Doctors diagnose OCD when obsessions or compulsions start to:

Take up more than 1 hour a day Cause the patient to become very upset Get in the way of everyday living

Some common symptoms of OCD include:

Obsessions Thoughts about contamination, or germs Doubts about safety, doing harm, or being harmed A need for order, to have things "just right" Fear of making mistakes Fear of behaving in a socially unacceptable manner

Compulsions Repeated actions, such as hand-washing Checking and rechecking that something has been done Arranging objects over and over Counting/repeating Hoarding objects and feeling unable to throw them aw

As I said getting help and telling someone, is this first and most impactful step towards getting better. So where is the best place to get help.Talk to your parents! Parents care about you, they want you to feel better and they will be happy to find out whats been wrong with you. Its likely they may have noticed some of your compulsions and you will only help ease there mind. Obsessive compulsive disorder works in two different ways. As the name would suggest it is a bunch of Obsessions and compulsions are tangled up in your little brian. Obsessions are the thoughts that constantly come in and out of your brain. And compulsions are the actions you do to ease your brain from the anxiety these obsessions cause.

This is what Understanding OCD.com recomends as far as treatment goes.

When can you know you have OCD. We all have rituals and have to a certain degree the belief that our actions might prevent bad things from happening. You only have to watch a BaseBall game to see how superstition ressembles some OCD behaviours perfectly. Most kids have what is called, Magical Thinking, this includes bedtime rituals and rituals to wake up or have things a certain way. For a small child these "routines" are comforting. Same for grown- ups who will find much comfort in having the same way of doing certain things. Then where can the line be drawn between "normal" behaviour and OCD behaviour. This is best answered by a professional/ But while you might be overlooking aspects that ensure a proper diagnosis, you are also best placed to know when you think you may need professional help. But leave the real diagnosis to a professional. Start by looking whether these thoughts/rituals take in a considerable amount of time and whether they are interfering with your every day life, such as work, relationships, family life..... In case the answer is yes, you will have to look for a therapist that is preferably specialized in treating OCD. When someone is taking the time to look up information, and being on this site means just that, means that there must be a certain degree of discomfort caused by your problems and a willingness to make changes. So please, start looking for help as soon as possible..... Waiting and guessing will do you no good, just start taking the 1 st. steps to getting better. We all deserve to be happy, however corny this may sound, it is also true.....

Idealy you look for a Child- Psychologist who also specializes in OCD. Your kid may have OCD, but she/he is a child above all. Children have a different insight into their OCD and some Pshy's who don't ussually work with kids may not be as aware of their needs. This is especially true for the youngest children, since OCD can start as early as at 3 years old. Adolescents will most likely do just fine with any psychologist specializing in OCD. Just make sure they feel comfortable with the person and feel free to discuss any questions they may have with them. A therapist deals with many problems and will help where she/he can but will never be able to substitue a parent, so make sure you show your child you are open to all her/his questions and will support them the whole way. I found a site where a child had made a picture of what their OCD represents to them, I personally feel that it can be easier for them to express their fears via images. Maybe that this is a step that can also help you as a parent, to have a visual view of what they are going through. I do know not all kids are fond of drawing, but those that are might benefit from this. Afterwards you might take the time to let them explain, with their words what they have drawn. Feel free to send any drawings if you have any and the accompanying comments, by sending them Here.