The child has obsessive movements before bedtime. How to identify and treat obsessive movement syndrome in a child. Treatment with traditional medicine

Obsessive movements in a child are quite common. They are difficult to miss, as they represent a constant repetition of monotonous movements over a long period of time. For example, parents may begin to worry about why the child bites his nails, sways, shakes his head, and so on.

Let’s try to understand in more detail the concept of “obsessive movement syndrome.” In addition, we will consider the symptoms, causes, methods of treatment and prevention of the disorder.

Why does obsessive movement syndrome occur?

Who is most susceptible to this type of disorder? What is the cause of obsessive movements?

Most often, they affect children who are often in stressful situations, brought up in dysfunctional families, or children who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. But there are also cases when obsessive movements appear in a child for no apparent (to parents and others) reasons. In any case, it is important to identify the factor that contributes to the development of the disorder and eliminate it in time so as not to aggravate the situation even further.

Symptoms of obsessive movements

There are many variations in the manifestation of this type of disorder. Caring parents should be alert to situations where their child very often:

snaps fingers or sucks them;
bites nails;
shakes his head or sways his whole body;
often sniffles (not including the presence of a runny nose);
swings his arms or swings his leg;
pinches the skin on the hands or other parts of the body;
blinks frequently;
often turns the neck or tilts it to one side;
twirls her hair on her finger.

At the same time, it is important to repeat that the presence of a problem can be said not by performing the above actions once, but by repeating them regularly.

What can obsessive movements be associated with?

In young children, symptoms of the disorder mostly manifest themselves. There may be a constant repetition of any one or several signs at once.

As for children school age, then their obsessive movements may be accompanied by enuresis, stuttering or neurotic insomnia. This is especially true for expectation neurosis, which manifests itself as a result of the fear of making a mistake (for example, when answering near the board, and so on). In this case, obsessive movements in a child may be accompanied by tics in the form of coughing, sniffing, blinking, and grunting. Their intensification is usually observed during times of excitement, fear, worry, and anxiety.

Are obsessive movements normal in a child?

What do doctors say about this, including the well-known Dr. Komarovsky? Obsessive movements do not always indicate the presence of mental problems. In cases of mild severity, they may soon disappear on their own. It is important to remember that often such actions are the next stage in learning about the world and growing up.

But if the child is already for a long time snaps fingers, bites nails, shakes his head, or other symptoms of a problem are observed, it is worth contacting your local pediatrician for a special diagnosis and, possibly, prescribing the necessary type of treatment.

Diagnosis of the disorder

We must not forget that obsessive movements in children are not a separate disease, but may indicate the presence of more serious problems. And only with the help of special diagnostics can the presence of pathologies be excluded or detected. For example, the cause of constantly repeating movements may be the presence of the following diseases:

Tourette's syndrome.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Trichotillomania.

Moreover, they can manifest themselves at absolutely any age, both in completely healthy children and in those who are distinguished by a slow pace of intellectual development.

Therapy for obsessive movement neurosis

How to get rid of such a problem as obsessive movements in children? Treatment involves different types of therapy, depending on the extent and severity of the symptoms of the disorder.

While in some cases drug treatment is not required, in others medications are used. The most effective combination of psychotherapeutic sessions with a child psychologist and drug therapy. At the same time, parents must understand that for the child’s successful recovery, they will also have to make some efforts.

First of all, you should reconsider your parenting methods. It is unacceptable to use shouting or assault against a child. The look and voice should always be calm and friendly.

In addition, the baby must be taught to be independent, neat and clean, and from a very early age. It would be useful to conduct hardening exercises, communicate with peers, read together, and so on. At the same time, it is important not to overdo it and prevent both physical and mental fatigue.

It is advisable to dance with your child for at least a few minutes every day. You need to choose funny and rhythmic songs that the baby will like first of all.

Drug treatment

Once the true reason why a child bites his nails or makes other obsessive movements has been identified, the pediatrician may decide on the need for drug treatment.

The most commonly prescribed drugs are:

"Asparkam."
"Glycine".
"Cinnarizine."
"Pantogam".
"Persen."
"Milgamma".

We must not forget that such drugs can only be used as prescribed by a doctor, as they affect the central nervous system. They are used only in extreme cases, when serious deviations are observed or the disease is in a very advanced stage.

Treatment with traditional medicine

Folk remedies for getting rid of the disorder can be used in combination with basic therapy. Some of them help entertain the child and distract him from the problem, while others help calm his nervous system.

Let's consider several possible options:

Soothing baths. During daily water procedures You can use herbs such as string, chamomile, lavender, mint. They calm the nervous system and relieve tension.
Water with honey. It would seem such a simple remedy, but it has an excellent effect. To prepare it, you need to dilute a teaspoon of honey in a glass of warm (in no case hot!) water and give it to your child to drink just before bedtime.
Decoction of oat grains. To prepare it, you need to rinse the oat grains and cook them until half cooked over low heat in a liter of water. After this, strain the resulting broth and add one spoon of honey to it. Give it to your child a glass once a day.

Preventing the appearance of the disorder

It is within the power of each parent to prevent or at least reduce the likelihood of the child developing obsessive movements or any other mental disorders and neuroses.

First of all, prevention methods include sufficient communication with the baby. It is important to set aside at least some time every day to talk with your child (regardless of his age, even with a baby), read fairy tales to him, find joint entertainment (drawing, modeling, dancing, active games, and so on). This will help establish trust and make the child calmer.

The next stage is protection from stressful situations. Of course, it is impossible to foresee everything, but parents have the power to do everything possible so that the child is as prepared as possible for them. To do this, you can, for example, act out scenes with different unforeseen situations, so that if they arise, the baby will not be confused or scared, but will know how to act correctly.

It is necessary to establish a daily routine and strictly adhere to it. In addition, it is important to teach the child independence and responsibility.

Another important point, which was already mentioned above: in no case should mental and physical overwork be allowed, as they do not have the best effect on mental balance. For healthy children, you can also use the methods that were described in the section “Treatment with traditional medicine", - soothing baths with herbs and sea salt, water with honey at night, and so on.

The main thing that absolutely all parents need to remember is that the child’s health (including psychological) is completely in their hands.

It is during the period of preschool childhood that obsessive-compulsive syndrome can occur - a certain reaction of children to psychological trauma or various kinds of situations. The high susceptibility of preschool children to neuroses is largely explained by crisis manifestations: they arise as contradictions between the growing independence of the child and the biased attitude of adults towards him. The appearance of such conditions affects the child’s behavior and negatively affects his mental development. What can parents do to protect their preschooler from factors that traumatize his psyche?

Most childhood neuroses manifest themselves in preschool age, when the child enters the intermediate stage between childhood and independence. What causes influence the appearance of neuroses?

Parents simply must know the reasons that provoke the appearance of neurosis in children. The degree of its manifestations depends on the age of the child, the nature of the traumatic situation, and is also associated with the preschooler’s emotional response to it. Experts say that most often the reasons may be:

various types of psychological trauma in the family and kindergarten;
unfavorable environment (frequent quarrels between relatives, divorce of parents);
mistakes in family education;
change in the child’s usual lifestyle (new place of residence, transfer to another preschool institution);
excessive physical or emotional stress on the child’s body;
severe fear (how to treat fear in a child?).

This classification is quite arbitrary, since preschool children react differently to any psychological influence, but it is precisely these reasons, according to experts, that can influence changes in the psyche and behavior of children, and in the future - the manifestation of neurosis in them. If parents are attentive to their children, they will notice oddities in their behavior in time - this will make it possible to prevent neurosis or cope with it in a fairly mild form.

Experts also draw the attention of parents that children of a special personality type are most susceptible to negativity: preschoolers with increased anxiety, with such characteristic features as suspiciousness, timidity, suggestibility, touchiness. If excessive demands are placed on a child, then proud children who have a hard time experiencing their own failures are at risk.

