violent thoughts in a 10 year old

[shortstuff821]

Hi.  About 4 weeks ago, my daughter told my husband and I that she was having violent thoughts of hurting others.  These thoughts appeared to start after she was reprimanded by another parent for teasing their child.  Prior to that incident, her childhood has been uneventful.  My daughter was very upset with these thoughts.  Since that time, she has had them intermittently along with "gross" thoughts about sex.  She has never had any behavioral issues at home or in school and is an over achiever.  She does admit to anxiety about grades/taking tests and has a lot of age appropriate questions regarding puberty.  She also started a new school.  Could general anxiety be causing these symptoms and will they diminish on their own once she gets a better handle on her feelings/changes happening to her?  Is this something a lot of kids her age experience in some way?  It seems everything online regarding violent thoughts refers to OCD.  While she has some of these symptoms, I wasn't sure how a clinician gives a child this diagnosis.  She  also has no compulsions that we are aware of.  We did consult her pediatrician who told us for peace of mind to consult a therapist which we did.  Her first appt. went well.  Any thoughts on this would be helpful.  Thanks.

[polarline]

Everyone if you suspect a disorder,as a parent take it upon yourself to talk to your primary care physician about  the matter and if needed your primary care doctor will refer you to a specialists.

[Sandman2]

     Starting a new school at this age can be scary.  Especially at the elementary level where the kids have been together for years and thus all know each other.  You might talk to her teacher and see how she is doing on the playground.  If you haven't done so - try inviting one of the kids over for a playdate or a family outing.  

[jdtm]

Actually it does sound like anxiety.  OCD is one of the anxiety disorders.  If OCD is the issue, your daughter might require more "help" than is available by a therapist (assuming the therapist does not have medical credentials).  Usually OCD requires medication (as well as therapy) in order for the person to learn how to manage and control the impulses and compulsions (if and when they occur).  But, having said that, OCD is highly treatable and the prognosis is excellent.

One more point - if OCD is the issue, the reprimand by the parent did not "cause" her anxiety; it only exacerbated the issue.  Anxiety is not caused by life experiences but is a genetic component which "rears its ugly head" due to some "life experience".  If not this "life experience"; another would have taken its place because anxiety will not (or can not) remain dormant.  Anxiety is not outgrown nor does it go away.  All  the best ....