), Doing things again and again (repetitive behaviors), Constant questioning of self-judgment; excessive need for reassurance, Increased concern for minor things and details, Severe and extreme emotional reactions to small things, Increased irritability and indecisiveness, Prior agreements regarding assisting with compulsions, How much the compulsions infringe upon others lives. If you or someone you know are experiencing symptoms that interfere with daily functioning or activities that are important to you, it may be time to seek help. In this article, you will learn about this form of OCD and why it is so well known, and what can help people with it. For example, they might worry that someone they care about will get sick because they do not take the same precautions. Challenge fearful thoughts. Like all types of OCD, Contamination OCD can be effectively treated with Exposure and Response Prevention. What Conditions Commonly Co-occur with Pediatric OCD? Make age-appropriate determinations about how much freedom and independence your child or teen should reasonably have, and give him/herthe message that he or shecan be left alone and can care for themselves sometimes. Contact us at 877.203.3232 to learn more about treatment options. When was that? The compulsions are what cause the disorder to be persistent and seem impossible to beat. Often families ask how to undo all of the effects of months or years of going along with OCD symptoms and accommodations. Individuals with OCD contamination thoughts can utilize manycompulsionsto try to control their thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and here are some of the most common examples of them: [1]. Of course, contamination OCD is not just limited to these; people with contamination OCD can also be concerned for their loved ones, and their fears can be extended to them. Day-to-day comparisons are misleading because they dont represent the bigger picture. Avoid lengthy rationales and debates when your child or teen is seeking reassurance or asking for accommodation. Contamination OCD should not be confused with germaphobia, which is defined as an irrational fear of germs. Instead, a statement such as: No wonder your symptoms are worse look at the changes you are going through, is validating, supportive, and encouraging. Educate yourself. 6. Utilizing a combination of secular methods and faith-based counseling can treat the entire person. Feel the heat as it runs over. This condition ranges from being a slight preoccupation with cleanliness and hygiene, to being an utterly paralyzing fear of contact with any sort of surface. If all of the items are scoring equally, get your child to select one. Symptoms of Contamination OCD And then break the therapy up accordingly. Please note: The information on this page should not be construed as medical advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any condition. It leaves the person with OCD trapped in a cycle of compulsions that only strengthen the idea that there was a real danger. The difference between germaphobia and Contamination OCD, Another concept Thought-Action Fusion (TAF), Contamination OCD during the COVID-19 pandemic, Read more about Contamination OCD a few helpful resources, Talk to other people about Contamination OCD, a combination of environmental and genetic factors, inflammation within the brains neurocircuitry, Being worried about potentially getting sick from touching an object or a surface, Avoiding contact with other people due to the fear of spreading (or receiving) germs, Staying home from work or school due to a paralyzing fear of getting contaminated there, Checking oneself for signs of contamination frequently, Rituals that are done in order to reduce anxiety about being contaminated, such as excessive hand-washing or cleaning, Concerns about being poisoned or contaminated by food that someone (or oneself) has (potentially) touched, The International OCD Foundations (IOCDF). . The main way of doing this is through a specific type of cognitive-behavioral therapy known as exposure and response prevention (ERP). Dim noise and lighting and adjust the temperature in your bedroom so you go to sleep, and stay asleep . For those who arent familiar, Exposure Therapy (ET) is a specific type of cognitive behavioral therapy that can be very helpful to those who struggle with a specific fear or phobia. Explain to your child that you will not allow his or her OCD to rule your home, and be firm and consistent. These could be dumping the bread washing the knife, plate, work surface, dumping the butter, washing the butter dish, washing your hands. