im thinking ds age 6 had O.C.D

[wonderingwendy]

the last week he has been washing and cleaning his hands with water and soap and used a whole packet of wet wipes,am i right to think this maybe the start of O.C.D ?

[vj32]

Have you asked him why?
Part of OCD is obsessive thoughts - I heard a teenager speak who had OCD and he believed that if he didn't do a certain thing (tapping every surface he came into contact with a certain number of times) that his family would die and it would be his fault.

[wonderingwendy]

he said its because he keeps touching his privates that they are sticky - i had a look incase he had a foreskin infection ( common in my family) but it all looked ok
doesnt help that his older brother and sister are always telling him he is dirty
im really worried
in both sides of our family there are mental health issues and i read this can make ocd more likely

[sooperdooper]

I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that it's OCD, speak to his brother and sister about not saying he's dirty & don't make a big issue of it, most likely it's a phase that will pass

[wonderingwendy]

i have done that tonight - they think im being stupid - i ranted not to say those things anymore . i shall give it a week or so but if it is that then i want it nipped in the bud before it becomes a huge thing

[hiddenhome]

You need to heavily discipline the older children and explain that it's unacceptable for them to call him dirty.

I have an anxious 7 year old who is very quick to pick up on stuff to worry about and we often have to curb what we say for fear of sparking off another worry. I've had to hide the bathroom scales recently because he kept saying he was fat - he's not - and caught him weighing himself several times a day.

You obviously have a sensitive child and other members of the family need to develop some maturity and respect that.

[wonderingwendy]

we sat them down again when dh came in from work and reiterated the need for them to back off him - poor little love .
the thing i his older brother now 14 had a course of cbt when he was 11 for anxiety so he should know full well what its like !

[hiddenhome]

Yes, they must be made aware that it's not funny and can lead to long term problems in someone who's susceptible.