Symptoms of neuroses in children

How do you know that a child has a neurosis? What symptoms should parents be wary of? Psychologists warn that the manifestation of neuroses may be indicated by:

frequently recurring anxiety thoughts;
involuntary, repeated movement;
complex behavioral actions, so-called.

The most common neurotic condition syndrome that causes obsessive thoughts is fear. The baby may be afraid of the dark, visiting kindergarten, doctor, confined space, etc. At the same time, he often has thoughts that no one needs him, his parents don’t love him, and his peers don’t want to be friends with him.

In addition to obsessive thoughts, in preschool age repetitive actions often occur, which then develop into obsessive movement neurosis. In these cases, the child may often shake his hands, stomp his feet, and shake his head. If such a syndrome is present, he constantly sniffles, blinks his eyes rapidly, bites his nails, twirls his hair around his finger, and snaps his fingers. Sometimes preschoolers study hard hygiene procedures: They wash their hands repeatedly, sniff deliberately, and then carefully wipe their nose, constantly straighten their clothes and hair.

It is difficult to list all the symptoms in which obsessive movement neurosis is detected, since they can manifest themselves in each child individually. But adults should know their main sign - frequent involuntary execution.

"Ritual" obsessive movements

In the most difficult cases, obsessive movements take the form of “rituals”, which are in the nature of a child’s defensive reaction to a traumatic factor. “Rituals” may consist of a constant series of obsessive movements. For example, experts know of a case of certain actions during preparation for bed, when the boy had to jump up the required number of times. Or the child may begin any actions only with certain manipulations - for example, he walks around objects exclusively from the left.

In addition to annoying obsessive movements, neuroses are usually accompanied by a general deterioration in the child’s health. So, often the baby becomes irritable, hysterical, whiny, he suffers from insomnia, often screams, cries at night. His appetite and performance deteriorate; he is lethargic and withdrawn. All this can affect relationships with the child’s immediate environment (adults, peers) and cause additional psychological trauma.

Even such a common and seemingly harmless action as nail biting is also a characteristic sign of a possible neurosis. The need for treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders in children

There is no need to expect that the neurosis of obsessive movements in children will pass over time, since a dismissive attitude towards the child’s problems will only worsen his situation. Renowned expert on children's education and development, Dr. Komarovsky speaks about the need to eliminate the causes that cause the syndrome of obsessive thoughts and movements. He points out that neuroses in preschoolers are not a disease, but a mental disorder, a lesion of the emotional sphere. Therefore, during the period of preschool childhood, parents are obliged to know the developmental features of preschoolers and the characteristics of age-related crises (for more details, see the article: how to behave during a crisis in children aged 8?). For adults who are attentive to their children, it is not difficult to notice the first signs of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (even something as simple as sniffling) and seek advice from a specialist. After examining the baby and identifying the causes of neurosis, a psychologist or psychoneurologist will prescribe further treatment.

Prevention and treatment of childhood neuroses

Methods for the prevention and treatment of childhood neuroses have been sufficiently developed in medical practice; with timely treatment, they give good results. During treatment, as a rule, the personal and psychological characteristics of the baby are taken into account: his temperament, level of mental development, and characteristics of emotional perception. Depending on the level of the disorder, the duration of therapeutic and psychological intervention takes different times.

For mild forms of neurosis, general strengthening exercises and psychotherapeutic techniques are used (play psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, which involves “meeting” the child with fear, autogenic training, art therapy). To restore the child’s mental and behavioral reactions, which are disturbed to varying degrees during neurosis, it is used complex treatment, including medications and psychotherapeutic techniques.

Features of the technique are the use of certain techniques:

modeling situations that frighten a child, when he “lives” his fear in order to relieve anxiety;
to get rid of obsessive thoughts and movements, preschoolers are taught the ability to manage emotions, suppress anxiety, and cope with aggression;
organizing useful communication (examples of behavior) with people around you, peers, parents, educators;
consulting parents in order to eliminate the source of neurosis (building correct relationships in the family, correcting parenting methods);
conducting psycho-gymnastics to correct the thoughts, emotions, and behavior of a preschooler.

To treat the consequences of neurosis, and subsequently prevent its manifestations in preschool children, joint work of specialists and parents is necessary. It is better if such prevention is organized from the very birth of the baby.

Diseases of the nervous system in young children preschool age- Not unusual. Unfortunately, such disorders occur in many children. The development of such diseases is promoted not only by an unfavorable psychological situation in the family or children's group, but also by a hereditary factor. That is why every loving parent should know how to recognize obsessive movement disorder in their child and what to do about this condition.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder: causes

This disease hides disorders of the nervous system, which manifest themselves in the same movements occurring regardless of a person’s will and desire. Obsessive states are very difficult to control. They can be short-lived, associated with irritability and fatigue, or they can persist for a long time, developing into a habit.

The main causes of obsessive movements in a child include psychological trauma. Even if the stressful situation in which the child finds himself seems frivolous to the parents, the baby may perceive it as a real tragedy. Moreover, children with obsessive movement syndrome often suffer from depression, throw tantrums, become aggressive, or, conversely, “withdraw into themselves.” At the same time, the situation in the house greatly influences the child’s psyche. Constant scandals, quarrels, fights, different opinions about raising children - all this causes severe trauma to the fragile psyche of the child.

Another reason for this condition is a sudden change in environment, lifestyle or routine. Such seemingly insignificant circumstances, such as moving to another school, moving to another city or country, sometimes have an adverse effect on the baby’s health and can become factors provoking neurosis. Children with a weakened nervous system and overly spoiled are especially susceptible to nervous pathology.

If someone from the older generation had problems with the nervous system or psyche, then under certain circumstances the disease may also manifest itself in your baby. Children who have suffered infectious diseases, head injuries, or suffer from chronic pathologies of cardio-vascular system.

Childhood neurosis: symptoms

It is sometimes very difficult for parents to recognize obsessive movements or distinguish them from other diseases. But if we consider the nature of these phenomena, the symptoms will be obvious.

So, a nervous tic is an automatic muscle contraction, twitching that cannot be controlled. Moreover, such movements are not always due to psychological reasons. But obsessive movements can be restrained by willpower, and they are always a consequence of psycho-emotional discomfort.

Symptoms of childhood neurosis include:

nail biting;
snapping fingers;
head movements;
lip twitching;
smacking;
coughing;
constant sniffing;
blinking;
grinding of teeth;
neck turn;
swings of the hands;
twirling hair on a finger, etc.

In addition, a child with neurosis can only walk around all objects from a certain direction; blow on your palms before sitting at the table; pull out curls and perform other involuntary movements. It is impossible to list all the symptoms of the disease, since they manifest themselves differently in each child. Their main symptom is annoying repetition, almost every minute. If you do not pay attention to such actions, the child may injure himself - chew his legs until they bleed, bite his lip, tear off all the buttons on his clothes, etc. Moreover, all this may be accompanied by outbreaks of hysteria that did not exist before.

Children's neurosis affects fearful, indecisive children who find it difficult to deal with their fears and negative emotions. They often refuse food, are capricious, and look tired. Therefore, treatment of obsessive movement neurosis in children must begin as soon as you notice the symptoms of the pathology.

How to treat obsessive movement neurosis in a child?

Before you consult a doctor with a problem, we recommend that you take a closer look at your baby and try to determine for yourself what the main cause of his neurosis is. At the same time, it is desirable to minimize negative situations and provide the child with comfortable living conditions.

Very often, children's nervous behavior and movements are associated with the situation in the family between parents. In such an ambiguous way, the baby can show his attitude to the problem. You can solve it by admitting your own parental mistakes and changing your behavior. If parents cannot determine what is causing the child’s obsessive movements, then it is necessary to consult a specialist. High quality and effective treatment neurosis in children involves working with a psychologist or psychotherapist.

