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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Children: Care Instructions

Your Care Instructions

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition. It makes your child have unwanted thoughts that occur over and over. To stop those thoughts, your child might develop a compulsion. This is an action or ritual that is done again and again.

For example, a child might worry constantly that if they get dirty, they will get sick. To handle this feeling, the child might wash their hands or clothes or clean things over and over.

The action makes your child feel better for only a short time. If your child tries to resist the urge to do it, they may feel very anxious or have panic attacks. The same can happen if your child isn't allowed to do the action.

Therapy can help your child learn to manage thoughts and actions. Your child may have one-on-one therapy, group therapy, and family-focused therapy.

Your doctor also may prescribe medicine to help with symptoms.

Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if your child is having problems. It's also a good idea to know your child's test results and keep a list of the medicines your child takes.

How can you care for your child at home?

  • Make sure your child goes to counselling and follow-up appointments.
  • Give your child's medicine exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor or nurse advice line if you think your child is having a problem with a medicine.
  • Ask your child's therapist how you can help your child do homework or tasks that the therapist sends home.
  • Involve family members and other loved ones in your child's treatment, especially if your doctor suggests that they go to therapy together.
  • Help your child handle stress in these healthy ways.
    • Get regular exercise. This could be activities like walking, bike-riding, outdoor play, and sports.
    • Write or draw about the things that bother your child.
    • Talk, laugh, cry, and express anger when your child needs to.
    • Eat healthy foods. It helps to avoid caffeine. Coffee, energy drinks, some soft drinks, and chocolate have caffeine. Health Canada recommends that children and teens not drink energy drinks.

When should you call for help?

Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:

  • Your child mentions suicide. If a suicide threat seems real, with a specific plan and a way to carry it out, you or someone you trust should stay with your child until you get help.

Where to get help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

If your child talks about suicide, self-harm, a mental health crisis, a substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress, get help right away.

  • Call or text Canada's suicide and crisis hotline at 988.
  • Call Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645 (4 p.m. to midnight ET).
  • Kids or teens can call Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868.
  • Go to the Talk Suicide Canada website at https://talksuicide.ca or the Kids Help Phone website at https://kidshelpphone.ca for more information.

Consider saving these numbers in your phone.

Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if:

  • Your child's repeated actions and rituals upset daily activities.
  • Your child's symptoms of OCD are new or different from those that your child had before.

Where can you learn more?

Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd

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Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.