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Obsessive actions in a child. Doctor Komarovsky about obsessive movement syndrome in children

is an obsessive form of the disease that is psychogenic in nature. The pathological process develops mainly in suspicious children. When children are obsessive, they cannot control their own thoughts and movements.

An obsessive symptom develops in young patients for a variety of reasons. The disease develops in patients with a genetic predisposition. If a child’s close relatives have been diagnosed with a pathological process, then they are at risk.

The disease appears when exposed to various provoking factors. A child who grows up in a poor family environment is at risk. The pathological condition appears in children with frequent mental and physical stress. If relationships with peers are poor, a child may be diagnosed with a disease. It is diagnosed when there is information overload.

Obsession occurs when there is serious mental trauma. It is most often diagnosed in children who experience parental divorce or the death of a loved one. If parents raise a child incorrectly, this can lead to the development of the disease. It appears in children for whom parents make excessively high demands.

Obsessive behavior and the associated disease develop under the influence of various psychotraumatic factors, therefore parents are advised to be attentive to the health and upbringing of the child.

Symptoms

It is recommended to distinguish the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive pathology from tics and obsessive movements. A tic is an involuntary muscle contraction that is uncontrollable. Obsessive movements are symptoms of neurosis that arise as a reaction to psychological discomfort. When a desire arises, such movement is stopped by willpower.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by the presence of certain symptoms, which allows parents to independently determine this pathological process. With the disease, a small patient constantly bites his nails. The child may occasionally snap his fingers. The patient shakes his head periodically.

In a pathological process, the child bites his lips. Another symptom of the disease manifests itself in the form of tingling of one’s own body. Some children look for cracks in the asphalt and step over them. Along the way, they bypass obstacles on only one side.

Obsessive-compulsive neurosis manifests itself in different ways, so it is impossible to list all its symptoms. A distinctive feature of the disease is that the baby periodically repeats the same action.

Children may be diagnosed with hysteria, which appears suddenly. With the disease, insomnia occurs. Some children have no appetite, which leads to weight loss. The child becomes lethargic and excessively whiny.

It may have a varied clinical picture, which complicates the process of its diagnosis. That is why, when the first signs appear in your baby, it is recommended to seek help from a specialist.

Diagnostic measures

When the first signs of a pathological process appear, it is recommended to seek help from a doctor. Only an experienced specialist will be able to correctly diagnose the patient. He first examines the patient and takes a medical history. It is also recommended to conduct observations and conversations with a psychologist or psychotherapist. Often these measures are enough to make a correct diagnosis.

If the doctor suspects a leak in the body, then the use of instrumental diagnostic methods is recommended. The child must undergo computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

These are highly informative methods that make it possible to obtain layer-by-layer images of the area under study. In case of illness, patients are recommended to undergo electroencephalography, electromyography, and echoencephalography.

These diagnostic techniques allow you to determine changes in the gray matter and blood vessels of the brain. In some cases, the use of thermal imaging and ultrasound is recommended.

Diagnosis of the disease must be comprehensive, which will allow it to be accurately identified and effective therapy prescribed.

Treatment of the disease

If the pathological process occurs in a mild form, then the use of psychocorrection is recommended. For this purpose, general strengthening exercises and psychotherapeutic techniques are used:

  • Behavioral therapy;
  • Play psychotherapy;
  • Art therapy;
  • Autogenic training.

In order to restore the child’s mental and behavioral reactions, the degree of impairment of which depends on the characteristics of the disease, the use of complex treatment is recommended. In this case, medications and psychotherapeutic techniques are taken. The technique requires the use of certain techniques:

  • The psychotherapist models situations that frighten the child. During the conversation, the child must live through his fear, which provides relief from anxiety.
  • During conversations, psycho-gymnastics is used, with the help of which emotions, thoughts, and behavior are corrected.
  • In order to eliminate obsessive thoughts and movements, the student is taught to control emotions. During sessions with a psychotherapist, he also becomes familiar with methods of suppressing anxiety and aggression.
  • The psychotherapist models situations that frighten the child. To eliminate anxiety, the specialist creates situations that force the child to relive his fear.
  • During the treatment of the pathological process, it is recommended to organize useful communication with people. Young patients are shown examples of behavior in society.
  • When treating an illness, a psychotherapist works with the child’s parents, which allows the cause to be eliminated. He teaches proper relationships in the family, and also corrects educational methods.