Drug treatment: drugs

After examination by a psychotherapist, the doctor may prescribe anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants. However, this treatment regimen is often used in advanced cases. Moreover, parents of children suffering from neurosis should not be afraid of drug treatment. An experienced doctor will select medications that will not harm the child’s health or cause drowsiness and apathy. Separate medications are selected for each case. The most effective are the following drugs:

Sonapax;
cinnarizine;
asparkam;
milgamma;
pantogam;
glycine;
pers.

Please note that antidepressants and sedatives cannot be used without a doctor’s prescription. Each of the medications has its own effect on the child’s central nervous system. Therefore, the doctor prescribes them based on the stage of development of childhood neurosis. Yes, on initial stage For obsessive movement syndrome, a few sessions with a psychologist will be enough, but for advanced forms of the disease you will need additional dose medicines.

Treatment with folk remedies

Therapy for obsessive movement neurosis can be supplemented traditional methods. However, before using them, you should consult your doctor. The following can calm your baby's nervous system: folk remedies:

Infusion of oat grains. Medicinal raw materials in the amount of 500 g must be washed and poured with a liter of cold water, cook over low heat until half-ready. Then you need to strain the broth, add 1 teaspoon of honey and give the baby a glass of medicine to drink a day.
Decoctions of valerian, motherwort, hawthorn, lemon balm, and calendula also help fight neurosis in children. To prepare the medicine, you need to pour 1 tbsp. spoon of herbs with a glass of water, boil in a water bath for 30 minutes, judge and give the child 50 ml of decoction three times a day.
Honey water will help get rid of insomnia and irritability. Add 1 tbsp to a glass of warm water. a spoonful of honey and give it to your child to drink before bed.
Baths with soothing herbs (lavender, mint) and sea salt have a good effect on the child’s nervous system. It is better to carry out such procedures before bedtime.

Psychologists and traditional healers in the fight against obsessive movement syndrome in children recommend conducting dance therapy sessions, practicing yoga, playing sports, running barefoot on the grass, and drawing. It is also worth giving your baby weekends in nature more often to get him out of his anxious state.

Don't forget that parents also need to work on their own behavior. Try not to swear or sort things out in the presence of a child. And under no circumstances scold your baby for obsessive movements. As soon as he starts doing this, talk to him about what is bothering him.

Obsessive movements in children: Komarovsky

Dr. Komarovsky draws the attention of parents to the fact that childhood neurosis is a disorder of mental activity, and not a disease in which tests and examinations can solve the problem. With obsessive movements in children there is no inflammation, no tumor, no disruption of the blood vessels in the brain. Neurosis is a damage to the child’s psyche and emotional sphere. And the reason for this condition is hidden in the psychotraumatic factor. Consequently, obsessive movements in children are a reversible mental disorder. When the traumatic factor is eliminated, recovery occurs. Therefore, the main task of parents is to timely identify and eliminate the causes that adversely affect the child’s psyche. However, it is not always possible to discover these problems and get rid of them on your own, without the help of a child psychiatrist. Therefore, you need to contact specialists mandatory, if your child begins to behave in a special way.

Give your kids a wonderful future, without fears and worries. Monitor their health and if you identify the slightest problem, do not hesitate to seek help from specialists.

Health to you and your children!

Especially for nashidetki.net - Nadezhda Vitvitskaya

Obsessive neurosis often occurs in children of different age groups. A fragile child's psyche cannot successfully deal with disturbing factors. Currently, life is full of different events and carries a lot of information, which can contribute to the occurrence of chronic stress in both adults and children. Obsessive-compulsive neurosis in children often manifests itself in the form of obsessive-compulsive neurosis.

Obsessive neurosis can occur in children of all ages

Causes of neurosis

It is impossible to successfully cure neurosis without identifying the negative factors that caused it.. It is believed that the development of neurosis in children is due to three main reasons.

Psychological, characterized by insufficient coherence of the processes of inhibition and excitation in the cerebral cortex, as well as the characteristics of the baby’s temperament:

If a child is choleric, then restrictions that interfere with motor activity and free expression of emotions are contraindicated. This may lead to him becoming even more active. All this can contribute to the development of neurosis.
If your child is phlegmatic, then attempts to speed up his actions can also lead to the development of neurosis. At the same time, the baby will slow down his actions even more, become withdrawn and stubborn.
The development of obsessive movement neurosis can be facilitated by circumstances that traumatize the child’s psyche.

Biological causes: hereditary predisposition, past illnesses, insufficient sleep, mental and physical stress.

Social reasons such as:

mother's coldness;
difficulties communicating with the father;
difficulties in getting the baby accustomed to kindergarten;
parental divorce;
family quarrels;
non-compliance with the daily routine;
stress that accompanies a change in environment.

Family conflicts may be the cause nervous disorder baby

The baby perceives obsessive movements as voluntary; in fact, these movements are unconscious and are made with the aim of weakening internal anxiety. However, the anxiety subsides for a short time, and the obsessive movements return again and become more persistent. All this contributes to the emergence of a vicious circle and the appearance of obsessions more often every time.

Symptoms of obsessive movement neurosis in children

The presence of obsessive movement neurosis in children is evidenced by frequently repeated actions such as:

twisting buttons;
nail biting;
blinking;
too much frequent washing hands;
licking lips;
twitching of arms, shoulders;
constantly repeated tugging of clothing.

Sometimes these movements take the form of bizarre rituals. Children can only walk around objects they encounter on the right or left. There are times when a “little one” begins to jump before going to bed and at the same time does a certain number of jumps. By this he protects himself from the fear of being in the dark.

There are many other obsessive movements that are logically impossible to explain, and the repetition of which children themselves are not able to cope with. Such movements do not disappear without appropriate treatment.

Along with this, neurosis is almost always accompanied by poor appetite, decreased performance, insomnia, and tearfulness. A child with obsessive movement neurosis is often teased by his peers, and this further traumatizes the child’s psyche.

Treatment

Obsessive movement neurosis in children cannot be left without appropriate treatment.. Before contacting a doctor, parents are advised to take a closer look at their baby and try to determine the cause of the unusual behavior. If it is not possible to find out, then it is necessary to bring him to a psychologist, sometimes the help of a psychotherapist is required.

A psychotherapist should treat neurosis

Are used following methods treatment:

Behavioral therapy

It is considered the main method of treatment, the features of which are:

learning the ability to get rid of internal anxiety, which helps to wean oneself from obsessive actions;
creating a situation in which the child, under the control of a psychologist, encounters something that frightens him - this helps to eliminate anxiety and delay the exacerbation of the disease;
interaction between the psychotherapist and the child’s parents during treatment in order to identify the source of anxiety and eliminate it, as well as to improve family relationships and correct parenting methods;
There are cases when children with symptoms of neurosis have no idea how certain actions are performed normally - clear examples from mother and father, teachers, and peers can help resolve this problem.

Drug treatment

In very advanced cases of obsessive movement neurosis in children, treatment will be required with medications that have a sedative and antidepressant effect, such as:

person;
cinnarizine;
milgamma;
pantogam;
glycine;
Sonapax;
asparkam.

These drugs are prescribed by a doctor. They cannot be used independently, since they have different effects on the central nervous system.

Treatment with folk remedies

In the treatment of childhood neurosis of obsessive movements, folk remedies are used in addition to the main therapy. A doctor's consultation is required. Calming effect have:

Decoctions of motherwort, valerian, lemon balm.

Infusion of oat grains. It is prepared in this way: you need to take half a kilogram of raw material, rinse it, then add one liter of water. Boil over low heat until the grains are half cooked. After this, strain the infusion and add a teaspoon of honey. Give your baby 1 glass daily.

Honey water. To prepare it, mix a tablespoon of honey in a glass of warm water. Give your child a drink before he goes to bed. Relieves insomnia, relieves irritability.

Taking a bath before bed with the addition of mint, lavender, and sea salt helps a lot.