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that is highly effective at treating OCD. One day, James has to use a public restroom when out shopping, which causes his mind to be flooded with intrusive thoughts. Unfortunately, scientists still dont know exactly what causes OCD, but evidence suggests biological and environmental factors are contributing causes. Its usually performed over a series of 12-16 sessions, and is designed to challenge the escape/avoidance behaviors that maintain and intensify the phobias behind a specific fear. While it is not a long-term solution, it can make exposure and response prevention much more approachable and increase a person's chances of success. People with OCD consistently report that change of any kind, even positive change, can be experienced as stressful. In Contamination OCD, compulsions can . See them running over your arms, hear the arcade sound as each pile of contamination is being gobbled. The more you can avoid personal criticism, the better remember that it is the OCD that gets on everyones nerves. Contamination OCD (also known as C-OCD) is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) where a person is excessively concerned about getting in contact with dirt, germs, or other contaminants (or perceived contaminants), and intrusive thoughts about potentially getting sick (or dying) as a result. Kids with contamination OCD are in a complicated situation during the pandemic: the pandemic seems to be discussed nonstop, and we have new rules about wearing masks and other actions to. It can also include such things as: your physical a, 7 Natural Hyperpigmentation Remedies That Actually Work, 7 Simple and Safe Natural Melasma Remedies, 7 Natural Eye Stye Remedies to Reduce Pain and Swelling, 32 Hydrating and Healthy Coconut Water Recipes to Make at Home, 8 Worst Foods for Your Hormones (And Why It Matters), 9 Best Foods That Balance Female Hormones, How to Do Progressive Muscle Relaxation: 8 Tips for Beginners, 7 Visualization Techniques for Manifestation, How to Reduce Cognitive Dissonance for Better Mental Health, 5 Positivity Activities for Kids to Develop a Healthy Mindset, How to Create a Calm Down Kit for Your Child, Healthy Carbs vs Unhealthy Carbs: 35 Foods to Eat and Avoid, Inability to participate in and enjoy activities he/she is passionate about, Taking longer than normal to complete simple activities, like getting dressed, brushing hair, or completing homework, Need for things to be perfect, and getting very upset/angry when things arent just right, Need to count, tap, touch things repeatedly. ERP is not easy, and it can take a few months to see results, but it is rewarding, and it can completely change a person's life by altering how they think, feel, and behave towards negative and unhelpful thoughts, images, and ideas. The first-line psychological treatment for OCD is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), including exposure and response prevention (ERP), as recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Your child still needs your encouragement and your acceptance as a person, but remember that acceptance and support does not mean ignoring the OCD behaviors. OCD and Contamination. Be there. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a serious mental disorder that affects between 1% and 2% of the population. This lets your child know that his or her hard work to get better is being recognized, and can be a powerful motivator. Sometimes the concern is about a specific disease like HIV or hepatitis or just general germs. Hear the background music. psychological therapy - usually a type of therapy that helps you face your fears and obsessive thoughts without "putting them right" with compulsions. In textbook terms, OCD is a mental illness that causes the sufferer to get stuck in cycles of obsessions and compulsions. 2022 Mind Diagnostics, All Rights Reserved, Exposure to toxic materials, such as radioactivity, heavy metals, or asbestos and consequently developing cancer. 1 The front-line treatment for contamination OCD is cognitive behavioral therapy and/or medication. As you continue to read, you will learn more about some of the common fears and obsessions related to contamination OCD and the compulsions often seen with this type of OCD. Creating goals as a team reduces conflict, preserves the household, and provides a platform for families to begin to take back the household in situations where most routines and activities have been dictated by an individuals OCD. Your childs therapist will likely have strategies to help you do this based on your little ones specific fears and worries, so I wont go into too much detail here, but this article on Anxiety Canada is a great read. Talk with your childs doctors and teachers, research online, join support groups, and read as much as possible. Mental or emotional contamination OCD is when one is triggered by gross or disturbing thoughts and they think they're mentally or emotionally contaminated from their pure state of . This lets your childknow that his or her hard work to get better is being recognized, and can be a powerful motivator. It is normal to have some health concerns and take precautions, like washing hands after using the restroom. (2007). There are specific symptoms that must be met in order for a Obsessive Compulsive Disorder diagnosis to be made and this can only be completed and confirmed by a licensed professional but for the purposes of this post, I wanted to provide a list of signs to look out for if you suspect your child may suffer from OCD so you can get him/her the help he/she needs: You may also notice your child performing certain rituals throughout the day, or displaying a need for things to be just right in order for him or her to feel safe and comfortable. clean the home according to their extreme OCD rituals) and change shoes and clothes before entering the home. If you are noticing any of the signs and symptoms discussed here, you are encouraged to seek treatment immediately. Here are a few books to help you and your child: Educate your child. Read More The treatment recommended will depend on how much it's affecting your life. The content on this page is written by recovered OCD sufferers, not by clinicians. 