Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Support Group

Welcome to the group. You have come to the right place, here you will find soooo much support and comfort.
Im sorry that your son was diagnosed with OCD. I have been diagnosed with this same symptom. I am very very afraid of germs and also believe I will contract a disease. Hand washing is the compulsion, the fear is the obsessive part. First you obsess over the germs and then you feel this great urge to wash your hand because you feel your hands are contaminated.
Is he going to start therapy or is he taking any medication?

He has just this week been evaluated and diagnosed.We are waiting
on his appt. in 4 days to find out what kind of plan of action this dr.
wants to take. I'm not 100% against meds. I,myself have trich. and
am now 11/2 yr binge free bulimic- so I know the pros/cons of
anti-dep. I just hate to think of "my baby" beginning that........

I started experiencing very similar symptoms at the age of 4, and it sounds exactly like OCD. The thing about compulsive hand washing is that it NEVER brings relief, because once you've finished washing, you might accidentally touch something else which then re-contaminates you. I could go on forever on the intricacies of the obsession, but then again it would take...forever.

Your son is going through ALOT right now, all I can say is that you must be supportive and understanding of his condition. My parents and family teased me relentlessly for being so neurotic. My hands were constantly bloody, raw, and scaly..it hurt to even bend my fingers, and no one seemed to be able to comprehend my terror or the absolute hell I was living in. At this age I did not take medications, nor did I even see a doctor about my behavior, so I can't really give you any input on whether or not medication at such a young age is a good thing or not. What I can say is that your son is suffering horribly. Although his fears are incredibly irrational, to him they are all very real and the consequences of not washing are fatal. In a child so young, it's really hard to cope with that constant terror, so just be understanding and don't treat him any differently for his condition.

Eventually I grew out of this particular fear (although over the years I've replaced it with exponentially more elaborate, irrational, and even psychotic ones - so it's important that he see some sort of a child-therapist)

Starting early is good. I have a 2 year old son and I worry too about him having OCD. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do to stop it but atleast we can learn as much as we can and with therapy and medication hopefully it can be controlled.
Just know that we are here and anytime you need to talk or vent you can count on us.

I definitely know that he has to have professional help-and somehow
from the very beginning when friends and family were trying to convince me maybe it was just a "phase" he was going thru b/c he
was still so young, BUT somehow I already knew it wasn't. But ,the one thing the DR. did tell me was that I was making his fears more
rational by caving in to all of his behaviors. For ex., If he thought this
one can of soup warmed up in the bowl got "germy" after the spoon went from his mouth back to the bowl,(He does this quite often) I
would open up another can of soup. Wasteful, Iknow! But, My fear is that my child is not going to get enough to eat!! Anyway, the dr. says
that is telling Caleb "Hey, I agree, I can see this soup is "germy"!"

I have a book which I have found REALLY hlpful for myself, even though i am not a child, but it helps me relate to early things - anyway, it is called "Freeing Your Child from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder" by Dr. Tamar E. Chansky. I am confident that this will help you and your son. Im not saying it will answer all your questions or solve your problems, but it is full of practical things you can do to try and help your son with his germ phobia. I hope it helps. Its a fairly inexpensive book too.

The doctor is right, its called being an enabler but dont stop yet. If you stop it will be a big shock on your son and he is too little to have to deal with the anxiety. Eventually the doctor will see how your son has progressed and will know when is the right time for you to start not giving in but that will be a long time from now so just keep doing what you're doing. If the doctor tells you to stop doing that now and hasn't even had any sessions with your son, get a new doctor because he should know that is dangerous for anyone with OCD. And dont feel bad or guilty you are a great mama and I can see you really love your son.

The good news is he is young enough to help him so it dosen't get blown out of control. I know that most doctors use the exposure where you expose them to what they are afraid of. I am sure the doctor will help you with this. I will def keep him in my prayers that he will get the help he needs to over come this an dnot have to take meds. My heart goes out to you and Caleb you will find alot of support here:)

Thank you guys so much! I can see why this support group
can be is so important to people- It makes a difference to
know there are other people who "REALLY DO UNDER-
STAND !!!" thanx alot