Carry out activities to promote health:

spend more time in nature with him;
in summer, let your baby run barefoot;
turn on the music - let him dance;
Give paper, pencils, and paints more often so that he can draw more;
read fairy tales before bed, which greatly distracts from negative thoughts;
arrange holidays for the child - they bring joy and relieve anxiety;
Cook together with your baby some food that he loves.

All this really helps him throw out negative energy.

Features of parental behavior with obsessive neurosis:

you need to devote more time and attention to your child;
try to find out what is bothering the baby and try to eliminate it;
you cannot reproach him for obsessive movements; instead, you need to talk to him about the disturbing situation;
never scold for obsessive movements;
try to gently limit the time you use the computer and watch TV, and switch the child’s attention to some other interesting activity.

Prevention of obsessive movement neurosis

Measures to prevent the occurrence of neurosis should be carried out both with healthy children and with children who have recovered from neurosis. Children may not remember the psychological trauma that caused the development of the pathological process. But they remain in the subconscious and lead to obsessive states.

Therefore, it is very important to identify negative factors and their timely elimination. A child’s psyche is not the same as that of adults - it has not yet formed, and it is very difficult for children to resist disturbing situations.

In this regard, he must be taught to cope with stress. This is achieved proper upbringing baby from birth:

It is necessary to instill in him such qualities as the ability to overcome difficulties, not to panic in danger, and teach patience and endurance.
From early childhood, you need to teach your child to follow the rules of hygiene, to be neat and tidy - this should become his habit.
It is necessary to raise a child to be persistent and hardworking.
Get used to physical education and sports.

If the baby learns these qualities, this will protect him from stress and associated painful disorders of the nervous system.

It is necessary to accustom your child to physical education

Some features of the prevention of neuroses

Parents and teachers must have proper contact with their child:

It is necessary to create a trusting relationship so that the child can always turn to his parents with any question. This will prevent prolonged stress from occurring.
It is necessary to praise the child adequately for his achievements, since an overly enthusiastic attitude will lead to the fact that the child will constantly expect praise, and in the absence of it will become offended. It is also impossible to belittle successes.
If he needs to be limited in something or even prohibited from doing something, it is necessary to explain to him the reasons for this.
To prevent your child from becoming uninitiative, you cannot remind him of his shortcomings all the time.

Komarovsky about obsessive movement neurosis in children

E.O. Komarovsky is a famous pediatrician, writer, and has extensive work experience. The most famous is his book “The Health of the Child and the Common Sense of His Relatives.” Komarovsky has a great advantage - the ability to clearly explain to any mother how to maintain the health of a child given by nature.

Komarovsky's basic principles are very simple:

dress the child according to the weather;
play outdoor games with him fresh air, which promotes a good appetite;
if the baby does not want to eat, do not force him;
temper the child, walk with him in the fresh air more often;
Maintain the temperature at home no more than 22 degrees.

According to Dr. Komarovsky, obsessive movement neurosis is a mental disorder and is not a disease. No organic changes are observed with it. The main reason for the development of neurosis is a factor that traumatizes the child’s psyche.. Obsessive movements are a reversible disorder, and when the negative influences are eliminated, the baby’s condition returns to normal.

Emotional well-being is important for a child's mental health

If parents promptly determine what is bothering their child and eliminate these factors, the obsessive movements may stop. However this difficult task, therefore, in any case, you must definitely contact a child psychiatrist.

It is necessary to constantly remember that a child’s healthy psyche is directly related to a friendly environment and emotional well-being in the family.

Contents [-]

Let’s try to understand in more detail the concept of “obsessive movement syndrome.” In addition, we will consider the symptoms, causes, methods of treatment and prevention of the disorder.

Why does obsessive movement syndrome occur?

Who is most susceptible to this type of disorder? What is the cause of obsessive movements?

Symptoms of obsessive movements

There are many variations in the manifestation of this type of disorder. Caring parents should be alert to situations where their child very often:

snaps fingers or sucks them;
bites nails;
shakes his head or sways his whole body;
often sniffles (not including the presence of a runny nose);
swings his arms or swings his leg;
pinches the skin on the hands or other parts of the body;
blinks frequently;
often turns the neck or tilts it to one side;
twirls her hair on her finger.

At the same time, it is important to repeat that the presence of a problem can be said not by performing the above actions once, but by repeating them regularly.

What can obsessive movements be associated with?

In young children, symptoms of the disorder mostly manifest themselves. There may be a constant repetition of any one or several signs at once.

As for school-age children, their obsessive movements may be accompanied by enuresis, stuttering or neurotic insomnia. This is especially true for expectation neurosis, which manifests itself as a result of the fear of making a mistake (for example, when answering near the board, and so on). In this case, obsessive movements in a child may be accompanied by tics in the form of coughing, sniffing, blinking, and grunting. Their intensification is usually observed during times of excitement, fear, worry, and anxiety.

Are obsessive movements normal in a child?

But if a child has been snapping his fingers for a long time, biting his nails, shaking his head, or other symptoms of the problem are observed, it is worth contacting your local pediatrician for a special diagnosis and, possibly, prescribing the necessary type of treatment.

Diagnosis of the disorder

Tourette's syndrome.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Trichotillomania.

Moreover, they can manifest themselves at absolutely any age, both in completely healthy children and in those who are distinguished by a slow pace of intellectual development.

Therapy for obsessive movement neurosis

How to get rid of such a problem as obsessive movements in children? Treatment involves different types of therapy, depending on the extent and severity of the symptoms of the disorder.

First of all, you should reconsider your parenting methods. It is unacceptable to use shouting or assault against a child. The look and voice should always be calm and friendly.

It is advisable to dance with your child for at least a few minutes every day. You need to choose funny and rhythmic songs that the baby will like first of all.

Drug treatment

Once the true reason why a child bites his nails or makes other obsessive movements has been identified, the pediatrician may decide on the need for drug treatment.

The most commonly prescribed drugs are:

"Asparkam."
"Glycine".
"Cinnarizine."
"Pantogam".
"Persen."
"Milgamma".

Treatment with traditional medicine

Let's consider several possible options:

Soothing baths. During daily water procedures, you can use herbs such as string, chamomile, lavender, mint. They calm the nervous system and relieve tension.
Water with honey. It would seem such a simple remedy, but it has an excellent effect. To prepare it, you need to dilute a teaspoon of honey in a glass of warm (in no case hot!) water and give it to your child to drink just before bedtime.
Decoction of oat grains. To prepare it, you need to rinse the oat grains and cook them until half cooked over low heat in a liter of water. After this, strain the resulting broth and add one spoon of honey to it. Give it to your child a glass once a day.

Preventing the appearance of the disorder

It is within the power of each parent to prevent or at least reduce the likelihood of the child developing obsessive movements or any other mental disorders and neuroses.

It is necessary to establish a daily routine and strictly adhere to it. In addition, it is important to teach the child independence and responsibility.

Another important point, which was already mentioned above: in no case should mental and physical overwork be allowed, as they do not have the best effect on mental balance. For healthy children, you can also use the methods that were described in the section “Treatment with Traditional Medicine” - soothing baths with herbs and sea salt, water with honey at night, and so on.

The main thing that absolutely all parents need to remember is that the child’s health (including psychological) is completely in their hands.

Childhood neurosis is a common phenomenon among children of all ages. A negative atmosphere at school or at home, overwork, a huge amount of information, a lot of noise, psychological trauma, divorce or constant quarrels between parents, too high requirements to a child - all this can lead to the development of neurosis of obsessive states (or movements) in children.

There are many ways to deal with this, but first you need to make sure the diagnosis is correct.

Symptoms and signs

It is very easy to confuse obsessive movements and tics. But if you correctly understand the nature of these phenomena, distinguishing them will not be difficult at all. Tic is an automatic muscle contraction, twitching that cannot be controlled and is not always due to psychological reasons. Obsessive movements can be restrained by willpower, and they are always a consequence of the psychological discomfort that the child experiences.

