When to worry about OCD?

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

My DS2 who is 16, has autism and some learning difficulties, and is generally an gentle , happy in his own world sort of a chap. He likes his routine etc and is easily anxious but within his level of disability has given us relatively little concern. However he has recently developed several OCD type behaviours and I am am a bit worried that it will escalate as he gets gets very fixated on things due to his autism. For example he currently has to open and shut the kitchen bin (brabantia touch one so an annoying clunk each time!) 5 times every time he uses it. He always sits in his corner of the kitchen and has to sit/stand 16 times every time he goes to sit there. He is touching objects a fixed number of times.

At the moment it doesn't seem to be distressing him..he CAN be stopped without a meltdown and seems to be only mildly, but I'm not sure if and when I should be concerned? Should I talk to his paediatrician about this? Or let it ride and see if it decreases by itself?

Grateful for any advice!

Hi, no advice sorry, but maybe you could try to post it on the SN section, in my experience they have been more than helpful.

Hi Medusa

I am a speech and language therapist working mainly with adolescents with ASD and language disabilities... and I have OCD.

I would say deal with it sooner rather than later. Compulsions tend to spiral and become intractable even if you don't have an autistic spectrum condition and it is a miserable rut to be stuck in when it starts to seriously impact on your daily functioning.

There's a great book called Parenting Your Anxious Child with Mindfulness and Acceptance by Christopher Curry with some very valuable anxiety busters - Break Free from OCD is another good resource for dealing with OCD and understanding what feeds it and makes it grow.

Good luck!

Sorry that's Christopher McCurry.

Thankyou Working, I will look those out. I think I will give his Paediatrician a call too while he is still seen at school:/