Compulsive Behavior In Children

Remember the irascible, hard edged and super obsessive Hollywood character Melvin Udall from the American rom-com ‘As Good As It Gets’, an eccentric misanthrope totally given to his weird fixations of order, perfection and control. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a weird behavioral hitch, a kind of mental hiccup where the brain gets hooked to a vexing thought or idea and simply can’t let it go. To deal with these mental fixations, a person often resorts to queer habits or “compulsions” to minimize the mental stress. These mental fixations are often temporary and wane with time. Clinically stating, obsessive-compulsive disorder is the upshot of a chemical imbalance in the brain that can lead to faulty communication between the brain and deeper structures, triggering queer habits on the part of the patient. OCD can affect both adults and children alike and may often be an indication of some serious neurobiological disorder. If your child frets and doubts a lot, is overly imaginative and obsesses about order and cleanliness a lot more than a normal child, then beware, for your little one may be a victim of these one these mental glitches. To educate yourself more on the traits of compulsive behavior in children, read on.

Is your kid forever fussing over his gym locker or constantly niggling over trivial things? Does he or she double check the lights of his room again and again before leaving the house or fervently sifts through the pages of his notebook repeatedly to ensure that the project is complete? If yes, then beware, for this can be the preliminary indication of a compulsive disorder in your child. While it’s okay to be nervy about things, at times these anxieties may evolve into severe anxieties leading to compulsive disorders.

 

Does your kid spend most of his time around the kitchen sink or the washbasin, fervently rinsing his hands? While, you may take pride in thinking that your little one is overly conscious about his health and hygiene, know that obsessive washing and cleansing is one of the telltale signs of compulsive behavior in kids. This fixation is often triggered by a pathological aversion to germs and stains. So if your kid is spending more time having a splash in the tub than in the playground, you know what is wrong with him.

 

Is your child too methodical and is hung up on the idea of order, symmetry and perfection? Does he straighten the bedspread on his bed over and again and rereads and rewrites everything scores of time to achieve perfection? Compulsive behavior is a disorder that often reveals itself visually. So if your child is caught in the flux of repeating and arranging things again and again, better head for a psychiatric help soon.

 

Does your kid stock up everything from old socks of his grandfather to the dog collar of his first puppy? Is he overly finicky about his collectibles? Kids suffering from compulsive disorder often show signs of hoarding and saving.

 

Is your child too cynical about everything, right from a new recipe to new clothing? Is he overly skeptical about making new friends and is a loner? Doubt is another key sign of OCD. If your child is torn between dubieties, then he surely needs some help.