There are a variety of psychocorrective techniques, which allows you to choose the most suitable option for the patient. The choice of treatment method is made by the doctor in accordance with the characteristics of the pathology.

If a pathology occurs in a child, parents are advised to adjust their behavior. Parents must adjust their behavior. It is strictly forbidden to quarrel in front of a child or traumatize his psyche in other situations. When raising a child, parents should not put undue pressure on him.

If a mother puts her child to bed, she should sing him lullabies or read fairy tales in accordance with his age. Dance therapy has a high impact. While playing music, the child throws out the negative energy that accumulates in him. Joint activities with your child will be useful.

Parents should focus filming on their behavior, as it plays an important role in the formation of pathology. Most people are not ideal parents. But, if a child with a predisposition to neurosis grows up in the house, then we need to strive for this.

During the period of treatment of a pathological process, it is strictly forbidden to scold the baby for obsessive movements and thoughts. If parents notice that a child begins to bite his nails or pinch himself, then it is recommended to immediately talk to him about the problem.

During the course of the pathological process, it is recommended to try to give it as much attention and time as possible. It is not recommended for a child to watch TV or play on the computer during treatment for the disease.

If parents treat their child favorably and correctly during therapy for the disease, this will have a positive effect on this process.

Folk remedies

To combat the pathological process, the use of traditional medicine is allowed. They are not only effective, but also safe, which allows them to be used for the treatment of a wide range of patients. You can prepare medicines using a variety of folk remedies.

  • Patients are advised to drink before going to bed honey water. To do this, take a glass of water at room temperature, in which it is recommended to dissolve a spoonful of honey. After thoroughly mixing the composition, it is taken orally. If the pathological process occurs in the summer, then the child is recommended to walk barefoot on sand, earth and grass.

  • To combat nervous tension and stress, it is recommended to use medicinal bath. It is recommended to add sea salt to it first. You can also prepare infusions based on mint and lavender. To prepare medicines, it is recommended to use pre-crushed and dried above-ground parts of plants.
  • Lavender and mint mixed in equal quantities. 8 tablespoons of raw material are poured with 3 liters of boiling water and infused for 2 hours. After this, the product is filtered and added to the healing bath.

  • Patients are recommended to take decoctions internally. To prepare them, use motherwort, centaury, hawthorn, valerian root, mint. In order to prepare the medicine, you need to take dry and crushed raw materials. A tablespoon of any of the herbs or their mixture is poured into a glass of boiling water. The medicine is simmered in a water bath for several minutes, after which it is removed and infused until it cools completely. After filtering, the medicine should be taken orally in half a glass.
  • Oat grains in pathology are characterized by a high level of effectiveness. It is recommended to wash the raw materials thoroughly using cold water. After this, it is filled with clean water and boiled until half cooked. After straining, a teaspoon of honey is added to the broth. The drug is taken throughout the day in small portions. The daily dose of the drug is 1 glass.

Despite the high effectiveness of traditional medicine, it is recommended to consult a doctor before using them, which will eliminate the possibility of developing undesirable effects.

Drug therapy

If the pathological process occurs in an acute form, then treatment of neurosis is carried out using medications. Patients are recommended to take:

Antidepressants

The effect of the drugs has a positive effect on the psycho-emotional state of a person. When using medications, a child’s fear, anxiety, and panic attack are relieved. Thanks to medications, pathological concentration on certain actions and thoughts is eliminated. The drugs are used to relieve autonomic disorders.

Treatment of the disease can be carried out Humoril, Bethol, Amitriptyline. Taking medications begins with a minimum dosage. If the need arises, it is increased only after prior consultation with a doctor.