The following symptoms indicate obsessive movement neurosis in children:

the child bites his nails;
snaps fingers;
turns his head sharply;
twitches his lip;
smacks his lips;
walks around all objects only on the left or only on the right;
twists buttons;
bites lips;
blows on the palms, etc.

It is impossible to list all obsessive movements: it is too individual. Their main feature is their annoying repetition, almost every minute. If you do not pay attention to them, this can lead to nails being bitten until they bleed, lips being bitten through, all the buttons on clothes being torn off, etc.

Moreover, all this may be accompanied by outbreaks of hysteria that did not exist before, insomnia, loss of appetite, tearfulness, and decreased performance. That is why treatment of obsessive movement neurosis in children must begin as soon as you notice the symptoms of this disease.

How to treat obsessive movement neurosis

Drawing with paints will help you throw out negative emotions

High-quality and effective treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children involves working with a psychologist, and in some cases, a psychotherapist. In the most advanced cases, it comes to medical assistance.

1. Drug therapy

After examination by a psychotherapist, the doctor may prescribe sedatives and antidepressants. For each case they can be different:

Sonapax;
cinnarizine;
asparkam;
milgamma;
pantogam;
glycine;
pers.

These medications should not be used without a doctor's prescription, as they differ in their effect on the central nervous system. It is necessary to take into account at what stage the neurosis develops: at the initial stage, a few sessions with a psychologist will be enough; in advanced forms, drug therapy is prescribed. But only a doctor can determine all this.

2. Treatment with folk remedies

After consulting with a psychologist (psychotherapist) who is observing your child, you can use folk remedies in the treatment of obsessive movement neurosis. They can be very effective.

Infusion of oat grains. Rinse oat grains (500 g) with cold water, add cold water (1 l), cook over low heat until half-cooked. Strain, add honey (a teaspoon). Give a glass a day.
Decoctions of herbs such as valerian root, motherwort, tricolor violet, hawthorn, lemon balm, mint, calendula, centaury.
Honey water before bed: dilute a tablespoon of honey in a glass of water at room temperature.
Baths with soothing herbs (lavender, mint, for example) or sea salt.
Dance therapy: turn on music at home - let the child throw out all the negativity in dance.
In the summer, give him the opportunity to run barefoot on the ground, grass, and sand more often.
Reading bedtime stories.
Drawing will also help to throw out what worries the baby, so give him paper and paints, pencils, and crayons more often.
A holiday or cooking a favorite dish will also help bring him out of an anxious state.

In addition to home remedies for treating this type of neurosis, parents should also work on their own behavior.

3. Parental behavior

A very important point in the treatment of this type of childhood neurosis is the correct behavior of parents:

do not scold the baby for these movements (read: how to raise a child without punishment);
as soon as he starts doing this, you need to talk to him about what is bothering him;
devote more time to him;
try to understand the reason for the baby’s worries and eliminate it;
limit your passion for computers and TV, but wisely, without pressure or yelling.

Any parent should know how to treat obsessive movement neurosis in children in order to provide timely help. Moreover, the causes of this disease lie in the psycho-emotional sphere. Give your child a happy, joyful childhood without unnecessary worries, worries and fears.

Obsessive movements in children, which have developed into a full-fledged syndrome, are a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive neurosis. The occurrence of these movements indicates that the child has a problem that he cannot voice. Most often, the child does not realize the roots of his experiences and cannot understand what is happening to him. The child can also react with obsessive movements to problems that the parents have. It is useless to ask the baby why and why he endlessly repeats the same movement - he does not know the answer.

The appearance of obsessive movements in children is a signal that the whole family needs correction. The child, as the youngest and weakest member of the family, is the first to react to family troubles. A timely visit to a psychiatrist or psychotherapist will not only help maintain the baby’s health, but also help parents better understand each other.

What are the types of obsessive movements?

It is almost impossible to describe everything; each baby has its own characteristics. Obsession neurosis occurs when the needs of a small personality cannot be satisfied. The movements are of the same type and are repeated every minute. There are 2 main types: tics and obsessive movements.

A tic is a rhythmic contraction of muscles, most often the eye muscles, uncontrolled by consciousness. In babies this is manifested by endless blinking, sometimes by quickly closing their eyes. Obsessive movements are as follows:

head jerking;
"sniff;
twirling hair on a finger;
twisting buttons;
nail biting;
snapping fingers;
shoulder lift;
waving of hands;
friction of the earlobes.

Obsessions can be more complex: rituals when washing hands, walking around furniture on one side, blowing on the palm, swinging a leg bent at the knee, etc.

Obsessions help the child relieve internal tension, captivate and push the cause of their occurrence into the background.

A fashionable spinner toy is nothing more than satisfying the need of nervous children and infantile teenagers for stereotypical movements that create the illusion of peace.

Drug treatment

Medicines for obsessive movement neurosis in children are of auxiliary value. They improve blood supply, nutrition and metabolism in nerve cells, calm, prolong sleep, but do not completely solve the problem. Medicines are used as a temporary measure to relieve internal tension, reducing moodiness and irritability.

The following groups of drugs are used:

nootropics, especially those that normalize the processes of excitation and inhibition - Pantogam, Glycine;
vitamin complexes with an increased content of group B, improving the myelination of nervous tissue - Kinder Biovital, Vitrum Junior, Jungle, Alphabet, Vitamishki, Multi-Tabs, Pikovit;
herbal sedatives - Persen, Tenoten for children, herbal teas - Hipp, Bayu-bai, Evening Tale, Phytosedan, Calm-ka, Calming for children;
homeopathic medicines – Nervohel, Shalun, Notta, Baby-Sed, Hare, Dormikind.

Truly psychotropic drugs - Phenibut, Sonapax, Sibazon, Tazepam - are prescribed only by a doctor for a short course. Medicines are prescribed by a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, taking into account the general somatic condition of the child. It is important to select age-appropriate, safe dosages that will not interfere with the baby’s development.

Non-drug treatment

There are no specific methods of non-medicinal influence on obsessive movements in children. You can use physiotherapeutic methods that reduce general excitability - electric sleep or exposure of the brain to a weak pulse current and others like that, but they will bring a temporary effect.

At home, you can use baths with decoctions of medicinal herbs - mint, lavender, lemon balm, add sea salt. Everything that strengthens the nervous system is useful - fresh food rich in microelements and vitamins, walks in the fresh air, sea swimming, sunbathing.

Correct behavior of parents

The basis of recovery, without which it is impossible to move the situation forward. There are several important rules:

Parents are to blame for everything that happens to young children. By endlessly scolding and punishing the child, parents admit their pedagogical impotence and confirm a complete misunderstanding of the child’s inner world.
A friendly atmosphere is the best doctor.
Clearly established boundaries of behavior are the key good character child. It is difficult to find something more destructive to the child’s psyche than vague demands, when what is not allowed today is permitted tomorrow. Parents must always allow and prohibit the same things, otherwise instead of a healthy and calm child, they end up with a hysterical manipulator.
Sincere interest in the child's life. Children sense falsehood very subtly, and trying to buy them off with toys, trips and indulgences always backfires. Everything a child needs for proper development– love of parents and spending time with them. A child’s resentment towards a friend, the experience of a parent’s divorce for a child seems to be a universal tragedy, since it destroys his fragile world. Parents must go through all the difficult moments of development together with the child, otherwise there will be no trust and open relationship.
Joint leisure. Free time spent with parents and devoted to interesting activities allows everyone to get to know and understand each other better. A child is a person who needs to be guided along the right path. An interesting activity can be anything - baking a pie, fishing with dad, changing a tire, going to the park, reading, drawing or any craft.

How to react to obsessive movements?

