Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a condition that causes kids to have unwanted intrusive thoughts, images, urges and fears. These are called obsessions and they make kids feel anxious, uncomfortable and the feeling of "just not right". These will lead kids to do repetitive actions called compulsions (or rituals) to make them feel better. Generally, OCD is a disorder of doubt. Kids can’t be sure that their thoughts aren’t indicative of something that will happen in real life. Hence, they can’t stop thinking about them and doing the rituals even when grown-ups want them to.

Kids don’t always talk about their fears and behaviours either because they are not aware themselves or they feel embarrassed or confused about their fear and try to keep it a secret. They may try to hide their rituals. They may also worry that they would be teased or scolded for their fears and rituals.

It is often not obvious to parents that their child is suffering from OCD. Many kids have OCD for a while before parents realise it. Parents might learn about the OCD if their child tells them, or if they notice the following:

• Child may seem overly worried or anxious.
• Child may be doing behaviours that seemed repetitive.
• Child may be seen as repeatedly unsure of themselves and have difficulties making a decision or choice.
• Child may have trouble concentrating or may take very long to do everyday tasks.

Cheryl Chung
Clinical Psychologist
Master of Clinical Psychology
Singapore
Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) (Honours)
Australia
Member of The Singapore Psychological Society (MSPS)
Singapore

Cheryl Chung is a senior clinical psychologist [Registered Psychologist and Clinical Supervisor (Singapore)] with over 10 years of clinical experience.

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What can parents do to help?

1. Talk to your child to understand what is going on.

• Validate your child’s difficulties and challenges and talk supportively.
• Show love and ask in an inquisitive manner.
• Rather than saying "What are you doing here? Stop doing that!" Instead say (according to your child’s situation) "I notice you tend to worry if you have cleaned your hands or not." or, "You tend to keep cancelling or erasing what you have written.", or, "You often seem to be unsure about what you should eat or do."
• Reassure your child that it is not him or her who wants to keep worrying and having to do the rituals, there might be a condition called OCD that is causing the worry and rituals.

• Never blame your child. It is not beneficial to ask your child to stop what he or she is doing. Because if your child can stop, he or she would have stopped.

2. Make an appointment with a child psychologist.

• The psychologist can assess the excessive worries and rituals and provide psychotherapy called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – Exposure Response Prevention (CBT-ERP).

3. Take part in your child’s therapy.

• Overcoming OCD is a process.
• There are many therapy appointments, and it is important to go to them all so that the psychologist can teach you how you can help and support your child.