Help.

My four and a half year old grandson has always displayed some rather odd behaviour but since November it has become a very big problem. He lives with me as mum and dad left him when he was three months. He is a lovely child which makes his behaviour more perplexing. He wakes a lot during the night 'needing to see me' things have to be done in a correct order or else he freaks out big time, becoming anxious. I can't get him on a bus because he has panic attacks. In November mum had a new baby, my grandson's sister and she lives with mum but he still lives with me. He wakes between three and nine times a night needing to see me. repeats whole conversations over and over or just one word. Four nights ago a new behaviour began, he will not put either of his ears on his pillow to go to sleep and if i try to force him to do it he becomes very upset. I have to go to the kitchen to make a cup of tea whilst he is going off to sleep otherwise he won't sleep and now he wants me to tuck him in tight so he doesn't fall.
not sure what's wrong but does this sound like OCD, I am terrified that this might be the problem. can anyone offer any advice on how I can help him. it is becoming quite disruptive and some of his little rituals are begining to take up a lot of time but he has to do them or no one gets any sleep until he does.

Oh gosh, this sounds difficult to deal with. I work at a pediatric OCD clinic coordinating research projects and doing assessments with children with OCD, but I am not a mental health professional. However, this sounds very much so like OCD.

Your poor grandson sounds like he is suffering a great deal. And you and the rest of the family suffer along with him. First of all, here is a great kid's book about OCD that also has a parent companion book. This is written by someone highly respected in the field of pediatric OCD. I've been to one of her talks, and she is truly amazing.. http://www.amazon.com/Down-Worry-Hil.../dp/0967734703

Second of all, if you or his parents decide to seek help from a mental health professional, please seek someone who does exposure and response prevention. So many people come into our clinic having gotten useless, inadequate care. The gold standard for OCD treatment is ERP. It works fairly quickly and works very well. Simple counseling doesn't work. OCD requires specialized care.

Hope this helps.

Good luck, Samantha Johnson. Hope the little fellow can get some good help.

Thanks,

I have just ordered up and down the worry hill, so hopefully this will help.