Tranquilizers

The drugs are characterized by the presence of a hypnotic effect, so they are widely used for insomnia. The use of medications to combat anxiety is recommended, as they have a calming effect. If a child experiences fear and increasing anxiety, they are prescribed medications from this group.

Therapy of the pathological process is carried out Phenazepam, Diazepam, Mebutamate. The drugs can have a negative impact on the activity of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, so their use is recommended in extremely rare cases and as prescribed by a doctor.

Neuroleptics

The drugs are characterized by the presence of a pronounced antipsychotic effect, therefore their use is recommended for neuroses of various origins. Thanks to the universal composition of the drugs, the feeling of fear is relieved during their use, which leads to the release of tension. With the help of medications, a depressed psycho-emotional state is combated.

Nootropics

The use of medications is recommended only at the initial stage of development of the pathological process. Thanks to medications, the resistance of the human psyche to a variety of traumatic situations is ensured. The use of medications is recommended to improve memory and concentration.

When using medications, an increase in the level of intellectual activity of the child is observed. patients are recommended to take Cerebrolysin, Actovegin, Pantogan.

The drugs have a weak antidepressant effect, which allows them to be used for psychomotor retardation. The action of the drugs is aimed at saturating the child’s brain and improving the patient’s condition.

Conclusion

Obsessive-compulsive disorder in a child is a pathology that can lead to undesirable consequences. That is why it is strictly forbidden to ignore it. When the first symptoms of the disease are detected, parents should take the child to the doctor.

Only a specialist can make the correct diagnosis after certain studies. This provides the opportunity to prescribe effective treatment using medications and psychocorrective techniques.

In pediatric psychoneurology, in the presence of involuntary movements that periodically occur in a child, regardless of his desire, and it is impossible to stop their attacks with willpower, obsessive movement syndrome in children can be diagnosed.

Such repetitive stereotypic movements are either part of a general neurotic obsessive state, or 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 the average age of onset is about six to seven years. 96% have tics before age 11. Moreover, with a mild 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 retardation, the statistics for 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 at a fairly 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 the tissues of the 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 certain place in the pathogenesis of the paroxysmal motor disorder in question is 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, high levels of the sodium salt of glutamic acid, glutamate, enhance the stimulation of brain neurons. 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 have 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;
  • cerebrospinal fluid analysis or genetic analysis of parents (if necessary).

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

Parents quite often encounter the fact that their child constantly bites his nails or pen, jerks his head, scratches his nose or head, or wraps his hair around his finger.

Psychologists and psychiatrists call this phenomenon "obsessive movement syndrome in children".

What is this? And how can you help your child get rid of obsession?

How to recognize schizophrenia in a child? Find out about this from ours.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder: concept and characteristics

As a rule, obsessive movements coexist with some other neurotic manifestations: obsessive thoughts (the baby constantly thinks that his shoelaces are untied or his jacket is unbuttoned, and he constantly checks that everything is in order), rituals (when going to bed, the child always rolls the blanket into a tube and, falling asleep, squeezes the edge of the rolled blanket in his hand , or on the way to the kindergarten, be sure to bypass the birch tree growing near the fence, although this lengthens the path).

The complex of such painful manifestations is called "obsessive-compulsive disorder"(OCD) or “obsessive-compulsive disorder.” It includes as its component obsessive movements.

The word "obsessive" means that a person cannot control his own actions or states. They impose themselves on him, as if by force.

Ideas, thoughts, images, (if they are constantly repeated), fantasies can be obsessive.

Typical compulsive movements

The most typical obsessive movements in children:

  • biting nails or a pen (if this is a schoolchild),
  • blink (nervous tic),
  • fiddle with something (the same pen, a button, your finger, a small boy can even fiddle with his penis, but this is in rare cases),
  • itch,
  • jerk your head
  • bite your lips
  • chew or suck something all the time,
  • fasten and unfasten buttons.

There are also rare obsessive movements: say, a child twitches his left shoulder all the time, or always carries cones, nuts and some kind of garbage in his pocket and constantly sorts them out, or washes his hands every five minutes.

Once noticed, even if they seem strange to parents, such manifestations do not mean anything.

