Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD is a type of anxiety disorder that causes your child to have obsessive, unwanted thoughts, compulsions, and recurring behaviors. They may fear dirt and germs, recheck if a door is locked repeatedly, count and recount objects, ask the same question over and over, and more.  

If your child struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder, it could significantly disrupt their relationships, mental health, and school performance. However, therapy for children has been proven to be very helpful in helping children learn new ways of resolving and reducing their fears and worries. Certain medications can also help your child by increasing their serotonin levels, which is something believed to be low in children with OCD.

Tics

Tics are relatively common in childhood and often first appear around the age of five. They are fast, repetitive muscle movements, causing your child to lose control of their body suddenly. Some tics may include:

  • blinking

  • grimacing

  • banging their head

  • clicking fingers

  • touching other people or things

  • grunting, sniffing, or coughing

  • repeating a sound or phrase

Many times, tics are not serious and resolve over time. But they can interfere with everyday activities and affect your child socially. 

Through certain types of therapy, I can help your child learn new ways of counteracting their tics and learn behavioral techniques to reduce them. If needed, I can also prescribe certain medications that can work alongside therapy for children. 

Tourette Syndrome

This genetic disorder typically presents itself in childhood between the ages of five and nine. While uncommon, it can be highly disruptive to your and your child’s life. Tourette syndrome causes uncontrolled, sudden, repetitive muscle movements called tics. (See above.)

It’s important to note that just because your child has tics does not mean they have Tourette syndrome. Diagnosing the disorder requires your child to have several types of tics, including motor tics and at least one vocal tic, for at least one year. 

Symptoms of Tourette syndrome often increase when your child is under stress. They may be able to hold them back briefly, but eventually, they’ll have to release it. This particular disorder makes it challenging for your child to hold conversations or pay attention in class.

While Tourette syndrome is not a psychological condition, as a pediatric psychiatrist, I can definitely help. Your child will benefit from talk therapy, learning healthy coping mechanisms for stress, and relaxation techniques. I can also help with any co-occurring child and adolescent mental health disorders like ADHD, OCD, or anxiety through therapy and medication management.