Please help - 4yo sleep problems

[Anonagain2017]

I;ve posted about this before but things have gotten way worse.

My 4yo takes up to 2 hours to settle every night. Same routine at night etc etc but he has these obsessions, like OCD. He will ask over and over and over again the same things e.g. "am I tucked in?" "are the lights out?" "Am I far away?" (from his headboard, don't ask). He will ask about 20 times before I even get downstairs. Then for the next 2 hours he will shout and ask over and over again. Doesn't matter how many times I say "yes you're tucked in", he just keeps asking.
I'm not sure how much more I can take. I've tried reasoning with him, I've tried bribery, tried threatening to remove toys. Tonight its so bad, I've just left him upstairs screaming.
I need help and not sure where to get it from - should I go to the GP in the first instance? I really think he has serious issues.

Sounds like OCD from anxiety. I'd say GP to start to see if they pick anything up from that or a referral to a specialist or therapist. I'm a FTM to a baby so can't say a huge deal from experience as a mum but has he gone through anything stressful or traumatic? My parents split when I was a child and I used to do this, for years in fact. I'd do it in the middle of the night too, I'd go to the toilet then it'd start up again and be things like are the corners of the sheets on properly? Then about the front door being locked as I got older. The obsessiveness about that stuff was caused by the lack of control for anything else and sheer worry about everything caused by the upheaval. That being said, it was probably not as bad as you describe as I would accept the answer after a couple of times although I was a bit older. I grew out of the irrational ones in my late childhood.

Before anyone diagnosed him with ocd and anxiety, he has managed to drag out bedtime for 2 hours by asking incessant questions that mum always answers.

Clever boy perhaps?

You don't want to jump straight to assuming the worst.

Try again and tell him yes you're tucked in, etc don't ask mummy again and leave him.

Don't engage the questions and if it is delaying tactics he will soon realise it doesn't work any more and stop.

Oh sorry OP. It's late and I am too tired to be on mn.

I missed the end where you tried it and he is screaming.

Yes gp in first instance .

Sorry again.

No don't apologise, this was my first thought and still is to a degree.

You are right thought, I separated from his dad 9 months ago and it has gradually got worse since then. Lost of change and upheaval. He does it when he sleeps at my Mum's house but isn't anywhere near as bad at his Dads.

Will ring the GP today. thanks