OCD? in 14 year old - Mental Health Message Board

delaney1 · 05-10-2006, 04:23 PM

My 14 year old daughter has been bothered by some strange behavior lately (she says it's been going on for almost a year but getting worse). I'm wondering if it sounds like symptoms of OCD. She can't stand people doing repetitive things: tapping pencils, tapping feet, chewing on ice, chewing gum, sniffling. She feels compelled to do or make the sounds that that person is doing and it's VERY difficult for her not to. Even just the sound of some peoples' voices bother her. She also has times when she picks at her face until she has several sores and so she is embarrassed about that. She has asked us to get her some professional help because she is being teased at school for some of these things and feels that she just can't stop. She is a straight A student and a sweet and personable girl. She also says that anything negative that happens to her during the day stays with her and she can't let go of it. Does this sort of thing sound familiar to anyone? I have made an appointment for her with a psychologist but can't get in for a month.

trg247 · 05-10-2006, 11:08 PM

I am not sure or not whether it is or not. Some of the sympthoms point to it but the others point to anxiety or depression. For her sake I would get her into a psycologist to get her tested

take care
trg247

GatsbyLuvr1920 · 05-11-2006, 09:35 AM

It certainly sounds like some sort of Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorder (OCSD), though it may not be clear-cut OCD. The feeling she has to repeat sounds may be either tics indicative of Tourette's or echolalia. I, too, get annoyed with certain sounds, I mimic and recite movie/TV quotes, and am a compulsive skin picker; I have OCD and Asperger's. I don't think your daughter has Asperger's since this behavior has just crept up, but it definitely sounds like some form of OCD. If you have any questions, feel free to ask! God bless!

-GatsbyLuvr1920-

delaney1 · 05-11-2006, 10:26 AM

Thank you for the info Gatsby. Can you tell me what Aspergers is?

GatsbyLuvr1920 · 05-11-2006, 12:54 PM

Asperger's is an autistic spectrum disorder, also known as "high-functioning autism." It involves obsessions/fixations with objects and/or subjects (not fear-producing obsessions like in OCD), a need for sameness/consistency/routine without change, social deficits, and sensory issues, including outbursts due to sensory overload. Most people with Asperger's have obsessive-compulsive traits, but they don't have actual OCD, but there are some Aspie's like myself who have both. Also, very few people with actual OCD have Asperger's. The symptoms may overlap in some cases, but the two are very different. Any other questions? I'd be more than happy to help you in any way that I can...

-GatsbyLuvr1920-