1. Once you have a diagnosis and a treatment option in place, its important to ensure everyone who cares for your child is on the same page in order for treatment to be successful. A person with OCD gets stuck in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions, which can become extremely time-consuming and prevent him/her from participating in things he/she enjoys. 50 , 51 ERP involves exposing patients to symptom relevant anxiogenic situations (eg, touching a toilet seat). Take a 5-minute time out to compose yourself when you start to become frustrated, and on the days you do get upset, take the time to discuss the situation with your child after youve calmed down so the 2 of you can brainstorm strategies to ensure history doesnt repeat itself. Discuss exposure therapy with your childs doctor. Retrieved from https://iocdf.org/expert-opinions/expert-opinion-contamination/, Cougle, J. R., Wolitzky-Taylor, K. B., Lee, H., &Telch, M. J. Try to learn as much about OCD as you can. People can have intrusive thoughts regarding just about anything, like violence, relationships, sexuality, religion, and of course, their health. First of all, this problem breaks down into two parts contamination obsessions and decontamination compulsions. This will lead to a formal diagnosis, and from there, you can start getting the help you need through exposure and response prevention and possibly medication if needed. OCD specialists are trained to treat a wide array of OCD subtypes, including Contamination OCD. James knows that he has washed his hands multiple times. Medications Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Sertraline (Zoloft) are two selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (or SSRI) antidepressants shown to give symptom relief for OCD. Of course, this can be tricky if your child is too young to fully understand what OCD is, but if your child struggles with obsessive thoughts and compulsive rituals, he or she is probably very aware that something isnt quite right. The OCD sufferer will often insist that family members decontaminate the home (i.e. However, in this effort to help your loved one reduce OCD behaviors, you may be easily perceived as being mean or uncompassionate, even though you are trying to be helpful. Family members often have the natural tendency to feel like they should protect anindividual with OCD by being with him or her all of the time. With the goal of working together to decrease compulsions, family members may find that they have to be firm about: It is commonly reported by individuals with OCD that mood dictates the degree to which they are able to divert obsessions and resist compulsions. Remember, it is in your childs best interest to tolerate exposure to their fears and to be reminded of their siblings and other family members needs. The most common obsession associated with Contamination OCD is fearing you'll get a terminal illness like . Be receptive to different treatment options. Going to War with OCD: Lisa & Connors Story, Diagnosis & Clinical Assessment For Mental Health Professionals, Differential Diagnosis of OCD or PANDAS/PANS. OCD is often challenging to treat. Contamination OCD is one of the most common subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder. There is a wide variation in the severity of OCD symptoms between individuals. These actions can be overt or covert. It is okay not to ask, How is your OCD today? Some limits on talking about OCD and various worries is an important part of establishing a more normative routine. Windows- look at the window lock or latches Doors- turn key then give the door a gentle pull (I also look at the lock of the door but since you can't actually see it lock I also give it a slight pull) Picture Perfect- The Lock smith Our next step is to 'Lock in a picture' to the object we're checking to symbolize- (remind us) that we've checked it. Reviewed by Melinda (Santa) Gladden, LCSW. They may take antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, or other commonly prescribed drugs for mental health conditions. Hear small sparking sounds as the leftover contamination is completely annihilated. Because the individual wants to maintain . Below you will learn about some additional examples of fears that can be classified as this form of OCD. Traditionally, germs have been the focus of attention when it comes to contamination obsessions, with the emphasis on health anxiety and fears of getting ill or causing others to get ill. Step 2: Learning about OCD Research shows that people with OCD tend to: 1. give unhelpful meanings to obsessions, and 2. use unhelpful strategies to control obsessions. One could also have a discussion with their psychiatrist about possibly trying certain medications, which can also be effective; for example, in one 1998 study, 42% of young patients with OCD responded well to the antidepressant sertraline (Zoloft) for treating their disorder. It is often during these times that OCD symptoms tend to flare up; however, you can help to moderate stress by modifying your expectations during these times of transition. Their need for uncertainty keeps the OCD cycle going, and can lead to hours of hand-washing, chapped hands, endless showers, and rewashing laundry. 