Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that can strike in childhood or adulthood. Teens with this disorder have irrational thoughts or fears that they attempt to quieten by performing ritualized behaviors. Many people with OCD can be "categorized" according to the behaviors they exhibit: whether checking, hoarding, washing, counting or perfecting. Teens with obsessive-compulsive disorder have many of the same difficulties as adult sufferers, but some symptoms are more common among teens. If you have any question as to whether your child may have obsessive-compulsive disorder, seek professional mental health advice.
Checking
The teenager with OCD may incessantly check to see if he turned off his computer. He may need to check his schoolwork over and over to convince himself he didn't make a mistake.
Touching
You may notice that your teen has a need to touch particular objects again and again. She may count or say something under her breath as she does it.
Lengthy Grooming
The teenager may have a grooming ritual that progressively get longer. This may involve bathing, teeth brushing or other grooming activities. According to the Nemours Foundation, this is one of the most common rituals noted among children with OCD. This symptom in particular may make the teen irritable as the hours devoted to this ritual takes away from time for homework, recreation or sleep.
Hand-Washing
The adolescent may exhibit a need to wash her hands every time she touches something. She may refuse to eat and may hold her hands away from her body until she can wash them. You may notice that her hands are raw, red or dry and cracking due to excessive washing.
Hoarding
You may find stashes of items that your child has hoarded. This symptom may be difficult to discern from normal collecting of favored items. Sometimes, the hoarded objects are things that have little to no significance to others, such as used paper or non-working pens.
Need for Order
The teen with OCD may need to place each object in her bookbag a certain way. She may become upset if her daily routine is disturbed. She may request the same meal each day and eat her foods in the same order. For example, she may take one bite of sandwich, eat one potato chip, drink one sip of milk, and repeat.
Need for Reassurance
The Mayo Clinic says that one symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder is a need for repeated reassurance. This may manifest as the question "Is everything OK?" or "Did I do that right?" The question may be repeated many times a day, with slightly different wording.
Odd Rituals
The teen with OCD may have odd rituals that he tries to hide from you. They may seem similar to superstitions and involve walking back and forth through a door, counting each red car that goes by, or saying a particular phrase each time a certain event occurs. If questioned, your teen may not be able to explain why he does these things. This symptom is more common among teens than adults and may be particularly distressing as it invites ridicule from peers. Teens with OCD who face continuing embarrassment due to ritualistic behavior may become depressed or anxious.
Religiosity
Some teens get obsessed with religious thoughts and need to say a prayer or read a phrase out of a book over and over. Alternatively, they may be obsessed with trying to be perfect, lest God do something bad to them or their loved ones. They may feel extreme guilt for their normal adolescent thoughts.
