Everyone worries now and then. Youngsters worry that they will get lost, lose their lunch money, or find a monster under their bed. But for some youngsters, worry goes beyond the limits, and they find themselves enveloped in a world of worry. Their worries just don't come and go. Instead, their worries are intense and those worries never quit. It's like getting a song stuck in your head and playing it over and over again. This is OCD.  It's worry beyond normal.

With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, the child becomes obsessive with repetitive thoughts such as: germs or dirt, unlucky numbers or words, things being even or straight, doing or thinking something bad, being perfect in everything. In turn, these obsessions turn into compulsions such as: lots of hand washing, counting, touching (every locker passed), checking everything over and over, doing things a certain number of times, or asking the same question over and over.

Follow up:

As of now there is no answer to what causes OCD, but scientists are definitely researching the problem. Things that are known about OCD include:

1.    OCD runs in families. How it is passed on is not known. Scientists are studying the genetic structure of families.
2.    OCD is definitely a problem with the way the mind handles messages concerning fear and doubt. Chemicals carry messages from the brain cells to the brain. If the flow of these chemicals is stopped or enough of the chemical is not produced, worries stop and cannot be processed.
3.    OCD is being studied as an immune system response strep infection. While the majority of the people who get a strep infection do not get OCD, many do. The symptoms occur suddenly and intensively.

In the United States, statistics report OCD in 1 out or every 50 adults probably suffer from OCD. One in every 200 children and teens suffer from OCD which amounts to 1 million children and teens.

People with OCD often feel ashamed because they realize that their behavior is silly, but they just can't stop. They will stay away from others so their behavior doesn't show, therefore, refusing to go into public or school. The compulsion takes up most of their thoughts which uses energy and time. Others do have a hard time understanding OCD. Many think that OCD is just a bad habit and that the involved person can break that habit. Those with OCD know that the rituals are too strong to break or ignore because there is a constant nagging voice that keeps repeating "Something bad will happen if you don't perform the ritual you have established." OCD has taken over these people and their entire life.

Treatment does help through two methods.

The first method is with medicine. This medicine will assist brain chemicals to work properly by making the feeling less intense and by lessening the worries and fears they have.
The second method is behavior therapy or cognitive behavior therapy. This therapy helps the person learn to deal with anxiety, to face fears, to resist compulsions, and to slowly conquer OCD.
OCD is a fact and can be dealt with and conquered. The first step is recognition and then, find the appropriate therapy for the invididual.