At 11:10 PM 11/12/97 -0500, you wrote:
>
>Someone wanted to know what OCD was...  It is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
> He constantly pulls up his socks, and when he puts socks on, he WILL NOT
>allow the seam to touch his toes,  picks at his cuticles til they bleed and
>has even torn fingernails off. He scratches/rubs his face while playing video
>games and is sooooooo particular about the way his pants fit. He hates tight
>collars, and his sleeves either have to be short or come all the way to his
>wrist.  Heaven forbid if he puts on 2 shirts & the sleeves get caught up
>inside.  He ties his shoes so tight I wonder if his feet get any circulation.
>
>Maybe some of this is allergy related?
>Darla
>
>

Darla,

It sounds like your son is easily irritated.  I don't know much about
obsessive compulsive disorder, but at 16 my daughter was diagnosed with
dysthymia which is a mild form of lifelong depression.  I had not
recognized it as depression because she wasn't "down" - she was irritable,
angry and impulsive.  As a young child, she was the same and became
especially irritated when physically uncomfortable due to tight clothing,
not enough room to lay down, etc.  The same medications that help
depression are also being prescribed for OCD.  Personally, I would like her
to try working with her diet, but she is a college student now and finds
the medication easier than restricting her diet.

Judith