Can parents cause their children to develop OCD?

[Papa Deuce]

Just curious. I had my daughters at the doctor's office today when I noticed something strange.

A lady walks in with her daughter and takes her daughter's coat off. Then she pulled out a little bottle of that disinfecting gel. She made her daughter "wash" her hands. Then her daughter palyed with the toys in the office... again with the disinfecting gel.

They head into the exam room. I next see them coming out of the exam room... Once again the little container of gel appears. In about 15 minutes time she has made her daughter disinfect her hands 3x.

Then as they were checking out I her her mother say "Abby, don't touch that, it is dirty". ( OK, maybe whatever it was, was dirty.... ) We were called in at that point.

I could be TOTALLY wrong, but the first thing I thought was that the daughter is gonna become an obsessive compulsive with that lady as a mom.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I don't know. On Criminal Minds the other night the guy who used to be Greg on Dharma and Greg was explaining how OCD is a physical condition -- a brain where something in the front doesn't connect to something in the back quite right or something like that. Anyway, it was pointless for the guy who used to be a Doctor on one of those Hospital shows but is now a head Psychologist with the FBI Behavioral Analysis team to try and reason with a girl who had an OCD concerning the number 3 because you can't "reason" with a physical defect.

So assuming TV is right (and when isn't TV right?)

then

NO

 

[Mermaid02]

Maybe the child had immune system issues and needed the protection. But I do believe that kids mimic the behavior of their parents- if that Mom was OCD is debateable.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Maybe the child had immune system issues and needed the protection. But I do believe that kids mimic the behavior of their parents- if that Mom was OCD is debateable.

Yeah, I thought that as well. Who knows? But it stuck me as rather strange at first.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I don't know. On Criminal Minds the other night the guy who used to be Greg on Dharma and Greg was explaining how OCD is a physical condition -- a brain where something in the front doesn't connect to something in the back quite right or something like that. Anyway, it was pointless for the guy who used to be a Doctor on one of those Hospital shows but is now a head Psychologist with the FBI Behavioral Analysis team to try and reason with a girl who had an OCD concerning the number 3 because you can't "reason" with a physical defect.

So assuming TV is right (and when isn't TV right?)

then

NO

Oh my, my head hurts after tyring to read that.

According to Freud parents (mom's really) are responible for all our craziness. Yes if the mother is like this 24/7 I would expect a pretty messed up kid.

However what parent isn't a germ phob in the Doctor's office. I am be very laid back and much lower standard of clean the most parents, however I admit to being "don't touch that" at the Pedatrictions office. Mine recomends not brining in any sibilings when at all possible not to expose them to office if not needed. I have been known to wipe down toys before letting my kid play with them. (at the doctor's office.)

However I think purelle can be over done. We just try to remember to wash our hands when ever we come home from "puplic places."

Oh and right before we go on vacation (WDW) I go a little germ nuts too. I hate being sick on vacations.

 

[wheeler1]

I'm trying real hard...I'm a handwasher, over and over I wash my hands.

Cannot stand for them to feel dirty in any way.

So far, its not working...I still have to get on them to wash before eating or going to bed. When should the ocd kick in for them, I wonder?????

 

[amarberry]

However what parent isn't a germ phob in the Doctor's office. I am be very laid back and much lower standard of clean the most parents, however I admit to being "don't touch that" at the Pedatrictions office. Mine recomends not brining in any sibilings when at all possible not to expose them to office if not needed. I have been known to wipe down toys before letting my kid play with them. (at the doctor's office.)

However I think purelle can be over done. We just try to remember to wash our hands when ever we come home from "puplic places."

Oh and right before we go on vacation (WDW) I go a little germ nuts too. I hate being sick on vacations.

I'm EXACTLY the same way. I have real issues with DD playing with the toys at the ped's office to the point where I bring a diaper bag full of DD's own toys. I'm sorry, but the toys at the doctor's office are dirty, or at least germy, since most of the kids visiting the doctor are sick with who knows what!

I don't ever use purell at home, but I also go a little nuts on vacation because the last thing I want after spending thousands of dollars on a vacation is for DD or DH or I to be sick and miserable away from home. There is no way to prevent it entirely, but washing your hands a few extra times a day and using a little purell in between certainly can't hurt.

