Obsession in children can start at the age of 7.5!
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), popularly known as "obsession disease", causes serious anxiety and restlessness in the person. It hurts. According to the data of the World Health Organization, OCD, which is among the top 10 diseases that reduce the quality of life, can be seen in children as well as adults. Experts state that the onset of OCD in children is generally between the ages of 7.5 and 12.5, and point out that professional support must be sought for children who are thought to have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
It restricts the quality of life. It is among the top 10 diseases
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or commonly known as obsession disease, is a psychiatric disease characterized by recurring obsessions and compulsions that cause serious anxiety and restlessness in the person. It is a disorder.
Obsesions consist of thoughts, impulses or images that come to our mind in an involuntary, repetitive and chronic way. They cause significant anxiety. They cause more discomfort than simple concerns about real-life problems. Compulsions, on the other hand, consist of repetitive behaviors or mental actions that occur as a reaction to obsessions and to reduce the anxiety arising from the obsession, or that are felt to be implemented according to strict rules. According to the data of the World Health Organization, it is among the top 10 diseases that reduce and limit the quality of life.
Family's behavior leads to OCD in the child
Genetic factors are among the factors clearly demonstrated in both family and twin studies. It has been found that the likelihood of OCD in the family is higher, especially in the types that start at an early age. Brain imaging studies have shown that there are differences in many different chemicals in the brain and important systems that affect behavior. The family's behavior towards the child, that is, parenting styles, is one of the factors cited as reasons. Sometimes, after rare infections, the brain areas related to these behaviors can be affected. Our defense cells developed against it can cause OCD-like behaviors. For this reason, it is important to find out when the symptoms of the disease started and whether there was any previous infection.
It usually starts between the ages of 7.5 and 12.5
Unfortunately, in children, the diagnosis is made late, on average 2.5 years after the onset of the disease. This may be because children cannot express themselves well like an adult. For this reason, families should observe their children carefully.
OCD manifests itself in different ways in children
OCD People with the disease sometimes find the thoughts that come to their minds ridiculous, but even though they find them ridiculous, they continue to engage in obsessive behavior in order to reduce anxiety. That is, sometimes the person may realize that this situation is an illness and that what they are doing is ridiculous. We call this awareness insight. Children generally do not have insight.
Children's obsessions may appear differently than adults. Sometimes it may appear outwardly like a tic (such as blinking and breathing behaviors). Often, more than one obsession occurs together. Course success may decrease due to reasons such as repeated homework or work due to excessive perfectionism and reluctance to return from work unless it is perfect. Refusal or restriction of eating; It may be due to fears about getting sick or being infected with germs, fear of getting fat, or obsessions about the order of the food on the plate. Redness and dryness of the hands may occur due to constant hand washing due to the obsession with cleanliness.
Failure to treat leads to depression!
When OCD is left untreated, the disease usually gets worse and due to the problems caused by this disease, a decrease in school success, deterioration in social relations and even depression may occur.
Make sure to get professional support.
One of the most important features of OCD in children is that children involve their families in behavior related to the disease. manager. In this case, families sometimes perform all the desired behaviors to comfort the child. However, this situation increases the child's illness rather than reducing it. In some families, the child is punished and constantly warned, considering that the child commits these behaviors knowingly and willingly. In both cases, both the child's mental state and illness are negatively affected. Families should definitely get professional support for their children who they think have OCD. After being evaluated by a child and adolescent psychiatrist, therapy with a child psychologist will be very helpful in relieving the symptoms and distress caused by the disease.
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