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OCD about hand washing

Kel

Hi

my eldest Daughter has problems with germs and at the moment has a thing about constantly washing her hands as she is worried and scared about germs. He hands are now very cracked, sore and dry but she still can't stop washing them. Has anyone got some advice on this please? I've tried explaining and so have her teachers, but nothing seems to help Frown

  • Hello

    I am sorry to hear you and your daughter are dealing with this. I had a great fear of germs and contamination when i was younger. I think alot of this was to do with my literal understanding. So when i was told i must wash my hands after the toilet and before food i didnt understand for how long or how much. The way that my parents helped me was to gradually expose me to germs. It wasent just the germs i was afraid of but as is typical with OCD the imagined consequences. Once i had carried out excercises like touching a toilet seat then having a drink  with no disatrous consequence i began to accept my fears were unfounded and over time i was able to rid myself of this obssession

    i hope this helps

    Kay

  • I have Aspergers. I have OCD, which developed when I was a child. It was particularly bad when I was 8 years, then it got better, got bad again aged 10, then improved, but went downhill again when I was a teenager. I was only diagnosed with it when I was 19, but was not diagnosed with Aspergers until I was 21. I still have OCD - it comes in waves, and it revolves around germs and washing hands and cutlery.  Ocd creates constant negative thoughts and consequent compulsions: washing, checking etc. I also check the oven and light switches obsessivly. I have read that OCD is very common with Aspergers: it might affect similar parts of the brain.

    I respond to facts well, and concrete examples that show me why the feared object is not as dangerous as  I believe it is, helps me. Also, I take things very literally. Be careful how you word things because your daughter, having AS, might take things the wrong way due to a misunderstanding and this can result in OCD. Best to be very clear about things, particularly when talking about health and safety. For example, when talking about washing hands after using the toilet, maybe you could show your daughter how long you wash your hands or get someone else to show her, so that she is clear how long it is 'normal' to wash your hands for. This avoids ambiguity.

  • Is there a sensory issue here too, do you know?

  • How old is she? Don't make up any excuses or tell it's a bad thing to do! 

    Introduce her to germs in a very funny and original way, reminding that microbes are not 'the worst thing happening to you'! Some might behaves badly sometimes, causing diseases; others can relieve your pain (eg: human digestion, antibiotic, ...). Exploit your creativity, to stimulate her curiosity and deepen this topic: microorganisms make life on Earth possible! Shine a light on their importance in everyday life and scientific applications (food, energy, enzymes, water treatment, etc.). 

    Panic on your behalf is comprehensible even though pointless, here. I bet 'deduction' will play a fundamental game driving her fears about germs, away, once and for all! At last, who knows what this experience will bring, to both of us? 

    Stay safe! Wink 

    (Buy her a moisturizing cream or apply some olive oil)