Causes of tics

Since obsessive movements are a neurotic symptom, they can be caused by all the same reasons, which cause any neuroses.

There may be other reasons.

No negative factor automatically does not lead to neurosis, and even all of them together do not always affect the child. It's very individual.

Ultimately, a person causes neurosis in himself: it is his personal response to one or another challenge in life, in this case, an abnormal response.

Errors in education leading to neurosis in children:

Symptoms, signs and meaning

The obsessive movements themselves are symptom.

They do not constitute the content, the essence of the painful state.

Since the baby behaves like this, he nervous, he has some internal problems that he is unconsciously trying to solve in such a strange way.

Rituals and obsessive actions, strange as it may seem, are a kind of self (or auto) psychotherapeutic procedure.

In this way, the child tries to calm himself down and normalize his state of mind. Of course, he doesn’t always succeed in this, because the method is not the most effective.

However, it is important to understand that obsessive movements themselves do not cause any harm unless they turn into self-harm, which is extremely rare.

Treatment

Usually the doctor to whom a child with similar symptoms was brought will does not seek to find out their origin. This is quite difficult, you need psychological or psychoanalytic qualifications.

The doctor, as a rule, simply prescribes sedatives for the baby, from mild to quite strong, as well as vitamins and massage. Such a standard treatment set for this neurosis is not explained by medical, but rather psychological and even commercial reasons.

Doctors, massage therapists and pharmacists are educated at the same universities and often perceive themselves as a single corporation, so they consider themselves obligated to help each other.

In fact, if a child has problems, they need to be identified. Relieving symptoms, which is achieved by the methods listed above, does not mean curing the disease.

This approach is ineffective. Neurosis is a disease of the soul, not the body. But pills and massage cannot cure a disease of the soul.

Of course, people also Some ways to get rid of it have been developed children from obsessive actions. For example, a child who constantly twirls his hair around his finger is simply cut off or forced to wear a cap even indoors. Sometimes folk sedatives (herbal decoctions) or a bath are used.

Some of these funds quite usable. However, they will not solve the problem without the help of a doctor. A much more effective way to solve the problem is psychotherapeutic methods.

Let's say manual therapy(children sculpt, draw, or make soft toys under the guidance of a teacher-psychotherapist), occupational therapy(for example, working on a potter's wheel), canistherapy(children’s care for dogs and communication with them, specially organized for therapeutic purposes), play therapy(games organized for therapeutic purposes with other children under adult supervision).

However, even in this case, the root of the problem is not identified.

Parents should not show their child their anxiety in connection with his not quite normal manifestations, as this will strengthen them.

There is no need to punish the child, scold him, or forbid him to do what he is doing (the forbidden fruit is sweet, in addition, the child is not able to refuse his manifestations, he does not control them).

The best– ignore such actions as if they do not exist. But at the same time, carefully and unnoticed by the baby, watch him, try to understand him.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children - symptoms and treatment:

Doctor Komarovsky's opinion

The essence of his opinion is that one should not get carried away with eliminating obsessive movements themselves, or fighting them.

Parents' task- not the external “normality” of the child, not his visible similarity with other, healthy children, but overcoming his internal problem.

Obsessive actions are not a disease, but a symptom. Like a rash or fever in some somatic diseases. What's the point of fighting a rash or fever? They show us that something is wrong in the body.

When we focus on symptoms, ignoring the disease itself, we refuse to help the patient. We only want to reassure ourselves, to convince ourselves that everything is fine with him. But the disease is thereby driven deeper.

Therefore, Dr. Komarovsky advises not to rush into buying sedatives and not to try to relieve symptoms without knowing their cause.

His approach is that by themselves painful manifestations are even useful: by signaling to us about trouble in the mental life of the patient.

The task of dad and mom is to identify the cause of this problem.

In this case, they often have to think not so much about the child himself, but about themselves and their relationship with him. You have to change something in yourself.

But today's adults, often and correctly called "consumers", It's easier to go the other way: fill the baby with medications, eliminate the symptoms and calm down.

What was the matter remains unknown.

