Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

[x_amy_x]

I Think My 5 Year Old Son Has A 'OCD'. Whenever He Touches Somthing He Smell's His Hand Aferwards. I Thought It Was Funny At First But I Understand These Can Be Serious. Any Idea's How I Can Help Him?
Thanks In Advance

[Troytempest]

My friend had OCD where he would repeat the last word in a sentence endlessly until he started a new sentence much like Howard Hughs protrayed in the film the Aviator. My friend went and saw a psychiatrist who gave him advice and treatment. After a few weeks he was more or less cured and he hasn't had the problem since. It may sound drastic but a psychiatrist is probably the best way forwards.

[x_amy_x]

Thank You For Answering

[Suzannew]

Amy, try not to worry about this too much, my daughter at around 7/8 developed some strange little patterns of behaviour like touching things, humming and having bedtime rituals. I mentioned it to a child psychologist and she said not to make a big thing of it and not to draw attention to it. It lasted for a few months and then she stopped. She had a period of bullying at the time so it may have had something to do with it. I am sure your son is fine.

[dannydingbat]

Don't worry, its probably natural. Give a monkey anything and they will smell it before deciding what to do with it. As we are kind of related with similar DNA, there may be something about learning in this behaviour

[spacechimp]

He might just be interested in how things smell, I'd bet lots of children do it.

[Goodsoulette]

my parents call my 4 yr old niles cause he is like this too, cant stand having dirty hands.

[SWEEP]

There are also many good websites you can read up on it, www.nomorepanic.co.uk is one good one. You will gets lots of reassurance from it, and also help if it does turn out to be OCD but like has been said, a lot of children do it.

[jackyp]

think its all normal and more so with boys had it with my son sister had it with her boy to just dont make a big deal out of it