copyright 2001
Wanda's Secrets, A Story About a Girl with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Prologue
I'm going to be doing something quite different here for the next few weeks. Every two weeks I'll publish a chapter of my children's story, Wanda's Secrets, A Story About a Girl with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. I wrote it for young children with OCD, but I think even adults will enjoy it. And I think children without OCD will enjoy it too.
Approximately 1% of children - 200,000 American children and teenagers - have OCD. Studies show that one-third to one-half of the cases identified in adults began during childhood. Obsessive-compulsive disorder may develop in young adulthood, adolescence or childhood.
Children want to feel accepted by others, to fit in, so they often hide their obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. The thoughts and behaviors seem strange, weird - and that makes them feel they are strange and weird. Or they may think they are going crazy and will surely be "locked up" or sent to a mental institution.
Treating OCD early is best. The longer it goes untreated, the more generalized the symptoms can become. Obsessive-compulsive disorder invades more and more of the child's life making it more difficult to treat. Often, children aren't referred for treatment until they exhibit unacceptable behavior and difficulty in school. Children and their parents need to know there is hope and help for people with OCD.
Compulsive behaviors and rituals are quite normal in children between the ages of two and eight. They seem to be a response to children's needs to control their environment and master childhood fears and anxieties. These childhood rituals enhance socialization, advance development and help children deal with separation anxiety. Rituals help young children develop new abilities and define their environment. As children mature, most ritualistic behaviors disappear on their own. In contrast, rituals of the child with OCD are painful, disabling, and result in feelings of shame and isolation. Trying to stop results in extreme anxiety.
As in Wanda's Secrets, the first step in recovery is recognizing a problem. A psychiatrist can help determine if OCD is the problem. When it is, there is much hope for getting better. Cognitive-behavior therapy and medication are the most widely accepted treatments for OCD.
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