Helping a kid with OCD

[maize]

(Don't quote please)

 

My ten year old has been struggling with OCD, mostly a compulsion to apologize. He is saying things like like "oh sorry for interrupting" (when he hasn't interrupted anyone) as much as fifteen times a minute. Right now he has just woken up and is lying in bed with the blanket over his head murmuring repeated apologies to no one. Oh, he's also stuck on worrying about "bad pictures"--we talked about avoiding Internet pornography not to long ago and now he seems to have a compulsion to confess to me anytime he sees an image of people in even vaguely revealing clothes. I've tried to explain the difference between the images all over the place in advertising etc. and the kind of pornography we need to avoid, but, well, this isn't really a rational thing for him.

 

I've taken him to a therapist, but so far he doesn't really communicate with her (kid who has trouble talking about anything personal). I think I may make better progress working with him myself. Does anyone have any good resources to recommend, any BTDT experience or advice? I have the "what to do when your brain gets stuck" workbook.

[wapiti]

.

Edited February 26, 2016 by wapiti

[maize]

Thank you wapiti for the reminder to pursue possible medical causes, I'd forgotten about PANDAS. We have had multiple bouts of strep over the past couple of years so it is entirely possible that could be impacting things. Did you find that your regular pediatrician was familiar with and able to address this syndrome or did you need a specialist?

[wapiti]

.

Edited February 26, 2016 by wapiti