To be worried about DSD

[ImAnonymous]

DSD is 7 and has developed a weird almost addiction to washing her hands...

She will panic and need to wash her hands after touching her nose; ears, mouth after having a drink or eating. But it's got to the point now where it's even if she just touches her face she freaks and has to wash her hands! They are getting so dry and sore looking. School have even informed us that's she's constantly asking to was her hands in school. She's getting up in the middle of the night to wash her hands aswell.

Her mum was telling me yesterday how DSD got all panicked because DSS(5) touched his ear and didn't wash his hands.

We all just want ti help her and don't know how, and we can't think of what has started this habit...

You don’t know how? You take her to the doctors to get professional help.

It sounds like it could possibly be OCD so I would take her to the GP.

It's also possible she's been hearing about needing to wash her hands after touching everything and not to touch your face because of COVID. It may be worth having a chat about why she is washing her hands and what she thinks might happen if she doesn't. It could be that reassurance not washing her hands EVERY time she touches something won't be dangerous is enough to reduce some of the anxiety.

Is there anything going on that might be making her anxious? Bullying, worrying about moving classes/school, bereavement, family illness etc? Sometimes behaviours like this can pop up in response to stress/distress.

GP, obviously