PolarBear Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 I have a six-year-old nephew who has been diagnosed with OCD. Mom has asked me if lying could be a compulsion because he does it constantly. Thoughts? Link to comment
taurean Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 Why not? Sounds pretty likely that such constant lying is a compulsive reaction if he has been diagnosed with OCD. The trick now I imagine is to establish what the OCD core belief is, at the heart of his problems, that produces a frequent compulsion in the form of lying. Link to comment
Ashley Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 It could be compulsive PolarBear, but as you know that doesn't mean it is OCD. From an OCD perspective it only becomes an OCD compulsion if there is a preceding obsessive thought/fear/worry. If I am honest, I don't think it is an aspect of OCD, I have never heard of it being so, but never, say never. Link to comment
taurean Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 54 minutes ago, Ashley said: It could be compulsive PolarBear, but as you know that doesn't mean it is OCD. From an OCD perspective it only becomes an OCD compulsion if there is a preceding obsessive thought/fear/worry. If I am honest, I don't think it is an aspect of OCD, I have never heard of it being so, but never, say never. Since we can obsess and compulse about literally anything, perhaps looking for that OCD core belief is the most practical answer. If none can be found, then the same exercise will surely reveal the reason for all the lying. Link to comment
taurean Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 The clue may be in the word "constantly". I have come across a few people willing to lie to achieve their ends, but there is a limited, and specific, aim to that lying. Repetitive actions suggest to me a locked way of thinking in keeping with OCDM Standard CBT approach for an adult would be to get him to complete a thought log. The one my current therapist used was good because it helped her find any obsessions and resultant compulsions, plus categorise any thinking distortions that were causing an anxiety response. An added bonus was that the thought log put paid to my fear that I also had General Anxiety Disorder. A normal 6 year old would probably treat the exercise as fun. A 6 year old with OCD, afraid of their thought patterns and constantly lying, would be a challenging proposition - might have to be achieved by gentle probing having won his confidence. A job for uncle PolarBear perhaps? Link to comment
Caramoole Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Has she been any more specific about the lying? What's he lying about? Is he lying to cover up things he's done, thoughts he's not wanting to admit to etc? You'd need much more detail on how it manifests to be able to say. Link to comment
Caramoole Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Quote Repetitive actions suggest to me a locked way of thinking in keeping with OCDM I know it's late and it may be me....but what's OCDM? Link to comment
taurean Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 2 minutes ago, Caramoole said: I know it's late and it may be me....but what's OCDM? A typo No more, no less Forget the M. Link to comment
paradoxer Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 ^ Isn't it now considered a spectrum disorder? Link to comment
Gemma7 Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 I agree with Caramoole, the important thing is what is he lying about? For example, I have lied in the past that I didn't do a compulsion when I did because of embarrassment. In that instance, the lie wasn't the compulsion but it was because of it. Link to comment
PolarBear Posted November 24, 2017 Author Share Posted November 24, 2017 Thanks. Personally I think there is something else going on. Fear of punishment or something. I've never heard of lying being a compulsion but I'm open to the possibility. Link to comment
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