Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a condition where children or adults have upsetting
compulsive thoughts that are met with compulsions, or rituals to help calm the obsession.
Obsessions are intense fears or worries, which may present as being unusually upset about:
- germs, harm, or injury
- someone getting hurt or dying
- concern about things that are not set perfectly
- Compulsions are the action a child may do to feel better, such as:
- Hand-washing
- Tapping
- Repeating words or counting
- A specific order of actions.
These symptoms make kids feel stressed, anxious, upset when they cannot complete a
compulsion, or in need of constant reassurance. OCD is best treated with cognitive behavioral
therapy, where children see a psychologist to learn coping and calming skills to face fears
without the rituals. Attending treatment can help your child to live the full extent of their lives
more, reducing the exhaustion from this condition. Learning coping mechanisms may help
children to feel more included in their social environments and enable them to participate in
more activities.