 

[mrsv98]

I am the same way with Dd in places where I know a lot of kids, and probably sick kids, have been touching everything. She washes her hands when we get home and in the van if we have been in the grovery store and she has been pushing the cart, things like that.

So far she is as normal as we are!

In terms of true OCD, I think it can be a combination of factors, but I don't think science really knows much about it yet.

 

[Michie]

You know how many germs are at a doctors office? That is why I hate going because of all the sick people hanging around. I am the same way, won't touch the magazines, let me kid(s) play with the toys, use a CLEAN kleenix to open the door, blah,blah,blah.

 

[HayGan]

OMG, you saw my best friend!!! She does this exact thing and her daughter's name is Abby. Wait - we live on the other side of the state so it can't be her.

She drives me nuts with all the Purell!!! She must go thru a case of this stuff a week. And she wonders why her kids are sick all the time since they started preschool

 

[Stacerita]

I read the first post and didn't see anything wrong with what the mother did. The doc's office is one of the germiest places there can be. I do the same thing.

I dont believe parents can cause OCD in their child. Her being a clean freak and a hand washer, yes, but not a person with OCD. OCD is much more than worrying about germs and disinfecting your hands. There is a whole mindset that goes with it. Its not something that is learned or copied. Its something that is part of the person.

Learning to be a compulsive hand disinfecting type of person is far from being someone with OCD.

 

[TinkInPink]

Maybe not Ocd but she is certainly doing her Daughter a disservice if she does that all the time. She is not allowing her Daughter to build up any resistance to germs if she is constantly killing the good ones with the bad ones. We are going to be in for some real problems soon if this phobia with germs isn't gotten over with soon. The number of medication resistant germs is getting dangerous.

 

[FreshTressa]

Oh my, my head hurts after tyring to read that.

According to Freud parents (mom's really) are responible for all our craziness. Yes if the mother is like this 24/7 I would expect a pretty messed up kid.

However what parent isn't a germ phob in the Doctor's office. I am be very laid back and much lower standard of clean the most parents, however I admit to being "don't touch that" at the Pedatrictions office. Mine recomends not brining in any sibilings when at all possible not to expose them to office if not needed. I have been known to wipe down toys before letting my kid play with them. (at the doctor's office.)

However I think purelle can be over done. We just try to remember to wash our hands when ever we come home from "puplic places."

Oh and right before we go on vacation (WDW) I go a little germ nuts too. I hate being sick on vacations.

yah, this is me. I'm a don't touch that kinda mom at the dr's office. i never let my kids play with the toys. i alway say 'don't touch ANYTHING'

I think OCD is more of a brain chemistry thing than a parent imposed thing.

 

[Papa Deuce]

OK, I'm the OP. And while OCD may be overstating it, I do remember that our pediatrican once said to me that the healthiest kids are those who have attended daycare, meaning that they develop a STRONGER IMMUNNE SYSTEM than kids who never get to experience germs.

My kids used to get lots of colds and viruses... whatever, but now at almost age 5, it seems like MOST of that is now gone.

I think one poster had it right when they said kids can develpo the habits of their parents. So maybe not OCD, but maybe not a good habit to get into, either.


EDIT: I'm always in a battle with my wife who really does think cold temperatures cause colds. So she bundles them up like it is 10 degrees out when it is 40 degrees. And, of course, I do not bundle them up like that, especially since cold temperatures DO NOT cause colds.

 

[Papa Deuce]

You know how many germs are at a doctors office? That is why I hate going because of all the sick people hanging around. I am the same way, won't touch the magazines, let me kid(s) play with the toys, use a CLEAN kleenix to open the door, blah,blah,blah.

And yet, did ya ever notcie the doctors and nurses are not "always" sick? I can't tell you the last time I visited the doctor's office and saw an employee who seemed sick. They probably have built up their immune systems, I would guess.


Way to much germophobia, IMO.

 

[FreshTressa]

I dunno...I agree with you for the most part...like that kids need to be exposed to germs to develop healthy immune systems.

When I worked at a daycare, I was ALWAYS sick.

So far, I have been lucky, and my kids don't get sick much. I'll blame it on my bad housekeeping, lol.

