Obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is an anxiety disorder that causes a rise in worry that does not diminish until a specific ritual or thought process is performed repeatedly. People who work with children who have OCD can teach cognitive behavioral tools that can be practiced for a reduction in the severity of symptoms.
Step 1
Teach four-square breathing to a child who struggles with OCD. Four-square breathing is used during times of stress because it interrupts obsessive thoughts while reducing blood pressure and anxiety. As the child experiences an urgent need to counter an intrusive thought with an action, she is instructed to breathe in for a count of four, hold the breath for a count of four, exhale the breath for a count of four, and delay intake of breath for a count of four. This process is repeated until the anxiety is reduced.
Step 2
Provide the child with paper and colored pencils and instruct him to draw a picture of the worst thing that can happen if he does not enact his ritual behavior to deal with his worry. After he does this, instruct him to gently rip the paper into small strips while breathing slowly and saying "I release this worry. I am not afraid." Offer a small reward or treat for accomplishing this task.
Step 3
Give the child an alternative task, such as picking up a rock whenever an anxious thought comes to her mind. At the end of each day, have her count the rocks to assess how many times worry interrupted her day. The next day, the child should be encouraged to pick up at least one rock fewer than the day before. Dr. Carla Wills-Brandon, a clinical psychologist and author of "Natural Mental Health," states that the gradual reduction in picking up rocks provides the child with a self-monitoring tool that allows her to moderate her worries as she makes efforts to collect fewer and fewer rocks each day.
Step 4
Give the child a personal yoga mat and implement a daily yoga or meditation practice for her. According to author and psychologist John Sommers-Flannagen, yoga and meditation have been clinically shown to reduce anxiety in people who struggle with OCD. Teaching a child with OCD yoga and meditation provides behavioral skills that can be practiced whenever stress levels threaten to re-trigger anxiety-provoking thoughts.
Step 5
Reduce the presence of anxiety promoting activities for the child with OCD as much as possible. According to the book "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Helping Children & Adolescents" by Mitzi Waltz, timed tests, deadlines and harsh grading systems can worsen the effects of OCD in children and should be avoided if possible until OCD symptoms have begun to respond to cognitive retraining.
Tips and Warnings
- If possible, consider obtaining a psychological service animal who is trained to counter the effects of anxiety. Service dogs can be trained to offer comfort, redirection during anxiety and support for the child who struggles with OCD. All service animals are protected by The Americans with Disabilities Act and are permitted in all housing situations and public areas, including restaurants, movie theaters, schools and doctor's offices.
- Children with OCD should be actively working with a mental health professional who is trained specifically to deal with anxiety disorders in children. Delaying proper treatment for OCD can greatly increase its severity.
Things You'll Need
- Paper
- Colored pencils
- Rocks
- Yoga mat
References
- "Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories in Context and Practice"; John Sommers-Flannagen; 2009
- "How to Use Yoga: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Iyengar Method of Yoga, for Relaxation, Health and Well-Being"; Mira Mehta; 1998
- "Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychology"; Todd Feinburg and Martha Farah; 2003
- "Natural Mental Health"; Carla Wills-Brandon; 2007
- "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Helping Children & Adolescents"; Mitzi Waltz; 2000
