Sudden OCD in 8 year old

[Melissagoals]

Very worried mama here.
starting out the blue, my 8 year old has developed really bad OCD. Turning lights on and off 10 times, washing hands repetitively, and says she feels her body is telling he to do these things or there will be “consequences”. My reassurances are doing nothing to help. My normally happy girl was crying going to school this morning begging me to stay safe while she is there, it’s like she’s a different child overnight ☹️I called Gp who said they can refer to CAMHS but it’s a 6 month wait??????? please help, I’m so worried

Op has anything changed lately, back to school / new class ?
or has she been ill? Have you heard of PANDAS which can occur after something like strep throat?

The poor thing, I'm so sorry. It is strange that it has happened so suddenly - has there been a sudden change?

She does have a new class but seemed ok with it last week and already made new friends ☹️it literally seems to have come on out of nowhere ☹️

I think I heard of it on this morning once? No strep throat as far as I know, she’s had that in past and been very poorly with it. On Saturday she was her usual happy self and most of yesterday until it all went downhill fast ☹️☹️☹️no fever/ other signs of anything

This must be so frightening for you both. Thought some viruses could bring this on, even if appear asymptomatically? PP mentioned above, covid can also do this for example. Will GP do any tests as a means to ascertain/ruling out?

Does it get better? I’m absolutely terrified ☹️☹️☹️☹️gp just said sounds like anxiety and try and ignore it but she’s totally taken over by it☹️tried running out of school after me which is unheard of☹️

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/can-you-develop-ocd#ocd-sudden-development

How was she today? Did school go ok?

Look into pandas, pans especially if she has had bad strep infection in the past.

Got a call from school to reassure her this morning but she managed the day…she’s currently still up repeatedly telling me she loves me and checking I’ll be here in the morning (no reason I wouldn’t). I’m tired and worried 😔

Try The Linden Method for Children.
The Linden Method is literally life-changing. It cures anxiety 100%.
I had crippling anxiety hence the recommendation.
It comes with a years support from a counsellor.
It's about £200 for a year.
Hope this helps.
Don't bother with CAMS they'll only recommend counselling which actually makes anxiety disorders worse.

Well, even if it's 6 months I'd get her on the waiting list for CAMHS if you haven't already, and then I'd look at private counselling if you can properly afford it. I developed OCD as a 10-year-old, but managed to hide it for the most part, and I think I'd have shifted it faster if my parents had been properly aware of what was going on and I'd had therapy. I was given a really good book later in life by a therapist who did some CBT with me - I'll look and see if I still have it to see what the title is exactly, but I have a feeling I got rid - like an A4 size workbooky type thing. It helped me enormously. Good luck - I really hope this is something she comes out of quickly.

Definitely look up PANDAS and PANS

“PANDAS and PANS cause a sudden onset of severe OCD symptoms. They also cause other sudden changes in a child's behavior. These can be so extreme that a parent may say their child seemed to "change overnight."

PANS and PANDAS can be treated with medicines and therapy. Doctors and mental health experts can also give families guidance and support to help get through the challenging times.

What's the Difference Between PANDAS and PANS?

The most common cause of a severe onset of OCD and tics is a group A streptococcus ("strep") infection. When it's clear that a child's symptoms are linked to a strep infection (like strep throat), it's called PANDAS. It stands for Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus.

PANS is when the severe onset of OCD symptoms is linked to another infection. These include the flu, chickenpox, mycoplasma, and Lyme disease. PANS stands for Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome.”

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/pandas.html#:~:text=PANDAS%20and%20PANS%20cause%20a,seemed%20to%20%22change%20overnight.%22

Speak to GP again.

Also, PANS/PANDAS runs an online support group twice a month. There's one on Wednesday. Zoom details attached. I don't know what the support group is like.

x.com/panspandasuk/status/1830632436889264509?s=46&t=G9BWOZlYGPa1_pR7aKkbHQ