But parents can avoid the need reconsider something in your own behavior and attitude towards the baby, and, besides, they are pleased that they take such good care of him and spare no effort and money for his treatment.

Dr. Komarovsky considers this path, in most cases, wrong. His approach is based on finding the root of the problem and eliminating it. This is more difficult, but much more useful for the child.

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Children's doctor about tics in children:

Prevention of childhood neurosis

Prevention of neurosis is, first of all, harmonious family relationships. Where friendship, mutual understanding, cooperation, respect and love reign, neurosis usually has nothing to do.

It is very useful from an early age to teach a child to take care of others, including his father and mother.

Neurotics are always selfish. They are obsessed with their problems. If attention is diverted to another person, this has a psychotherapeutic effect.

You need to find out what the baby likes to do and give him the opportunity to do what he loves. A very good method of prevention - labor, productive activity.

This could be growing berries in a greenhouse, caring for a puppy, or cleaning the apartment.

There must be a certain the result of the baby's efforts, which he sees and which is appreciated by adults.

It’s good if the baby loves animals, it’s especially useful to take care of them, and this care should be regular, daily.

It is very important that the child led an active lifestyle, every day I learned something new, learned to explore the world around me.

Communication with loved ones can also be considered as the prevention of neurosis.

It is important to take care of the baby’s health, since a weakened nervous system can be a consequence of weakness of the body as a whole.

At the same time, playing sports with constant participation in competitions can, on the contrary, provoke neurosis. It is better to engage not in sports, but in physical education and physical labor.

A healthy, loved, properly raised baby, surrounded by loved ones, leading an active lifestyle. not susceptible to neuroses. If this happens, it can be cured without much difficulty.

What to do if a child is afraid to poop in kindergarten? you will find on our website.

What to do with the “bad habits of children” - the so-called obsessive movements? Word from the expert:

The most precious thing that parents have is the baby that has recently appeared in their lives. Dad and mom watch his growth and development every day. And when observing any deviations, you cannot rely on the fact that everything will somehow work itself out. It happens that children experience obsessive movement syndrome.

The concept of obsessive movement syndrome in children

These are frequently repeated monotonous movements. They appear in children from the first years of life and primary school age. Violations occur at the mental and emotional levels. The movements that the child makes are unconscious and uncontrollable. The child will not be able to answer the question why he is doing this.

Most often, fearful children and children from difficult families are susceptible to this unpleasant disorder. They get lost, seeing difficulties in overcoming obstacles, experiences and other negative emotions on their own. Obsessive movements can torment for a long period, and in the case of a negative course, some obsessive movements are replaced by others. Sometimes the disorder manifests itself as a nervous tic.

What are obsessive movements?

Manifestations of movements in this syndrome are varied, we list the most common:

  • Frequent sniffing and wiping;
  • Flapping or shaking limbs;
  • Bruxism;
  • Twitching of the genitals (boys);
  • Head shaking;
  • Pulling hair, stroking it, twirling it around a finger, etc.
  • Rocking the entire body for no apparent reason;
  • Nail biting;
  • Pinching yourself on the ears, cheeks, arms, chin, nose;
  • Thumb sucking;
  • Blinking and the desire to squint for no reason.

Obsessive movement syndrome in children

Obsessive movements in children, which have developed into a full-fledged syndrome, are a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive neurosis. There is a serious problem inside the child that he cannot voice, but causes him psychological pain.

Most often, the baby does not know the reasons for his experiences and cannot understand what is happening to him. The syndrome is a manifestation of an internal reaction to problems in the parental relationship.

Main causes

The baby’s psyche is still poorly developed, has no immunity and reacts sharply to any provoking influences of a negative nature. The reasons why obsessive movements may appear are often:

  • attention deficit;
  • difficult situations that traumatize the psyche;
  • long stay in an unfavorable environment;
  • global mistakes in education - indifference or excessive demands;
  • severe stress;
  • changes in usual life - moving, changing schools, leaving parents and their long absence, staying with strangers.
  • sharp fear.

