Ocd - Ferndale,WA

I don't have any experience personally with OCD. I will say...I used to do that all the time, as a kid. I still do, actually! I always count when I walk, when I eat. I separate candy by color and make them even, etc. I can tell you, that I am not even close to OCD!! My husband would tell you I'm the opposite of OCD with most things, to tell you the truth! I think, if it's not interfering with his school, his socialization, his ability to focus, etc...I don't think it's a huge deal. If it really worried you, you might take a trip to the pediatrician before school starts.

Hi K.,

After raising a very intelligent daughter and her equally intelligent son, I dare sare, he sounds very bright and very left brained. It is just part of his nature I would bet. I would foster the math thinking. It is probably automatic for him.

Also OCD is a discorder in which they feel they MUST do things repetitively or else...

Just enjoy, and watch him unfold:-)

T. Nelson CD (DONA)

OCD runs in both my and my husband's family. The key to what you describe is "It doesn't appear to interfere with his daily life as far as I can tell."

Certainly, keep your lines of communication open, but what your son counts may not really get in the way of his daily routine at all... and if it's innocuous, I wouldn't worry about it. However, if he runs to the bathroom to wash his hands, or starts to open his door five times (or fifty) to come out of his room in the morning, it's time to do something. He may actually be "counting" to reduce stress--or even to practice counting--in the same way that kids sing songs they like (over and OVER) to do the same thing.

When I was a kid, I'd walk a circuitous route to school to avoid stepping on sidewalk cracks, and I still have a few quirks that have stuck with me. My brother herded potatoes all over the house, leaving them in rows in the hallway and his bedroom (said it relaxed him), and if we put the potatoes back, he'd go get them and start the process all over again.

Your son might be a bit systematic in his behavior, but unless it has an impact on his daily life in some negative way, I wouldn't worry--and I'd be cautious not to let anyone criticize him for it (not that this seems to have happened yet). Who knows? He might be a math genius some day! :)

I don't have any advice here.
However, I wanted to comment that it is marvelous, imo,
that your son is able to TELL you that he's counting
and making things even.
I'm confident you'll be able to get appropriate referrals
to work with you and your son to help both of you
learn ways to deal with this, especially to help your son
figure out why he needs to do this kind of thing.
I think you have a very smart little boy.
I'm guessing he can carry on an intelligent conversation
with adults about a lot of different topics.
Please remember to let him know how special he is
and how proud you are of him.
S.

it does sound like a normal kid thing to me, sort of like a way to self sooth if you think he is anxious about school. and this method works for him and doesn't interfer, so for those reasons i wouldn't worry.

Just a few things to think about, Do you know if anyone else in the family has ocd or if they are just left brain thinkers?? And not to scare you but to take your concerns seriously, My question would be-- to those adults that now have Full blown uncontrollable OCD, how did it start and what could have helped you??? i doubt an average pediatrican will do anything, you will probably have to be your childs best advocate and read up and research on your own. But from what you posted, i think you and your son are close and open and doing just fine, I do think as kids get to an age that they are aware of counting and grouping that they practice it during their day.

Just a note to say tha tit is great you are listening to your son and on top of things. Amxiety and OCD tendencies is something I have dealt with. You have to remember that most psychological disorders are evaluated in terms of how much they interfere with normal behavior and quality of life.

So I would ask you, does HE think it is strange or bad to do this? Does he get UPSET if he can't count his stuff and make it even? Does it slow him down -and INTERFERE with normal day to day behavior - delays getting ready for school or going to sleep at night? Does it INTERRUPT playdates or do his friends think it is strange?

I would try not to worry and see if you can get some sense about whether this is truly "ritual" or something your son just has fun doing. It could just be a normal thing. My 6 year daughter loves to "organize" her stuff in ways I have joked are "very OCD" and she loves sets of four. It's her "favorite number.". But I don't for a moment think she has OCD, I think it is important you don't make him feel bad about the behavior becasue there is probably nothing wrong with it. But I do think it is important that you try to assess if there is more going on in his head (i.e., anxiety) about the behavior. I truly don't think it is likely this is really OCD based ONLY on what the said.. "Making things even" isn't OCD unles he "must" do it to feel good and he feels "bad"if he can't.

Frankly, I owuldn't drag him to the pediatrician about this and make him feel like he is doing someithing wrong. But I would call your pediatrician and discus it with them. They can tell you whether he needs to be evaluated.

It's certainly possible, but not for certain. I think it's great that you're already meeting with the ped to discuss it. The earlier he receives help (if he does indeed have OCD), the better! Good for you for listening and paying attention to your son!!

You have already been given some great advice! I just want to say that I am not at all OCD, but I will also count and "make things even". For example, the volume on the radio needs to be 20 or 22 (not 21). If it is not bothersome to him or getting in the way of anything, that you should just keep an eye on it. It is probably just a matter of preference or keeping his mind busy (the counting). I don't think you should make a special trip to the doctor, but you could ask about it over the phone or at his next well-child check-up. S. :-)

I used to do stuff like that -- organize my food into specific size groups before eating it, straighten the desks in a row, find different ways to organize my pencil box. It wasn't ocd, and I eventually grew out of most of it (I still group my skittles). He might just be headed to be an engineer or an accountant. As long as he doesn't have to have something a certain way, I wouldn't worry about it.

i did that when i was a kid and just kinda grew out of it. i did it for a pretty long while- i hated odd numbers. everything had to be even. it was pretty dominant in my thoughts. but it totally went away when i got older. i'd keep an eye on other things, but what you're seeing so far just seems like normal kid stuff- kids brains are quirky :)

You might want to research OCD and latent strep infection.

Good luck.

I joke that I have OCD but I really don't think it is. I'm like your son and have been for as long as I can remember and I'm 42. I also like even numbers and like Michelle B. I sort my candy by color (or flavor). I have no idea what started it but it hasn't interfered with my daily life. I feel slightly off if I have an odd number but it doesn't stop me. I didn't count bites as a kid but if I started eating on the right I had to end on the left (might have something to do with the even number thing). I also like my things organized a certain way which I attributed to perfectionism and not OCD. I wouldn't spend the money on a doctor yet. Just keep a journal if you feel the need to document and track. My guess is he will be very artistic or math related as everyone I know with these traits is that way. The counting and organization (for me anyway) is a way to calm myself if I feel stressed so I consider it self soothing. Oh, my younger son is the same way and he's 9 and artistic. No one would necessarily know this about me unless they know me well or I told them.

Dear K.,
That's great that he told you. I think it's worth inquiring about. The earlier you build a vocabulary to interupt, what can be a very interfering problem. I don't have personal experience with OCD for myself, or with my own children, I am a therapist as is my husband and he works with many teens with OCD. Even if he doesn't need to receive help at this time, it might be comorting for you to consult with a specialist in childhood OCD, to know how as a parent to intervene and to know what to watch for as possible barriers.
Good Luck,
Mary