Guest guest Posted March 2, 2003 Report Share Posted March 2, 2003 Is there anyone else that there child showed signs of it this early? She asks alot of questions. Does my belly hurt? Am I going to get sick? Are my panties wet? She worries that her panties are wet and changes them even though they are dry. Is concerned that she is not " dry " after she goes to the br and wipes over and over. Is concered about getting sick. When she asks these questions you have to say no to each one or she will tell you to say no. About the time when some of these obsessions showed up and got worse, she also gets angered easily. She yells " I hate you " for no real reason. Usually just because she didn't get her way. She is mean to the dog and won't leave her alone. Her sister gets so upset because she just wants to have fun and play with her, but her sister ends up getting mean towards her and wants everything done her way. She has started having temper tantrums over something trivial, afterwards it is like she is thinking, " Why did I do this and I'm sorry I couldn't stop " . Then she goes back to being nice. Also after one it takes so much out of us both that I just hold her and we cry. It is so hard seeing her like this. Otherwise she has always been a loving sweet child. We haven't been to anyone to have it diagnosed yet. But from reading books and doing research on the web I know that is what is wrong. It makes you feel so alone, know one understands what it is really like unless they have gone through it also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2003 Report Share Posted March 2, 2003 Hi there-my daughter is almost 17 now but we started at 18mos being very oppositional and everything had to be just so. We discovered she is also BP almost a year ago so that accounts for alot of the moody behavior. She from time to time still has the thing that she is leaking urine and frequently wears a napkin because she is worried about this. Ellen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2003 Report Share Posted March 2, 2003 Hi there-my daughter is almost 17 now but we started at 18mos being very oppositional and everything had to be just so. We discovered she is also BP almost a year ago so that accounts for alot of the moody behavior. She from time to time still has the thing that she is leaking urine and frequently wears a napkin because she is worried about this. Ellen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2003 Report Share Posted March 2, 2003 Hi there, yes my child now nine had an abrupt onset of OCD when four years old. And many other parents on this list can look back and recognize OCD behaviors and worries when their kids were younger than that. Your daughter has several compulsions and worries that I recognize from life with my OCD child. The good news is that OCD is very treatable. There is a type of therapy called Cognitive Behavior Therapy with Exposure and Response Prevention (CBT/ERP) that can reduce/eliminate OCD symptoms. In addition the SSRI class of meds is effective against OCD. Welcome to the group. Please feel free to write about any concern or question, there are a bunch of supportive and helpful parents here who have gone through what you are now. Take care, Kathy R. in Indiana ----- Original Message ----- Is there anyone else that there child showed signs of it this early? She asks alot of questions. Does my belly hurt? Am I going to get sick? Are my panties wet? She worries that her panties are wet and changes them even though they are dry. Is concerned that she is not " dry " after she goes to the br and wipes over and over. Is concered about getting sick. When she asks these questions you have to say no to each one or she will tell you to say no. About the time when some of these obsessions showed up and got worse, she also gets angered easily. She yells " I hate you " for no real reason. Usually just because she didn't get her way. She is mean to the dog and won't leave her alone. Her sister gets so upset because she just wants to have fun and play with her, but her sister ends up getting mean towards her and wants everything done her way. She has started having temper tantrums over something trivial, afterwards it is like she is thinking, " Why did I do this and I'm sorry I couldn't stop " . Then she goes back to being nice. Also after one it takes so much out of us both that I just hold her and we cry. It is so hard seeing her like this. Otherwise she has always been a loving sweet child. We haven't been to anyone to have it diagnosed yet. But from reading books and doing research on the web I know that is what is wrong. It makes you feel so alone, know one understands what it is really like unless they have gone through it also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2003 Report Share Posted March 2, 2003 my son was almost 4 when he first showed signs of it like we couldn't have any locked doors, fear of being locked in, couldn't stand to have finger nails or toe nails, would chew skin around fingers until they bled trying to get rid of them, couldn't stand germs, didn't like anyone who sneezed or coughed near him, counted everything, lined things up perfectly in a certain order........ Kari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2003 Report Share Posted March 2, 2003 Hi! My now 14 y/o son had what I call an " abrupt onset " of OCD at around age 11.5. He seemed to have OCD compulsions 24/7. I felt pretty alone too, no one else I know of around here has dealt with this. And I work at our local mental health center!!!! (office assistant) I'd known had minor OCD compulsions even back in elementary school but nothing that interfered with daily life, school, etc. It wasn't until after I began reading more about OCD when he was in 6th grade that I realized all those reassurance questions - like your daughter is now asking - is part of OCD. would ask if something would make him sick, give him cancer, how long til a cut heals, and apparently feel every little ache/pain in his body and ask about it. Daily. But he didn't expect my answer, like for me to say " no " , he really wanted to know. So, judging by what you've said about your 4 y/o, I'd say she seems to have some OCD behaviors, judging from my experience with . When 's twin, , was about that age or younger even, he had OCD and drove me crazy for a few months. Things had to be done HIS way and he'd have meltdowns over the littlest things that weren't " right. " Luckily for him (and us!), his behaviors ceased. If they hadn't, we'd have had to seek treatment. We weren't that lucky with , he is still dealing with his OCD after 2 years. But things did improve greatly with time and effort. A few months ago, I couldn't even see any of his OCD any longer. He has since started some though, says he's under stress, apparently school stuff. So we're dealing with it again! But after dealing with it for the past 2 years, it seems so much easier having been thru this before. I suggest you look around and see if you can find a therapist who is experienced in treating OCD. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and also Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) are the therapies that can help OCD, so make sure the therapist is experienced in those areas. You may need a psychiatrist or a doctor to diagnose her though. was actually diagnosed by a neurologist who we had gone to see about something else. We had told him that had compulsions to do things like erase what he'd written to keep something bad from happening to him. Gotta go, but please keep in touch with us and let us know how things are going. This group is a great place to ask questions, vent on those days you get fed up with OCD, and a place to share experiences, etc. The FILES section of this group has some info on OCD you might like to read. Also, the OCD Foundation has a good website at http://ocfoundation.org Welcome to the group! - single mom to , 14, with OCD, dysgraphia, and now probably High-Functioning Autism; 14-nonidentical twin; Randall, almost 18 - > Is there anyone else that there child showed signs of it this early? > She asks alot of questions. Does my belly hurt? Am I going to get > sick? Are my panties wet? She worries that her panties are wet and > changes them even though they are dry. Is concerned that she is > not " dry " after she goes to the br and wipes over and over. Is > concered about getting sick. When she asks these questions you have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 Yes, it's possible to have OCD at 4. My daughter got it at 4 as a result of viral encephalitis. Other than the " wet " issue, your daughter sounds EXACTLY like mine did at that age. The anger was so hard to take. We took her to a bunch of doctors trying to figure out what was wrong because she had always been such a happy sweet kid before the illness. Noone diagnosed the OCD until she was 7 though. Was your daughter sick at the time, or a few weeks before, the symptoms showed up? She may have a subtype of OCD that starts with a strep infection. Kids who get OCD that young often have that subtype, although not always. Take her to a good child psychiatrist if you have one nearby to be diagnosed. If there is no child psychiatrist, try a good adult psychiatrist who has experience with children. A neurologist (even better, a pediatric neurologist) can diagnose OCD also. It's worth going to the best person you can find for a diagnosis - when they are only 4 many doctors won't think it's OCD. Let us know how things progress!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 Hello, and welcome. I found this group last year when my son was about 8 1/2. However, you did an excellent job of describing not only your daughter's situation at age four, but almost an identical account of my son's at that same age. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. YOU ARE NOT JUST MAKING THIS STUFF UP. WITH HELP, THIS WILL GET BETTER. I'm so glad you found this group and your daughter is lucky to have you checking into all this at her young age. I didn't take my son to a child psychiatrist until he was 7 years old, and though we had been to " talk therapists " before, none had ever picked up on his OCDish behavior. I especially had to respond to your particular post because that wet underwear issue about drove me to madness, and having to check your 8 year old to see is he has sufficiently wiped his bottom was not on my list of potential daily chores back when I dreamed of having children! I encourage you to seek a professional opinion, but don't be surprised if your pdoc or general practitioner completely misses the mark. A child psychiatrist or psychologist would be your best bet in my opinion. We just now finally got the book " Blink, Blink, Clop, Clop, Why Do We Do Things We Can't Stop? " I can't say enough great things about this book, and if nothing else encourage you to read it and then consider reading it with your daughter. I think these kids know they are " different " and carry a lot of guilt about their actions that seemingly come from nowhere sometimes. They can easily label themselves as " bad " at a very young age, and it would be great if you could get a handle as soon as possible for her and for you as to what is the potential OCD talking and what is actually your daughter talking. Welcome again to this wonderful group. Warmly, in Missouri (Mom to Luke - age 9, OCD/ADD on Luvox for OCD and Adderall for ADD; We begin CBT tomorrow with a therapist who actually seems to get OCD....yeah!!!) 4 yod with OCD > Is there anyone else that there child showed signs of it this early? > She asks alot of questions. Does my belly hurt? Am I going to get > sick? Are my panties wet? She worries that her panties are wet and > changes them even though they are dry. Is concerned that she is > not " dry " after she goes to the br and wipes over and over. Is > concered about getting sick. When she asks these questions you have > to say no to each one or she will tell you to say no. > About the time when some of these obsessions showed up and got worse, > she also gets angered easily. She yells " I hate you " for no real > reason. Usually just because she didn't get her way. She is mean to > the dog and won't leave her alone. Her sister gets so upset because > she just wants to have fun and play with her, but her sister ends up > getting mean towards her and wants everything done her way. She has > started having temper tantrums over something trivial, afterwards it > is like she is thinking, " Why did I do this and I'm sorry I couldn't > stop " . Then she goes back to being nice. Also after one it takes so > much out of us both that I just hold her and we cry. It is so hard > seeing her like this. Otherwise she has always been a loving sweet > child. We haven't been to anyone to have it diagnosed yet. But from > reading books and doing research on the web I know that is what is > wrong. > It makes you feel so alone, know one understands what it is really > like unless they have gone through it also. > > > Our list archives, bookmarks, files, and chat feature may be accessed at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group// . > Our list advisors are Gail B. , Ed.D., Tamar Chansky, Ph.D., Aureen Pinto Wagner, Ph.D., and Dan Geller, M.D. Our list moderators are Birkhan, Castle, Fowler, Kathy Hammes, Joye, Kathy Mac, Gail Pesses, Kathy , Vivian Stembridge, and Jackie Stout. Subscription issues or suggestions may be addressed to Louis Harkins, list owner, at louisharkins@... , louisharkins@... , louisharkins@... . > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 Hello, and welcome. I found this group last year when my son was about 8 1/2. However, you did an excellent job of describing not only your daughter's situation at age four, but almost an identical account of my son's at that same age. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. YOU ARE NOT JUST MAKING THIS STUFF UP. WITH HELP, THIS WILL GET BETTER. I'm so glad you found this group and your daughter is lucky to have you checking into all this at her young age. I didn't take my son to a child psychiatrist until he was 7 years old, and though we had been to " talk therapists " before, none had ever picked up on his OCDish behavior. I especially had to respond to your particular post because that wet underwear issue about drove me to madness, and having to check your 8 year old to see is he has sufficiently wiped his bottom was not on my list of potential daily chores back when I dreamed of having children! I encourage you to seek a professional opinion, but don't be surprised if your pdoc or general practitioner completely misses the mark. A child psychiatrist or psychologist would be your best bet in my opinion. We just now finally got the book " Blink, Blink, Clop, Clop, Why Do We Do Things We Can't Stop? " I can't say enough great things about this book, and if nothing else encourage you to read it and then consider reading it with your daughter. I think these kids know they are " different " and carry a lot of guilt about their actions that seemingly come from nowhere sometimes. They can easily label themselves as " bad " at a very young age, and it would be great if you could get a handle as soon as possible for her and for you as to what is the potential OCD talking and what is actually your daughter talking. Welcome again to this wonderful group. Warmly, in Missouri (Mom to Luke - age 9, OCD/ADD on Luvox for OCD and Adderall for ADD; We begin CBT tomorrow with a therapist who actually seems to get OCD....yeah!!!) 4 yod with OCD > Is there anyone else that there child showed signs of it this early? > She asks alot of questions. Does my belly hurt? Am I going to get > sick? Are my panties wet? She worries that her panties are wet and > changes them even though they are dry. Is concerned that she is > not " dry " after she goes to the br and wipes over