All children worry, but children who worry too much might suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a type of anxiety disorder. It's characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, and children who suffer from this mental health issue can be greatly impacted by it. KidsHealth reports that children with this disorder become overly preoccupied by something and feel compelled to behave in unusual ways because of their thoughts.
Obsessive Thoughts
A child suffering from OCD is plagued by obsessive thoughts. Instead of daydreaming about playing outside with friends, she's worried about her parents dying or the dirt on her sneakers. These obsessive thoughts usually wreak havoc on the child's ability to concentrate at school and at home, causing the child to receive poor grades. When the symptoms first show, parents usually become frustrated with their child's insistence on repeating behaviors.
Repetitive Behaviors
One main symptom of OCD is repetitive behaviors. A child who suffers from this disorder probably does things many more times than what is normal. For instance, a child may beg his teacher to call home to make sure his parents are OK on a daily basis, because he's worried they are going to die. This sometimes occurs after a traumatic incident, but it can occur without one.
Fear of Contamination
Some children who suffer from this disorder have obsessive thoughts about getting dirty or being contaminated by germs. They might wash their hands hundreds of times each day, have rituals they perform before they eat and insist on taking more than one shower per day. These children often have a hard time at home and school, because they appear different than their peers and can't focus unless they feel clean.
Need for Order and Number Obsessions
Some children with OCD have a need for order and obsessions based on numbers. They may have to line up their text books in alphabetical order each night and get ready for bed in a precise order. For instance, a child who's obsessed with numbers may have to have everything in quantities of three. She might eat three French toast sticks for breakfast, write her name three times on her homework, step through a doorway three times before entering a new place and need to brush her teeth three times at night. Many children with number obsessions think something bad will happen if they don't do something a certain amount of times. They might think they'll hurt themselves or their parents will die.
Checking Things Repeatedly
Some children with this disorder feel compelled to check things over and over again. A child might check the door to make sure it's locked, her homework to make sure it's completed and the oven to make sure it's off 10 or 15 times before going to bed. This obsessive checking can keep children from getting needed sleep.