Exactly the same as for stuttering - ignore with all behavior. As Dr. Komarovsky rightly says, with obsessive movement neurosis in children there is no tumor, no inflammation, no vascular problems in the nervous system. Such neurosis is a psycho-emotional disorder that arose in response to a traumatic situation. This is a reversible condition that stops once its cause is eliminated.

When a child has obsessive movements, you need to immediately contact a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, and until then pretend that nothing special is happening. You should not reprimand or reprimand your child, much less punish him. The attention of parents only reinforces such movements and makes them more desirable.

You can try to distract your baby with food, play, or a walk. You should not discuss the baby’s characteristics with friends or relatives, especially in his presence. Everything said by the parents is stored in the child’s memory and consciousness; such conversations will only delay recovery.

Psychotherapy

The main way to get rid of obsessive movement neurosis in a child. The psychotherapist analyzes the family situation in detail and reveals all the hidden problems. One of the problems that led to the child’s illness may come to light:

cruel treatment;
overly strict parenting;
pedagogical neglect, when the child is left to his own devices and no one is involved in his development;
parental alcoholism;
mental disorders in parents and close relatives;
psychological and moral trauma;
fear or emotional overload;
intra-family conflicts;
parents' rejection of the child's gender;
the birth of a baby from an unloved person;
moving to another city, region or home;
the child’s rejection of his stepmother or stepfather;
aversion to having younger children;
conflict in a children's team.

The range of problems leading to the development of obsessive movement neurosis in children is diverse and determined by the specific situation. The psychotherapist in this case acts as an objective mirror in which each of the participants family relations can see himself from the outside and gets the opportunity to correct behavior and the way he reacts.

Methods of child psychotherapy

Non-directive play psychotherapy is most often used to treat childhood obsessive movement neuroses. After the child gets used to the doctor, a third participant is introduced into communication - a toy that cannot cope with its hands (eyes, fingers, neck, legs). The disorder that worries the child is imitated. During the game, the baby opens up and identifies the problems that caused the motor obsession.

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The peculiarities of the child’s psyche - naivety and spontaneity - make it possible to project the most painful moments of communication with parents, other adults or peers onto the game. This transfer goes unnoticed by the child, and provides the doctor with extensive information about what is really going on in the baby’s soul.

Family psychotherapy brings excellent results when pedagogical mistakes and their consequences for the child’s health are explained to each family member individually. In this case, the psychotherapist plays the role of an impartial commentator, tactfully inviting adults to look at their mistakes from the outside.

Schoolchildren greatly benefit from adaptive techniques that overcome communication problems and difficulties. Such techniques are especially important when changing the children's team and for removing the child from the position of a victim.

Behavioral therapy is widely used to help children assert themselves by channeling natural desires into socially acceptable directions. The method of emotive imagination perfectly helps to overcome various fears, when a child takes the place of a favorite hero and copes with all difficulties in his image.

Through the joint efforts of the family, it is usually possible to cure obsessive movement neurosis in children.

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Obsessive-compulsive disorder is approximately half as common in children as in adults. According to statistics, 1-2 children out of 300-500 suffer from it, and the symptoms of this neurosis are not always pronounced. Parents often consider the obsessive movements characteristic of this disorder to be simply bad habits. For example, constant desire biting nails or the cap of a pen, pulling one's hair, picking one's nose - all this sometimes irritates parents, although they should be wary, because such symptoms indicate increased anxiety in the child.

General information about the disease

Currently, obsessive-compulsive disorder is called another term - obsessive-compulsive disorder and has code F42 in ICD-10. However, when working with children, psychologists most often use the “outdated” name, since it somewhat more accurately reflects what is happening to the child. Obsessions are obsessive thoughts, usually negative, that the patient cannot stop by force of will. Compulsions are obsessive behaviors that are repeated over and over again. People with high intelligence, emotional, and sensitive feelings are most susceptible to this disorder. They are also characterized by a feeling of insecurity in the world around them, various fears and phobias.

For the first time, obsessive-compulsive neurosis usually manifests itself against a background of severe stress and anxiety. But for the onset of the disease to occur, psychological trauma alone is not enough - it will only become a trigger that starts the process, but not its cause.

Sometimes the appearance of obsessions may not be associated with a specific event - this is precisely why this neurosis in children differs from the same disorder in adults. Anxiety seems to “accumulate” gradually, and symptoms appear rarely at first, and then become more frequent. As for the causes of OCD, there are several theories:

Neurotransmitter – explains the onset of the disease by a deficiency of the hormone serotonin in the body;
The PANDAS theory suggests that OCD may be caused by a previous streptococcal infection;
The genetic theory states that the cause of this neurosis is genetic mutations that are inherited.

And although scientists have not yet come to a consensus on the causes of obsessive-compulsive neurosis, there are observations from practicing doctors who prove that OCD is more likely to manifest itself in children whose relatives already have patients with this disorder.

Manifestations of OCD in children

OCD in children most often manifests itself in the form of obsessive movements and tics, as well as fears, phobias and “strange”, negative ideas and thoughts. Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder may include the following:

Thumb sucking;
Lip smacking;
Twisting hair around the finger or pulling hair out (some children eat the hair they pull out, which sometimes leads to intestinal obstruction);
Intrusive coughing;
Picking the skin or picking at pimples;
Biting nails or other objects - pen caps, pencils, etc.;
Cracking of knuckles;
Frequent blinking;
Grimaces, wrinkling of the forehead;
Stomping, clapping.

This is far from full list possible manifestations, since in each individual child the manifestations of neurosis may differ. In addition, tics are often added to the actual movements - involuntary contractions of individual muscles, similar to twitching or mild convulsions.

The number of such movements increases sharply if the child is excited or overexcited. In fact, compulsions (and that’s exactly what they are) “serve” the nervous system as a kind of “safety valve” that allows you to release excess tension. The level of anxiety is reduced to an easily tolerable level. If you force the child to restrain these movements, then the psychological tension will grow, eventually breaking through into uncontrollable hysteria or panic. Most children suffering from OCD experience not only compulsions, but also obsessions—obsessive thoughts. They usually relate to pollution, disaster or symmetry. For example, a child may constantly wash his hands, be afraid of becoming infected with some dangerous disease, for the same reason not to eat certain foods. It is worth mentioning separately about children from religious families, where parents devote a lot of time to rites and rituals associated with faith in God. They are usually not alarmed when a child begins to frantically say prayers many times a day, but oddly enough, this behavior can also indicate OCD. Another mistake of believers (or parents close to the church) may be attempts to take the child to the “grandmother”, who “with God’s help will cast out the demon from him.” Such situations are quite rare, but they still happen, so we decided to mention them separately. Moreover, mental disorders cannot be treated either with prayers, or with “reprimands,” or with herbal decoctions. Psychologist Pavel Zhavnerov talks about the causes of various neuroses in children and adults. Older children and teenagers, as a rule, try to hide their behavioral characteristics from the people around them, because they are afraid of judgment, that they will be considered “abnormal”. Such thoughts further increase discomfort and provoke a new round of symptoms. Therefore, it is important to help the child in time by contacting specialists, otherwise adolescence he will receive many unnecessary complexes and fears that will greatly complicate his life in the future.

Treatment of OCD in children and adolescents

To cure obsessive-compulsive neurosis, it is imperative to consult a specialist - a psychiatrist or qualified psychotherapist. Neuroses in children do not always require drug therapy, since the psyche at this age is much more “flexible”, and an experienced doctor will help cope with many manifestations of OCD even without the use of drugs. But this depends on many factors that parents cannot determine on their own. By the way, when it comes to neurosis in a child, doctors usually carefully collect family history and are interested in the conditions in which the little patient grows up. For example, if someone in the family suffers from alcoholism, then it is natural that the child will exhibit a variety of neurotic symptoms. The same can be said about families where parents constantly quarrel and make scandals, treat each other poorly and live together “for the sake of the children.” Overprotection, excessive parental demands and other unhealthy manifestations of relationships in the parental home put a lot of pressure on the young psyche. In such situations, before asking the question “how to cure?”, you need to carefully analyze the possible factors that constantly make the child worry and worry.

