My daughter is 9 years old. She may have obsessions and compulsions at certain periods (feeling the urge to scratch book pages, constantly washing her hands, wondering if God will destroy people, sometimes doing certain things with certain numbers, feeling anxious about being infected with a disease in hospitals, which will make her life extremely difficult). ) (it decreases or disappears at certain times, especially when I direct him to activities and increase the frequency of meeting with his peers) How should parents and even other family elders approach a child?
How Should We Improve Our Relationship with Our Child? How Can We Eliminate His Compulsions and Anxiety?
His symptoms have been occurring from time to time for 4 years, but when they do, both he and we can experience a lot of trouble. Although he is generally very rational, he is a child with a lot of anxiety. For example, he wants to go and wash himself, thinking that he might get odor on him even from his breath.
Answer:
I would like to emphasize a few points: Understand obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
I think figuring out what's going on in your child's mind is the biggest help that can be given. In obsessive disorder (OCD), the child develops absurd thoughts that he cannot control. Therefore, attitudes like "Don't think like that, girl, why are you behaving like that" are wrong. It gives the message that the child cannot do something that will be controlled and may increase the child's insecurity.
These obsessive thoughts trigger Negative Emotions.
These thoughts trigger anxiety and a bad feeling. causes emotion. In order to reduce this feeling, the child does what the thought wants. If he thinks his hands are dirty, he washes them. If he thinks something bad will happen if he doesn't scratch the pages of the book, he scratches his hands. Sometimes the thought inside him wants him to do it with numbers and he does it with CERTAIN NUMBERS and RITUALS.
This obsession behavior reduces his emotions for a short time and is good for him.
It is short-term for the child to perform the obsessive behavior (compulsion) and get relief. . Because our mind does not stop and the obsessive thought cannot be controlled and comes again. In order to reduce the negative feeling created by each obsessive thought, life becomes more effective as the behaviors are repeated. It starts to get heated and a vicious circle develops.
'You should apply for treatment when the vicious circle is well established and your child's quality of life is affected.'
As with every disease, it is advantageous to start treatment early in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Because early-onset OCD is more difficult to treat. Two methods are mainly used in treatments: 1. therapies (especially Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and 2. medication. Having good intelligence may increase therapy compliance. Mother and father approaches are important, but unfortunately, treatment alone cannot provide effectiveness.
Social life and different pursuits provide partial relief.
The child can relax when obsessive thoughts are replaced by different pursuits and activities. Obsessive thoughts are replaced by other thoughts and preoccupations, but this is usually short-lived. Then, at the first opportunity, these uncontrollable thoughts are triggered and affect life.
Obsession symptoms may vary depending on place and time.
Obsession may change shape over time. While some obsessions disappear, new ones may appear. An obsession that exists at home may not be seen in the school environment.
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