Heartbreak of OCD Angela Marr Axia College of University of Phoenix Living with this debilitating condition would be hard for anyone, but think of what a child goes through who has this disorder, and how it must affect his or her day-day lives. Children are typically diagnosed with OCD between the ages of seven and 12, (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, 2008). As adults it is important to have the understanding on what it is like for a child to have this disorder. A child wants to fit in and make friends, but when he or she is looked upon as being odd by his or her peers, the result might end up in teasing. Children with OCD do know they are different, but they have no power in stopping it. Not only is it extremely frustrating for children living with this disorder, it hard for the parents as well. Parents struggle with a child with this disorder and the child knows it. Children understand that they are disrupting everyone’s lives at home, and if they had the capacity to stop their actions they would. The first step in understanding OCD in children is to realize that they have no control over their behavior. How to determine if a child has OCD; “Children can experience the symptoms of anxiety in much the same way as adults do, they display and react to symptoms differently.” (Helping a Child with OCD, 2008). A child will sometimes try to hide their behavior because they are embarrassed, or because they do not understand what they are doing and why, (generally this happens more at school then at home). Children become good at masking their behavior and the symptoms could go on for months or even years. Determining if a child has OCD can be difficult, but having the understanding on what OCD is and what the signs and symptoms are can certainly assist in getting a child the help he or she needs. fear of dirt or germs fear of contamination a need for symmetry, order, and precision sexual or aggressive thoughts Heartbreak of OCD 6 weight, which can result in an...