Does my 9yr old nephew have OCD?

[maxie68]

Recently my 9 year old nephew has developed a fear of fictional monsters and thoughts of bad things happening to him or his family. He gets anxiety over these thoughts.  It first started a few weeks with the fear of the Boogy Man, then a fear his head would fall off, then a fear something bad would happen to his mom, then a fear of someone breaking in his home, and currently the fear of Bloody Mary. He talks openly about it and cannot understand why he cannot stop thinking about these things. He told me he remembers how it started. He remembers talking about the boogy man and monsters with my daughter and told her that those things don't scare him because they aren't real. A few weeks later he started wondering if they were in fact real and then started worrying that they were which scared him. Once he got over the fear of boogy man and realized it was fake he just started to worry about his mom, etc. It's as if he goes from one fear to another.

I worry that he has OCD. I myself have OCD but have it under control. I believe my brother has OCD as well and I'm sure it runs in my family, although, some won't admit it. We all try to talk to him and prove to him these things aren't real. We are also trying reassure him but we know we can only do so much of that as too much reassurance isn't helpful with those with OCD. My sister and brother-in-law and wondering if they should take him to see some one. Does this sound like OCD? He doesn't have any compulsions that we are aware of. However, I know thoughts aren't always accompanied with compulsions. He does have a nervous habit (at least I think it is) of licking or biting is lips or collar of his shirt. I don't feel this is taking over his life as he is still a happy child and does well in school but I don't want it to reach the point of depression, etc. I have dealt with the ups and downs of OCD and don't want my nephew to go through the same thing and if it is OCD I want him to get a hold on it before it consumes him.

[lasvegasgirl6]

he sounds like me when I was a kid. When You conquer 1 fear then a new one pops up in it's place , please help him I begged my mom for help but she had her own problems so I got help when I was in my 20's but my childhood was hell!!! please I beg you take him to talk to someone who specializes in the subject not just a general Dr. because they say oh it will pass and it doesn't then you hide your compulsions because your ashamed of being different I had a huge red kool aid lip for years from licking them then thinking I had to lick them again or else this or that would happen and it's a vicious cycle once it starts up! sounds like ocd to me but I'm not a Dr, just a sufferer

[jdtm]

OCD - not sure.  But it does appear that your nephew might be suffering from some form of anxiety (OCD is one of the anxiety disorders) - perhaps GAD (generalized anxiety disorder).  Whatever - your sister and brother-in-law should seek advice from a medical professional - usually the first person to contact is the family physician.  Then, if required, the doctor can give a referral to a specialist in a specific area.  One caveat - teenagers are especially difficult to treat (don't know why) so it would be prudent for your sister to seek advice as soon as possible.  I wish you the best ....