OCD anyone?

[Sisyphus]

Thanks.

[DerGolgo]

When I was about seven, I'd wash my hands, and then wash them again, dozen times a day or more. Also had some other weird habits, like making a weird spinning gesture with my hand, which finally had my mom take me to the doctor. That was in the late 80s, I don't know how aware pediatricians were of OCD, and I don't know what advice (if any) she gave my mother. But I'd get admonished to stop doing that and, eventually, did stop doing that. Stopped constantly washing my hands, too. After 25 years, memory is mildly fuzzy, obviously. But I don't remember doing any of that when I was a teen, haven't had such habits since, so I must have stopped.
I dunno whether I ever had OCD, or it was just a phase. I'm quite sure it was just a phase, but it may have looked OCD-ish to any onlookers.

I'd suggest you find a specialist. Use the internet not to research OCD, but to research the professional reputations of kid's psychologists, or behavior-therapists or whoever would handle such an issue. Someone who's spent years treating kids with OCD should be able to tell whether there's anything to be concerned about, should be able to tell you what to look out for and, if they have a busy practice, won't have that much of an incentive to find something just to get a new patient.

Until you have an actual expert giving you advice, I'd suggest you keep in mind:
Statistically speaking, he's probably fine and only has a weird phase. You, as a parent, are biased to expect the worst, nature set it up that way.

[Bo_9]

My wife has CDO it's like OCD but the letters are in the right order.
We deal with it, but are aware enough to keep an eye out for it in the kids.
Pro help is the only thing to do initially.

[GeekGrl]

I'd recommend talking to your pediatrician/family doctor FIRST (before haring off to a mental health professional or spending oodles of time researching things on the internet). It may, as DG points out, be more of a phase or have origins in something else. A physician that has familiarity with your son and your family should be better at determining what the next step is, and should also be able to make a recommendation / referral to an appropriate therapist/counselor etc.

Things to think about: are there any changes in your son's life or family situation that might be causing him stress? Different school, teacher, family difficulties, a friend moving away, different coaches, etc.? At that age it can be difficult to have good ways of dealing with stress, especially if he's reluctant to share his concerns or doesn't even realize that there is something bothering him. If there has been a significant disruption to his routine and therefore his sense of security, the OCD-type behaviour could be his way of establishing a needed routine in an effort to recreate that missing sense of security.

I think you're right to be concerned, but don't start to panic or diagnose him yourself! Make an appointment with his regular doctor and go from there. Hopefully its not a big deal and he'll grow out of it soon.

[Sisyphus]

Looks like I need some pro help after all. Thanks for the words!