Childhood OCD: 5 Things I’d Do Differently

Childhood OCD: What 5 Things Would I Do Differently?

When confronted by childhood OCD, I did everything wrong.

And life as I knew it went out of the window!

What followed were over five years of hell.

If only I had known then what I know now.

But hindsight, as they say, is a wonderful thing.

So, what are five things I would do differently if I found myself up against childhood OCD again?

Here are my five biggest takeaways.

1. Understand Childhood OCD and How it Operates.

You’d think, as a person with OCD traits myself, I’d have known how OCD operates, wouldn’t you?

Wrong.

The opposite applied.

As a result, I fed it and helped it grow into an even bigger monster (or Hank, as I call it).

So, what is OCD, and how is it different to other Anxiety?

Thoughts and behaviours associated with OCD

OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder to give it its full name, is made up of three components, which are:

Obsessions

These are intrusive thoughts.

OCD Intrusive thoughts can centre around all manner of things, including:

• Fear of dying, becoming ill or of germs
• Worrying that appliances are left on or that doors and windows are left unlocked
• Fear of harming or offending others
• Inappropriate thoughts around topics like sex
• Worrying about doing something embarrassing

Compulsions

Compulsions can be mental or physical and are done repeatedly in an attempt to calm Anxiety and intrusive thoughts.

Examples of compulsions include:

• Excessive showering, washing hands or wiping surfaces
• Repeatedly checking that doors and windows are locked or that appliances are unplugged
• Praying over and over to keep others safe from harm
• Avoiding people to reduce the chances of offending or saying the wrong thing
• Avoiding activities or overthinking things to avoid making mistakes or doing anything embarrassing

Childhood OCD Causes

Examples of events that can lead to a child developing OCD include:

• The death of a loved one
• Moving home or school
• Parents divorcing
• Environmental events like a pandemic
• Being bullied

Disorder

This is the part of the OCD jigsaw that I was unaware of and is the bit that makes OCD different to other Anxiety.

The disorder bit is where intrusive thoughts get stuck and fail to release.

It’s almost like when a washing machine cycle jams, resulting in the washing continuing to go around and around in the drum.

The same applies to OCD intrusive thoughts.

The thoughts fail to release and go round and around, which leads to a child doing compulsions over and over in the belief that it will make the thoughts go away.

Sadly, the opposite applies as OCD will take things to the next level and will create more compulsions and OCD themes instead.

What can parents do to educate themselves about childhood OCD?

There are a number of ways that parents can educate themselves, including:

Read books

Some OCD books that I have found helpful are;

Stuff that’s loud

Parenting OCD: Down to Earth Advice From One Parent to Another

I have also published two children’s books to help children with OCD, which are:

Hank the Hungry Monster

Trixie the Treat Monster

Checking out reputable OCD websites like:

International OCD Foundation

OCD-UK

OCD action

Following popular accounts and hashtags on social media sites like Instagram, YouTube and TikTok

Below are some popular hashtags raising awareness of OCD.

#ocdawareness

#ocdrecovery

#ocdlife

2. Manage Anxiety

Anxiety plays a big part in a child developing OCD.

I can recall a counsellor once explaining to me how childhood OCD is often the result of a child’s anxiety bucket spilling over.

The key is identifying times (or events) likely to send a child’s Anxiety into overload.

For example, before school or bedtime.

And to find ways to distract and manage Anxiety at these times.

Examples of ways to manage Anxiety could include:

💡 Compile a playlist of their favourite songs. Bonus tip: You could sing along to the music, too.

💡 Create fun nights cooking food together, watching movies or playing board games.

💡Get your child to write three positives in a diary every day. If your child can’t think of any, make something up, as apparently our brains can’t tell the difference.

3. Stop Feeding OCD

Probably one of the biggest things I did wrong when parenting a child with OCD was to give it everything it asked.

Because, after all, that’s what we usually do.

For example, when your child asks for reassurance, it is natural to give it in abundance.

But when it comes to OCD, it’s the worst thing to do.

Because the more reassurance you give.

The more it demands.

And it doesn’t stop there.

It will also try to recruit others to carry out compulsions.

And will do its utmost to get a reaction from everyone when it delivers OCD meltdowns, too.

That’s why it’s essential to start doing the OPPOSITE of what OCD wants.

This takes us nicely to the fourth thing I would do differently when parenting a child with OCD.

4. Introduce ERP Therapy

How to cope with OCD

ERP therapy, or exposure-response prevention therapy to give it its full name, was a game changer for us.

It involves taking small steps every day to start standing up to OCD.

This can be achieved in many ways, including:

• Reducing compulsions
• Delaying compulsions
• Changing the hierarchy of compulsions
• Re-introducing places or people being avoided
• Using OCD taboo words in conversations.

I cover more on how to do this in my FREE guide, which you can download by clicking the link below:

How To Tackle Childhood OCD in 5 Steps

5. Stop Childhood OCD Creeping in as Other Themes

Can OCD come and go?

This was another biggie for me.

I had no idea that OCD can creep in as other themes.

The minute you tackle one OCD theme successfully (and start seeing the light at the end of the OCD tunnel)…

OCD has a nasty habit of popping up as another theme.

Including eating disorders.

That’s why it’s really important to be like a detective looking for any new OCD symptoms.

And to start managing them straight away through some form of ERP therapy.

OCD where to get help

If you suspect your child is developing childhood OCD, it is important to seek medical advice and get professional help straight away.

Starting with booking an appointment with your GP.

I’m now on a mission!

Since getting some normaility back in my life from childhood OCD, I have been on a mission to raise awareness of OCD.

And to offer help and advice to other parents who find themselves lost or stuck when trying to navigate their way through parenting a child with OCD…

While they are on long waiting lists for therapy.

I do this through my:

Children’s books

Parenting OCD Handbook

Free Guide

You can find out more details by visiting my website by clicking the link below.

Childhood OCD- My Website