By definition, a mentally healthy child cannot grow up in a destructive family, and parents should remember that both the prognosis of the disease and the timing of recovery depend on their attitude.

Therefore, the first thing that should be done if a child is diagnosed with “obsessive-compulsive disorder” is to change the situation in the house and reduce the pressure on the child’s psyche. Otherwise, treatment may be ineffective. How to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder? The main method of treating OCD is working with a psychotherapist. Methods of art therapy, fairytale therapy, play therapy, and so on are used to treat young children. For teenagers, the exposure method will be more effective, that is, facing your fear face to face to make sure that nothing terrible happens in the end. But the main idea that the therapist must convey to the child when treating obsessive disorders is the belief in the safety of the world, in the reliability of parents and their support. The little patient must eventually come to the conclusion that “everyone loves me, I will succeed.” Confidence in oneself, one’s surroundings and the world is the path that ultimately leads a young patient to remission, or even complete recovery. Regarding treatment medicines, they are usually prescribed for a short period of time in situations where obsessions and compulsions greatly complicate life. Sometimes the symptoms appear so often that they eventually lead to neurasthenia and nervous exhaustion. In such cases, the use of medications (antidepressants and tranquilizers) helps to quickly and effectively remove most of the signs of neurosis so that the patient can rest and begin working with a psychotherapist.

To summarize: a reminder for parents

Unfortunately, even in our time they do not know what obsessive-compulsive neurosis is and how it can manifest itself in children. At the same time, the number of children suffering from this disease is increasing every year. In order to promptly recognize the signs of this disorder in their child, fathers and mothers need to carefully monitor the child’s behavior and not ignore possible oddities and repetitive movements. Remember that it is easier to overcome any neurosis if you start treatment on time, without prolonging the situation, and the absence of such symptoms in the future will help the child to adapt normally in society and grow up to be a self-confident and happy person.

Impaired performance of the nervous system, accompanied by symptoms of various origins, is a neurosis. Children experience stress several times more seriously than adults. OCD in children is a consequence of an unstable psychogenic situation or disturbances in the brain due to trauma.

Causes

The disease develops for various reasons:

decreased immunity;
features of personality development;
natal trauma;
unstable psychogenic situation;
increased mental and physical stress.

Neurosis can be a concomitant symptom of VSD. When the blood flow is disrupted and the blood vessels are underdeveloped, the enrichment of the brain with oxygen decreases, which is why various nervous and physiological reactions appear.

Decreased immunity, especially in children, leads to the development of neurosis. Infectious diseases negatively affect the nervous system. Due to this, psychomotor development slows down, the child becomes lethargic, constantly feels tired, and is irritable.

Receptive, highly emotional children are more susceptible to the influence of environmental factors than those who are stress-resistant. Even kids don’t always know how to behave in a given situation, so they show their emotions the way they know how, that is, through hysterics. If there is no proper example of a behavioral reaction, the baby records his reflexes and behavior.

Natal trauma often causes neurosis. At the end of the first year, traces of natal trauma disappear, and the neurosis is quickly cured if the mother contacts a neurologist in a timely manner.

Children are more vulnerable than adults and perceive many situations that seem insignificant to us in a non-standard way due to their inexperience. Frequent moves, quarrels between parents, high demands of parents or connivance can negatively affect the baby.

A quarrel between parents in front of a child can be the cause of childhood neurosis

Physical and emotional overload is a major factor. Babies have their own routine. At three months of age, they feel tired after just 2 hours of being awake. Inadequate sleep or lack thereof leads to overwork. The unformed nervous system reacts sharply to this, begins to urgently look for ways out of the situation, and the baby, with his hysterics, tries to indicate that he is tired. In the future, this reaction becomes a habit, to which psychosomatic symptoms are added. Obsessive states of children can appear when they enter school and during adolescence. The accelerated pace of life, preparation for exams, extra classes, problems with peers, teachers - all this unsettles the child. He gets tired mentally and physically. The activity of biocurrents in the brain decreases, the baby becomes lethargic, irritable, often gets sick, withdraws into himself or behaves more aggressively.

Symptoms

Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children can vary widely. The signs of the disease will vary depending on the age of the child and the intensity of exposure to the negative factor.

IN childhood Until the baby speaks, obsessive-compulsive disorder manifests itself:

hysterical attacks up to loss of consciousness;
irritability, aggression;
urinary incontinence;
decreased appetite;
obsessive movements.

Compulsions and tics are a signal of a problem that the child is not able to describe in words. They are repeated with a certain frequency. A tic is an uncontrolled contraction of muscle fibers. In babies this is blinking, squinting. Obsessive-compulsive neurosis in young children is manifested by the following compulsions:

head twitching;
twirling hair on fingers;
nail biting;
rubbing earlobes;
raising your hands up;
sniff;
twisting of buttons, twitching of the bottom edge of clothing.

A sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children can be complex movements - rituals: swinging a leg in a sitting position, walking along a certain trajectory (walking around furniture on one side only, stepping on squares of a certain color or configuration on the street, folding toys in a certain order, etc.) . Children do this in an attempt to push the cause of their anxiety into the background.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder in adolescents also manifests itself in the form of compulsions: stamping the foot, biting lips (until blood bleeds at the moment of highest stress), rubbing hands, gnawing on pens and pencils, regularly scratching the nose, back of the head, and ears. Other symptoms are added:

sleep disturbance;
obsessive thoughts that involuntarily arise in the head;
decreased activity;
increased sweating on the palms and soles.

Specific symptoms may include loss of hearing, voice or vision. A detailed examination does not reveal pathologies in the organs themselves. For example, there was a case when a child did not want to study music. Under parental pressure, he continued his studies, but it turned out that he could not see the staff. During the diagnosis, the doctor determined that the blindness extended only to the notes; he saw everything else well. This is due to the body’s protective reaction, i.e., closing its eyes to an irritating factor.

In adolescents, neurosis can manifest itself as inappropriate behavior in society. During this period, he had already formed his own vision of the world and was actively trying to prove his position. The teenager reacts violently to the denial of this position, the reluctance to see him as a person. Because of this, conflict situations arise at school and at home.

In each individual case, different manifestations may be observed; they need to be identified in time to prevent the development of more serious deviations.

Treatment options

Obsessive movement neurosis in young children does not need to be treated with special medications unless more serious problems and development occurs in accordance with age. Over time this will pass. It all depends on the parents. You need to spend more time with the child, discuss his problems, help him understand the world around him, and not focus on obsessive movements. It would be a good idea to sign your child up for drawing. Treatment of OCD in children under one year of age requires a careful approach. The consequences of natal trauma are eliminated with the help of the drug “Glycine”, massage and exercise therapy.

If obsessive-compulsive disorder in children causes physiological abnormalities, then they are treated with the help of the lungs sedatives plant origin or natural herbal infusions(in the absence of allergies). And vitamin complexes are also shown, physiotherapy, breathing exercises and working with a psychologist. At home, doctors suggest giving babies soothing baths.

Treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children in puberty will be more serious:

In adolescents, treatment for OCD involves cognitive behavioral therapy.
In difficult cases with suicidal tendencies and long-term depression, antidepressants are prescribed. Psychotropic medications may be indicated for short term: “Phenibut”, “Tusepam”.
In parallel with psycho- and drug therapy, massages and electrosleep are carried out.

This treatment of OCD is indicated for obsessive-compulsive disorder in puberty, accompanied by aggressive behavior, social maladjustment. Problematic teenagers are often dealt with in groups. This allows the child to feel that he is not the only one in this world who has encountered difficulties. During the sessions, children learn to solve problems together, understand the essence and reason for their behavior, build the right position in society and establish connections with people.

