Very often they stay up into the night because of their OCD and are then exhausted the next day.
The obsessive thoughts may vary with the age of the child and may change over time. A younger child with OCD may fear that harm will occur to himself or herself or a family member. The child may compulsively check all the doors and windows of their home after their parents are asleep in an attempt to relieve anxiety. The child may then fear that he may have accidentally unlocked a door or window while last checking and locking, and they must compulsively check again (OCD in Children and .
Adolescence). An older child or teenager with OCD may fear that he will become ill with germs, AIDS, or contaminated food. To cope with their feelings a child may develop "rituals". Sometimes the obsession and compulsion are linked.
There are no certain causes of OCD. There is little doubt that OCD often runs in families although it appears genes are only partly the cause. There is research that shows OCD is a brain disorder and tends to run in families although this doesn't mean the child will definitely develop symptoms. OCD may be due to an imbalance in a brain, it may involve abnormal functioning of the neurotransmitter seratonin in the brain (#1 OCD). Recent studies have also shown that OCD may develop or worsen after a strep infection. A stressful event like the death of a loved one, birth of a child, or divorce can trigger the onset of the disorder.
The obsessions will often change as the child gets older. For example, a child that is 6 years old may worry about germs, but then at 17 it might change to a fear of fires (Children with OCD). Around 8 years old, children will begin to notice that their behaviors are abnormal and will try to hide them. They become embarrassed talking about their rituals and may deny that they have OCD. Younger children are not as aware and make no attempt to hide their behaviors.