Any other kids like this?

[Guest guest]

I haven't posted in a while, because my son had been doing so well lately.

However, last week, his OCD issues started up again. For those of you who may

remember, my 9 yr old son's OCD only bothers him when he's not with me, in the

form of crying. He gets a thought/worry, and feels like he has to tell someone,

and he cries. After he tells his thought and cries, then he's fine.

This happens mostly at school, but it also happens at parties now too. He was

at our neighbor's house last weekend for a birthday party, and he came home

after 5 minutes to tell me that he felt like he was going to cry. He said he

didn't want to miss the party though. I tried to coach him, he went back to the

party and cried for about 10 minutes, and then " had the best time ever. " He

doesn't try to avoid the situations that bring on these feelings, which I

suppose is a good thing. He knows he's got to face it in order to get past it.

I equate his need to cry with other kid's need to wash their hands, turn a

switch on and off, etc. The urge is so strong that he can't control it. I

don't really know what to do to help him along with this.

He was seeing a therapist until January, when he was " fine " again. At home, I

don't see any OCD, other then cracking his knuckles, which he says he feels like

he has to do. He's trying to stop that, and is now only cracking 4 fingers on

each hand instead of all 5. It's a start.

This is a kid who wants to get past this in the worst way, and I don't know how

to help him. His therapist would tell him to try to let the feeling pass, but

it's so hard for him. I'm trying to push him into more situations where he'll

be forced to face these feelings, but it's difficult. There are very few

parents that I feel would understand what he's dealing with (I always just

describe it as severe separation anxiety).

I don't really know what I'm asking here. I guess I'm just wondering if there

are other kids who only get OCD issues in public, and not at home. I know most

kids are the opposite. Or does anyone have ideas/suggestions on what he can do

to keep from crying? He hates crying in front of people. His inner struggle is

so hard for him.

Thanks for listening.