It is important to understand that obsessive-compulsive disorder in adolescents is a formed reflex, a response to an irritating factor. Medicines cannot eliminate the problem; they are necessary to relax the nervous system and restore neurotransmitter connections in the brain. The goal of treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder in children is to transform negative reaction, acting destructively on the body, into a positive one, promoting adaptation.

Treatment of obsessive movement neurosis in children involves teaching relaxation techniques that a teenager can use in real life.

Conclusion

OCD develops due to various reasons and this is not always an unstable situation in the family. Manifestations of obsessive movement neurosis in a child are treated with psychotherapy, which includes various techniques to achieve relaxation of the nervous system. In such cases, massage is mandatory, especially if the neurosis manifests itself as tics. In each individual case, an individual treatment regimen is selected.

In pediatric psychoneurology - if available involuntary movements, which periodically occur in a child regardless of his desire, and it is impossible to stop their attacks by force of will - obsessive movements syndrome in children can be diagnosed.

Such repetitive stereotypical movements are either part of a general neurotic obsessive-compulsive disorder, either are a manifestation of a paroxysmal psychoneurological disorder, or are considered as a sign of extrapyramidal motor disorders.

Epidemiology

According to foreign experts, more than 65% of hyperactive children whose parents consulted neurologists had problems at birth or in early infancy. But in 12-15% of cases, it is not possible to find out the true cause of obsessive movement syndrome in a child due to the lack of complete information.

Recent studies from the Washington University School of Medicine and the University of Rochester indicate that the prevalence of tics is approximately 20% of the population, and the incidence of chronic tic disorders among children is approximately 3% (with a male to female ratio of 3:1).

Urgent motor movements in the form of tics rarely appear before two years of age, and average age They started at about six to seven years old. 96% have tics before age 11. At the same time mild degree The severity of the syndrome in half of the patients by the age of 17-18 years, it becomes practically invisible.

Among pediatric patients with severe or profound intellectual development delay, the statistics of obsessive movement syndrome is 60%, and in 15% of cases children harm themselves with such movements.

Causes of obsessive movement syndrome in children

In the predominant number of clinical cases, experts associate the causes of obsessive movement syndrome in a child with neuroses of stress etiology, often defining this disorder as obsessive movement neurosis.

During the prepubertal period, obsessive movements in adolescents may be a symptom of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Movement disorders - obsessive movement syndrome in adults - are discussed in detail in the publication Nervous Tic and the article Tourette's Syndrome. In addition, with age, the factor of microcirculation disorders in cerebral vessels and the threat of cerebral ischemia increases due to atherosclerosis.

In childhood, the appearance of imperative stereotypic movements - as a sign of neurodestructive disorders - is possible with disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system due to perinatal damage to brain structures due to hypoxia and cerebral ischemia, as well as injuries during childbirth, leading to various encephalopathies.

There are a number of neurodegenerative diseases, the pathogenesis of which is caused by gene mutations and inherited neurological disorders associated with the appearance of obsessive movement syndrome in children in quite early age. Among them are:

genetic defects of mitochondria contained in the plasma of cells (synthesizing ATP) - mitochondrial diseases that disrupt energy exchange in tissues;
congenital lesions of the myelin sheaths of nerve fibers in metachromatic leukodystrophy;
mutation of the PRRT2 gene (encoding one of the transmembrane proteins of brain and spinal cord), causing paroxysmal obsessive movements in the form of kinesogenic choreoathetosis;
pathological accumulation of iron in the basal ganglia of the brain (neuroferritinopathy), caused by a mutation in the FTL gene.

A specific place in the pathogenesis of the paroxysmal disease in question motor disorder are occupied by pathologies of an endocrine nature, in particular, hyperthyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis in a child. And the origin of hereditary benign chorea, as studies have shown, lies in mutations of the thyroid transcription marker gene (TITF1).

Among autoimmune diseases Systemic lupus erythematosus is also related to the development of involuntary movements, which at a certain stage of development leads to a number of pathologies of the central nervous system.

Experts do not rule out a connection between the cause of obsessive movements syndrome in a child and a state of catatonic arousal induced by certain forms of schizoaffective states and schizophrenia; traumatic brain injuries; intracranial tumor formations; cerebral lesions of an organic nature with the development of glial changes in individual brain structures; infections - viral encephalitis, Neisseria meningitidis or Streptococcus pyogenes, which causes rheumatic fever.

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Risk factors

The key risk factors for the development of any group of symptoms of a psychoneurological nature, including obsessive movement syndrome in a child, adolescent or adult, are the presence of pathologies leading to movement disorders.

As clinical practice shows, this syndrome can affect anyone at any age, but this affects boys to a much greater extent than girls. Obsessive movements are especially often observed in children born with mental disabilities due to genetic abnormalities, with a negative impact on the fetus during intrauterine development or due to the development of postnatal pathologies.

Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of some hyperkinetic disorders may lie in the lack of balance of CNS neurotransmitters: acetylcholine, which is responsible for muscle contractions and relaxation, controls the movements of dopamine muscle fibers, and also excites all biochemical processes of norepinephrine and adrenaline. Due to the imbalance of these substances, the transmission of nerve impulses is distorted. In addition, it enhances the stimulation of brain neurons high level sodium salt glutamic acid – glutamate. At the same time, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which inhibits this excitation, may be in deficiency, which also interferes with the functioning of the motor areas of the brain.

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Symptoms of obsessive movement syndrome in children

Most frequently occurring symptoms This disorder may include the following non-functional (purposeless) movements (repetitive and often rhythmic) involving the muscles of the tongue, face, neck and trunk, and distal limbs:

increased blinking;
coughing (simulating “clearing the throat”);
shaking, waving, or twisting arms;
patting the face;
hitting one's head (against something);
hitting yourself (with your fist or palms);
bruxism (teeth grinding);
finger sucking (especially thumb sucking);
biting fingers (nails), tongue, lips;
hair pulling;
gathering of skin into a fold;
grimaces (facial tics);
monotonous vibration of the whole body, bending of the torso;
chorea-like twitching of the limbs and head (short nodding of the head forward, to the sides);
bending of fingers (in many cases - in front of the face).

Forms

The types of repetitive movements vary widely, and each child may have his own - individual manifestation. It can increase with boredom, stress, anxiety and fatigue. Some children, when attention is directed to them or they are distracted, can abruptly stop their movements, while others are unable to do this.

In addition to those mentioned, children with obsessive movement syndrome may show signs of attention deficit, sleep disturbances, and mood disorders. And the presence of attacks of rage and explosive outbursts indicates Asperger's syndrome or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Complications and consequences

Some aimless movements can cause self-harm. In addition, the syndrome can cause distress in the child, which leads to a slight decrease in the quality of life, complicates communication and socialization in the children's team; in a certain way affects the ability to self-care and limits the scope of joint activities outside the home environment.

Diagnosis of obsessive movement syndrome in children

First of all, diagnosing obsessive movement syndrome in a child requires a qualitative assessment of the type of movement and the circumstances of its occurrence, which are often difficult to determine. Moreover, motor stereotypes are often diagnosed in patients with mental disabilities and neurological conditions, but can also occur in mentally healthy children. For example, compulsive movements in adolescents that suggest a degenerative disorder (myoclonus) may be completely normal in infants.

A complete history and physical examination of the child is necessary - with an assessment of presenting symptoms (which must be present for at least four weeks or longer). This will confirm the diagnosis of this syndrome.

To find out its cause, tests may be prescribed:

general blood test (including determination of hematocrit, circulating erythrocyte mass, ESR);
blood test for amino acid levels, thyroid hormones, antithyroid antibodies, lupus anticoagulant, antistreptolysin, etc.;
urine analysis for protein components;
analysis cerebrospinal fluid or genetic analysis of parents (if necessary).

Instrumental diagnostics can be used: electroencephalography; CT, MRI and ultrasound angiography of the brain, electromyography.