Helping Your Child with OCD - How to Help Your Child with OCD

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

Page 2 of 2

How common is OCD?

Research studies have estimated that between 1.9% and 3% of children suffer from OCD. If you think of a typical secondary school with 1,000 pupils, between 19 - 30 of them may have OCD. Follow up studies have shown that OCD should be treated as early as possible to prevent problems in later life.

How to get help

If you think your child has OCD and you want to get help then the first thing to do is to contact your family doctor. Your doctor can then arrange a referral to child and adolescent mental health professionals in your area who know how to treat OCD.

What happens in treatment sessions?

Once your child has been assessed and it has been decided that this treatment might be helpful, a number of appointments will be arranged. Each appointment can last up to one-and-a-half hours. Your child's therapist may also want to make a home visit at some point during treatment. As well as coming to these appointments, your child will carry out experiments and practice what he / she has learned between sessions. Depending on the therapist, your child may also need to listen to an audio-tape of each session. There will be no 'surprises' during treatment and your child and their therapist will work together. Your child may also need to be brave at times to try out new ways of doing things.

The parent's role

It's important to understand that OCD is never the child's fault. Once a child is in treatment, it's important for parents to participate, to learn more about OCD, and to modify expectations and be supportive. Keep in mind that kids with OCD get better at different rates so try to avoid any day-to-day comparisons of your child's behaviors, and recognize and praise any small improvements. Keep in mind that it's the OCD that is causing the problem, not the child. The more that personal criticism can be avoided, the better.

It's can be helpful to your child to keep family routines as normal as possible, and for all family members to learn strategies to help the child with OCD.

Children and adolescents often feel shame and embarrassment about their OCD. Many fear it means they're crazy. Good communication between parents and children can increase understanding of the problem and help the parents appropriately support their child.

You have to be your child's advocate in school. You must make sure that the child' s teacher and the school administrators understand the disorder.

Use support groups. Sharing common problems with other parents is an excellent way to help you feel that you are not alone and is great support. You also might gain so practical insights about what you can do to deal with the daily problems that come up.

Further support and information on OCD

There are many organizations providing support and information to those with OCD or other anxiety disorders, and to their friends and families. Listed below are a few of the organizations that you may wish to contact: