until they get back into their actual symmetry.
Reassurance seeking: Due to OCD, children remain in doubt and therefore constantly ask different questions s their parents or friends to seek reassurance.
Hoarding
OCD children don’t like decluttering. They even keep all the old things with them and do not throw away the useless things.
Mental Rituals
Even if they do not speak anything but in their mind, they keep thinking about different things, or counting, or repeating some words or phrases. Other common symptoms of OCD include:
- Trouble with focus or attention
- Sudden changes in mood
- Emotional dysregulation
- Social withdrawal
Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder (PANDAS)
PANDAS stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder associated with Streptococcus. It’s a condition in which children suffer from OCD after a streptococcal infection that causes a sore throat.
Transform your Child’s Mental Health at Children’s Psych
At Children Psych, we want to empower your child so they get the mental peace that they deserve. We always maintain the highest standard in providing mental care to children who are battling with any mental illness, such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, etc. Our mental health professionals are experts in psychological evaluation and treatment of mental health disorders. So if you want to discover how our mental health solutions can reshape your child’s mental health, then book an appointment with our experts today.
