Are my kids gonna have OCD?

Windy74 · Newbie User Joined: Nov 21, 2007 Posts: 9

I have an obsession (of course) that my kids have or will have OCD. According to my therapist, I cannot make them have it - or prevent it. Anyone else heard this?

I have seen online that it is genetic and environmental. So that would seem to me that they may have it or get it.

I have noticed a few things already, but maybe they are no big deal. My 5 year old has eczema and used to have a bad habit of picking his dry skin spots when he would fall asleep. I seem to have gotten that under control by using a good cream to eliminate the eczema - therefore no spots to pick. However, now he picks his chapped lips until they bleed. I do both of these things (among other things) for some kind of weird comfort.

My 3 year old picks my ears (earring hole spots) until they bleed (if I let it go that far) and other peoples moles that stick out (I don't have any). He does this mainly when he is tired or very upset. I, again, pick at things on my skin (blemishes) until they are bleeding and more noticeable than ever. This child is also extremely concerned with how things are placed (in a certain color pattern or order) and will get extremely upset if it is not working for him or if someone messes up his pattern.

Does anybody have enough knowledge of OCD to help me feel at ease about my kids inheriting or developing OCD based on the above. I don't want to cause them to have it and want to get them help EARLY if they do have it. I am aware of having it since I was as young as 4 (when I pulled all of my eyelashes out). I was not diagnosed until I was about 21, and never felt like I was getting proper treatment until now (age 33).

Thanks in advance for any insight.

Windy74 · Newbie User Joined: Nov 21, 2007 Posts: 9

BTW, I am a severe emetophobe and both of the kids (ages 3 and 5) are already using this against me to try and get to stay home or not do or eat things they don't want.

I know right now they are using it to get what they want. But I am concerned my fear will rub off on them as well.