and over. Is > concered about getting sick. When she asks these questions you have > to say no to each one or she will tell you to say no. > About the time when some of these obsessions showed up and got worse, > she also gets angered easily. She yells " I hate you " for no real > reason. Usually just because she didn't get her way. She is mean to > the dog and won't leave her alone. Her sister gets so upset because > she just wants to have fun and play with her, but her sister ends up > getting mean towards her and wants everything done her way. She has > started having temper tantrums over something trivial, afterwards it > is like she is thinking, " Why did I do this and I'm sorry I couldn't > stop " . Then she goes back to being nice. Also after one it takes so > much out of us both that I just hold her and we cry. It is so hard > seeing her like this. Otherwise she has always been a loving sweet > child. We haven't been to anyone to have it diagnosed yet. But from > reading books and doing research on the web I know that is what is > wrong. > It makes you feel so alone, know one understands what it is really > like unless they have gone through it also. > > > Our list archives, bookmarks, files, and chat feature may be accessed at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group// . > Our list advisors are Gail B. , Ed.D., Tamar Chansky, Ph.D., Aureen Pinto Wagner, Ph.D., and Dan Geller, M.D. Our list moderators are Birkhan, Castle, Fowler, Kathy Hammes, Joye, Kathy Mac, Gail Pesses, Kathy , Vivian Stembridge, and Jackie Stout. Subscription issues or suggestions may be addressed to Louis Harkins, list owner, at louisharkins@... , louisharkins@... , louisharkins@... . > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 Thank you all so much!! It is a great help to just hear from you. I'm glad I found this group! My aunt was here from out of town and we saw her some over the weekend. Well she knew we were having trouble with Nikkie. Of course she doesn't see her at home and just for a few hours at a time. Well the subject came up and she said it is probably just a stage she is going through. Oh how I wish that were true! but it hurts so much for people to make judgements when they know nothing about it. They just don't realize what you are going through. How it controls your day and life. When that happens I just want to cry (sometimes I do). I fell like I'm dying inside. And nobody understands or even realizes it. I am going to start a class by the NAMH in a couple of weeks it is free. I hope it will help me out and then I do want to start her on CBT, but my husband might be changing jobs and then our new insurance would not pay for it for a year, because of pre-existing condition. So I don't know what to do. I am trusting God to help me get through this!! I know He will. Thanks again!! > Is there anyone else that there child showed signs of it this early? > She asks alot of questions. Does my belly hurt? Am I going to get > sick? Are my panties wet? She worries that her panties are wet and > changes them even though they are dry. Is concerned that she is > not " dry " after she goes to the br and wipes over and over. Is > concered about getting sick. When she asks these questions you have > to say no to each one or she will tell you to say no. > About the time when some of these obsessions showed up and got worse, > she also gets angered easily. She yells " I hate you " for no real > reason. Usually just because she didn't get her way. She is mean to > the dog and won't leave her alone. Her sister gets so upset because > she just wants to have fun and play with her, but her sister ends up > getting mean towards her and wants everything done her way. She has > started having temper tantrums over something trivial, afterwards it > is like she is thinking, " Why did I do this and I'm sorry I couldn't > stop " . Then she goes back to being nice. Also after one it takes so > much out of us both that I just hold her and we cry. It is so hard > seeing her like this. Otherwise she has always been a loving sweet > child. We haven't been to anyone to have it diagnosed yet. But from > reading books and doing research on the web I know that is what is > wrong. > It makes you feel so alone, know one understands what it is really > like unless they have gone through it also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 My daughter showed signs of OCD at about 18 months. Looking back, I swear she had it the day I brought her home from the hospital. As far as your insurance goes, are you sure it would be pre-existing? I know that with some insurances, as long as you are insured up to the job change, there is no pre-existing condition time period. And if there is, it is only for the length of time you were not insured. I would call your state insurance board and check. Of course, that would be wonderful and we are talking insurance companies here (yuck!) They seem to work around everything! I can't tell you how much treatment and medication helped my daughter! I would look into treatment now, if I were you and deal with the insurance changes if they arise. Lots of times doctor offices have ways to work things out with you or know about options you may have. Good luck! Kelley in NV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.