Drug treatment

Medicines for neurosis are prescribed only as an auxiliary component. They affect blood supply, restoration of nerve cells, calm, and increase sleep duration. Medicines only relieve stress in children.
Doctors prescribe:

  • psychotropic drugs – Phenibut, Tazepam, Conapax, Sibazon. Used for a short time. The dosage regimen is developed taking into account the possible consequences that may affect the development of the child.
  • Pantogam and Glycine, normalizing the processes of excitation and inhibition;
  • herbal teas – Evening Tale, Hipp, Phytosedan, Calm-ka, Bayu-bai, Calming for children;
  • Treatment can be supplemented with the help of vitamin complexes, which contain an increased amount of components belonging to group B.
  • sedatives based on natural and herbal ingredients. Such as Phytosedan, Persen and Tenoten.
  • homeopathic medicines – Nervoxel, Baby-Sed, Naughty, Hare, Notta, Dormikind;

Doctor Komarovsky's opinion

Evgeny Komarovsky advises building positive relationships in the family. Think about whether there was a scandal in the family, a negative situation in the children's team, whether the child was recently sick, what medications he took before the symptoms appeared. Study the side effects of medications in the form of disorders in the central nervous system. A child under psychological stress can bring himself to a state that can threaten his health. Contacting a specialist is very important and necessary. The natural goal of parents is a healthy child.

Do not focus on the baby's unnatural movements. He does them unconsciously and trying to prohibit them from doing them through pressure will only worsen the emotional and psychological state of the baby. The best way to influence is to distract the child. Do something together, ask for help, or go for a walk. You cannot speak in a raised voice and shout at the child at the moment of unmotivated movements. React appropriately so as not to cause even greater anxiety and fear in the child. Continue to communicate with your baby in a quiet, calm voice.

The neurologist usually prescribes one or more sedatives, magnesium and vitamins. Will recommend a massage course, exercise therapy and a swimming pool. This treatment is quite expensive. If there are no serious abnormalities, there is no need to stuff the child with pills and injections, as recovery will not occur. Use more effective ways to help your child - this is the love of mom and dad, endurance, participation in his development.

If parents begin to set aside time for daily walks and begin to discuss various topics with their son or daughter, all psychological problems and neurosis will go away.

Prevention of childhood neurosis

Preventive measures to prevent unobtrusive movements are carried out with healthy children and those cured of neurosis. Try as much as possible to eliminate factors that could negatively affect his mental state. From the first days of life, pay special attention to his development and upbringing. Take care of your child, no one except you will make him a person with a capital “P”, no one will teach him the correct reactions in life.

The most important and necessary qualities are persistence, hard work, endurance, self-confidence, and the ability to cope with stressful situations.

Without a prosperous atmosphere in the family, this will be difficult to do. Try to teach your child from childhood to maintain personal hygiene, neatness and exercise. Don't ruin your children, don't destroy their self-esteem by constantly discussing their shortcomings. Moreover, they are relative. For parents from different families, the same disadvantage of a child will be perceived with varying degrees of undesirability. Learn to delve into the problems of your children and support them, do not demand blind obedience to adults (parents), suppressing the independence and initiative of your own child. This is how you hurt him.

Even adults are not always right. It is important to create a trusting relationship with the child so that he can turn to his parents with any question. In addition to guiding your child, you must become his friend. This will prevent long-term stress and help you understand your child better and know more about his personal life.

Love for children, caring for them and spending time together provides full development. Instill important character traits, explain how to act correctly in a given situation, guide them. And also be sure to respond promptly to unwanted deviations in behavior or health. The greatest responsibility for the condition and capabilities of our children lies with the parents.

Obsessive movements in a child are quite common. They are difficult because they involve constant repetition of monotonous movements over a long period of time. For example, parents may begin to worry about the question of why it sways, shakes its 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 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?

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 a child has been snapping his fingers for a long time, 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

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:

  1. Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
  2. 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 physical force towards 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:

  1. Soothing baths. During daily water procedures, you can use herbs such as string, chamomile, lavender, mint. They calm the nervous system and relieve tension.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 it is within the power of parents 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. You can also use the methods that were described in the section “Treatment using 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.