2 Find a supportive therapist that can help with OCD. One example of sympathetic magic in action would be the fact that a sterilized cockroach is still seen as being capable of spreading disease, because it is believed that the cockroach itself is always a carrier of contamination. ET is typically performed by a trained exposure therapist, but its worth having a conversation with your childs therapist to determine how you can support this type of treatment at home to ensure you are complimenting rather than hindering your childs progress. Tolerating this uncertainty is an exposure (which your child should have learned how to manage in their ERP therapy) that may be tough for your child. Many people with OCD take one or more medications to help them manage symptoms. There is no practical difference between any of these labels, as they describe the same condition. He will keep washing his hands. While these gains may seem insignificant to other family members, it is a very big step for your child. Your child may seem fine from the outside but may suddenly experience a wave of intrusive thoughts, so watch for subtle behavior changes. CBT is conducted by a cognitive-behavioral therapist who has special training in treating OCD. Families who decide to enforce rules without discussing it with the child with OCD first find that their plans tend to backfire. How do you break this cycle? My last tip for those who want to know how to help a child with OCD at home is to simply be there. OCD is chronic, and is categorized as an anxiety disorder in the DSM-IV. That is roughly [] Brain chemistry: Abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in . People with Contamination OCD are often likely to engage in something called Thought-Action Fusion (TAF), which is a type of thinking error whereby a person thinks there is a connection between their (often irrational) thoughts and objective reality. Wearing gloves or a mask when you leave the house to avoid contaminating yourself. You will have your own way of doing this. In an even tone of voice explain that the compulsions are symptoms of OCD and that you will not assist in carrying them out because you want him or her to resist as well. It is also a example to your child or teen with OCD that there is more to life than anxiety. (2017, October 10). It may seem obvious that all family members and your child with OCD are working toward the common goal of symptom reduction, but the ways in which people do this varies. It also makes a statement that OCD is not allowed to run the household. Contamination-related obsessions and compulsions are one of the most common symptoms for OCD-sufferers, affecting about 46% of all patients with an OCD diagnosis. How to Treat Contamination OCD Several treatments are effective for OCD symptom relief, helping individuals learn how to cope with contamination OCD and improve their quality of life. With ERP, patients will be instructed to refrain from washing their hands for some time gradually. Repeatedly getting tested for diseases like AIDS or STDs to be absolutely certain that you're healthy. Acknowledgment of these seemingly small accomplishments is a powerful tool that encourages him or her to keep trying. Only trained professionals will know the implications of changing medication dosages or what might happen if medications are stopped abruptly. Contact contamination OCD is when an individual is triggered when they are touching and/or around physical contaminants, such as dirt, bodily fluids, or garbage. Counting, tapping, touching, etc. I hope to give hope to other people struggling with mental health issues by telling them about my experience. Reinforcement is a fabulous technique to use when a child is demonstrating problematic behaviors such as compulsions and rituals, and while both positive and negative forms of reinforcement can help teach children self-control, research tends to suggest that positive reinforcement the act of rewarding a child when he or she completes a desired behavior as a means of increasing the likelihood he or she will repeat the behavior again is the most effective. Don't waste time trying to prevent or not think your thoughts. I am constantly throwing this away or avoiding rooms or places or object because I do not want to become contaminated. TAF is one of the fundamental reasons why some OCD symptoms (as well as many other mental health symptoms) persist and often worsen over time, due to the sufferer not examining whether their thoughts actually represent reality or not (e.g. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a common and long-lasting mental illness in which uncontrolled thoughts are mostly negative or obsessions. The more honest he or she can be, the easier it will be for you and his/her therapeutic team to understand what drives his or her OCD, and what the best method of treatment is.
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