I still won't let them touch anything at the dr's though!

Oh, and as for cold...I do think getting cold and wet can supress your immune system so that you are more likely to catch the things you are exposed to.

 

[barkley]

Maybe not Ocd but she is certainly doing her Daughter a disservice if she does that all the time. She is not allowing her Daughter to build up any resistance to germs if she is constantly killing the good ones with the bad ones. We are going to be in for some real problems soon if this phobia with germs isn't gotten over with soon. The number of medication resistant germs is getting dangerous.

i was thinking this too! my oldest brother was a polio victim (pre vaccine) and now has post polio syndrome so i watch all the documentaries on the subject. recent studies show compelling data that the reason we had such a huge outbreak at one point in history was because of mom's becoming so "clean" oriented. kids were discouraged from playing as much in the dirt and "just being kids"-getting dusty, dirty...as a result the natural immunities they would build up against some diseases failed to develop. this is realy supported by data that shows that the largest polio outbreaks were in areas that had higher standards of hygene vs. areas that while of the same population size had poorer sanitation.

so while i ensure my kids "stay clean" and avoid "germs" (esp. around cold/flu season, in the doctors office, "don't share germs at school") i have to let them get out and exposed to real life-it may provide some health benefits.

p.s.-it would be interesting to see if the little girl in the op actualy is more suceptable to becoming ill in those situations when mom is'nt perpetualy cleansing her-i've seen lots of little ones miss the better part of their first semester in kindergarten because they had never been exposed to common colds and the like ("bubble kids"-as we called them, never outside mom's hyper sanitary sight ) and had no tolerance to fight off illness.

 

[WishingOnAStar]

Just curious. I had my daughters at the doctor's office today when I noticed something strange.

A lady walks in with her daughter and takes her daughter's coat off. Then she pulled out a little bottle of that disinfecting gel. She made her daughter "wash" her hands. Then her daughter palyed with the toys in the office... again with the disinfecting gel.

They head into the exam room. I next see them coming out of the exam room... Once again the little container of gel appears. In about 15 minutes time she has made her daughter disinfect her hands 3x.

Then as they were checking out I her her mother say "Abby, don't touch that, it is dirty". ( OK, maybe whatever it was, was dirty.... ) We were called in at that point.

I could be TOTALLY wrong, but the first thing I thought was that the daughter is gonna become an obsessive compulsive with that lady as a mom.

Have you seen us at the pediatrician's office???? LOL Seriously, I am like that when we are there. Usually, I have to bring all 3 kid b/c dh is working, etc. And I constantly use that stuff. Several times while in the office/exam room and then once we get in the car. Since I've been doing that, I think we've cut down on the number of illnesses picked up from there. I swear, everytime we'd go in - well-visit or not- we'd end up with some illness.

It may be a little nutty- but, hey it makes me feel better! LOL

 

[taximomfor4]

Just curious. I had my daughters at the doctor's office today when I noticed something strange.

A lady walks in with her daughter and takes her daughter's coat off. Then she pulled out a little bottle of that disinfecting gel. She made her daughter "wash" her hands. Then her daughter palyed with the toys in the office... again with the disinfecting gel.

They head into the exam room. I next see them coming out of the exam room... Once again the little container of gel appears. In about 15 minutes time she has made her daughter disinfect her hands 3x.

Then as they were checking out I her her mother say "Abby, don't touch that, it is dirty". ( OK, maybe whatever it was, was dirty.... ) We were called in at that point.

I could be TOTALLY wrong, but the first thing I thought was that the daughter is gonna become an obsessive compulsive with that lady as a mom.

I do similar to that at the dr's office. the only difference is that we bring a washable toy from home so that we don't touch the ones in the dr's office. Too many times, we have taken the kids NOWHERE but the peds office, and they caught something else there. You KNOW those toys and chair handles were touched by sick people, it's a drs office! We are not always like that, but definitely where we know without a doubt that sick people are around!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I could be TOTALLY wrong, but the first thing I thought was that the daughter is gonna become an obsessive compulsive with that lady as a mom.

Heck no, she may have went overboard but we always wash our hands before leaving the doctors office.

And no it cannot cause OCD. That is a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Could it cause a child to be anxious, perhaps, but not OCD.