- Username
- Mai
- Date posted
- 5y ago
The best thing to do is to distract her by speaking to her or getting her a fidget! I have a fidget cube and it certainly helps me a lot and I know how your little sister feels!
How old is she? I first noticed signs when I was 4 or 5 and had a very rough time starting at 7, diagnosed at 19. You’re a good sister, especially for looking out for signs. It’s really tough when you’re young going through it. Best thing is to not give reassurance. If you think she’s too young to understand, maybe reword things to not say why she’s feeling that way but just that distraction is helpful. Another good thing my therapist told me for my checking locks was to check once and make a clear mental note that it was definitely locked and then after that stop and resist the compulsions
Maybe telling her she just feels high anxiety and that her OCD about different things such as her dog dying etc and reassurance seeking is just her brain trying to rationalize the anxiety....but if she were to deal with anxiety, like meditate, journal, etc that that would help her. That’s what I would say; hope she gets better!
I definitely think some mindfulness exercises will help like meditation and breathing techniques. Maybe you can do them with her! Also, as hard as it may be, it’s best to try not to give reassurance like Smiley said.
Thank you for replying! These suggestions are all really helpful. I think I will try doing meditation/relaxation with her and distracting her. She is still too young to understand why she is having these thoughts but I will explain that to her over time. Luckily she has a large selection of fidgets so that is useful! I’m hoping that the paediatrician will pick up on it when she goes for ASD and ADHD diagnosis and she will get the help she needs.
@smiley She is eight now, I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for her because she has no idea why she is doing it. Thank you for the suggestion, I will help her to do that ☺️
Anyone else here’s OCD surround a family member? Like the obsessions are all about something happening to a member of the family/someone you care about?
I’m new to this community. My daughter is 14 and is suffering from what I believe is contamination ocd. She was just fine this evening and out of no where was crying uncontrollably. I’m so lost as a parent because I don’t know how to help her. I can’t even give a hug. I feel so bad just letting her cry.
My almost 11 year old (in 1 1/2 weeks) son, has just started experiencing Moral OCD. Now that I’m understanding more and more about this type of OCD, I guess there might have been signs of other behaviors, but nothing that interferes with his day to day life. He is having deeply disturbing thoughts over and over! Then he feels the need to confess, I’ve asked him to stop confessing about 2 days ago, and the anxiety has gotten so bad, I’m on the verge of letting him confess them because it’s heartbreaking. He wants to same reassurance over and over and over. Asking the same questions as if we didn’t have a conversation 2 seconds prior! At this point, I need reassurance! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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