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Dd2's obsession is begginning to effect the whole family

54 replies

nutcracker · 28/02/2005 20:24

I have posted before about dd2's obsession with handwashing/germs. I am still waiting to see the school nurse about it.

Anyway it seems to be getting worse. The level of handwashing is about the same although i do have my suspicions that alot of the time when she says she is going to the toilet she is actually only washing her hands. The main prob at the mo is that she is getting increasingly upset when she thinks others haven't washed their hands after using the toilet, particulalry dd1.
She will go on and on about it, asking me to check dd1's hands to see if they smell of soap and if they don't then she says that they smell of germs, and won't let dd1 touch her or anything of hers.

They are sahring a bed at the mo cos of decorating, and i have just spent the last 30 minutes persduading dd2 that dd1 has washed her hands. Dd2 insists that she hasn't and they smell of germs, so she won't let her touch the quilt.

I can see that the prob may be spreading too, as i have noticed that sometimes during a meal, she will get up and wipe her hands for no particular reason.
I am still at a loss what to do about it and on the whole i try and ignore it, but i can't let her keep treating dd1 like she has the plague.

She has evenm questioned a friend of mine over wether her little girl washed her hands and she hadn't so i had to ask her nicely if she woiuld mind (i explained and she was fine about it).

So what do i do now ?? If i take her to the gp what should i be asking her to do about it ????? My gp is about as much use as a choccie fireguard.

It is heartbreaking to see her getting so hysterical over this.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Tiggiwinkle · 03/03/2005 22:25

Hi Nutty-Does not sound as if the GP was very clued-up. As Jimjams says, push for that referral. The paed will be a good first point of contact and can refer you on.

jabberwocky · 03/03/2005 22:30

Yes, don't be disheartened. The paed could well decide that medication - at least initially - as well as behavioral therapy is in order.

nutcracker · 03/03/2005 22:31

Oh good, feel a bit better now, i knew you guys would know if it was god or not.

OP posts:
Presto · 05/03/2005 19:36

Hi, have just skim read through this thread - we had the same problem with our DS1 after our 3rd child was born - obsessive hand washing. We took him to the doctor who said that our hands are covered with a protective layer (invisible) that keeps germs out and if we wash our hands too much the protective layer will be washed away. It helped a little - at least his hands weren't dry & bleeding but he did then wash once thoroughly and walk around like a surgeon freshly scrubbed up. What helped was some advice I read about expecting at least a term of 'odd' behaviour after the arrival of a new sibling. Fortunately the hand washing stopped after about 6-8 weeks, we were soooo relieved. Has anything changed in your circumstances Nutcracker? This all happened to us when DS was 51/2years old.

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