Children with Disabilities

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a sickness that causes people to constantly think bad thoughts and constantly repeat the same behaviors. Clearly, it is normal to have daily patterns like washing your face before going to bed, but for those suffering from OCD, these routines prevent them from living an ordinary life. The majority of people with OCD are aware that their idiosyncrasies are not very logical. However, they do not have the willpower to stop them.

Obsession

An obsession is an idea, vision, or desire that a person can't seem to shake. Someone with OCD cannot help having these thoughts, but they also find them to be very annoying. At times, these thoughts may arise every so often and are slightly bothersome. But, there are other instances when someone with OCD will have nothing but obsessive thoughts.

Some common obsessions include:

• Being afraid of dirt or germs.
• Loathing of bodily excretions.
• Worrying about order, symmetry, and precision.
• Believing that a task has been performed poorly although the person realizes this is not the case.
• Thinking inappropriate thoughts.
• Allowing specific sounds, pictures, words, or numbers to constantly enter your train of thought.
• Continuously needing reassurance.
• Fearing they may turn on a friend or family member and harm them.

Compulsion

When people with OCD have obsessive thoughts, they tend to become anxious or even develop a fear that something will go terribly wrong. In order to get rid of these feelings, they carry out certain actions in accordance with the guidelines they have created for themselves. These actions are defined as compulsions, or rituals. For instance someone with OCD may obsess over disease, so they will wash their hands over and over after using a public restroom. The hand washing will typically help the person forget about their obsession for a brief period, but when the anxiety comes back that their hands may not be clean anymore, they feel the need to wash once more.

Some common compulsions include:

• Cleaning and grooming (e.g., washing, taking a shower, brushing teeth) repeatedly.
• Double and triple-checking doors, locks, electronics, etc. to be certain they have been closed, locked, or powered down.
• Repeating movements (e.g., going out and coming back through a doorway more than once).
• Positioning objects until they are "just so."
• Counting up to a specific number and starting over until you reach that number again and again.
• Hoarding items that should be discarded.
• Continuously seeking encouragement.

If your child has OCD and it is interfering with their daily lives, discuss your situation with a social security disability attorney to find out if you are entitled to any benefits.