Is it Possible for a Four Year Old to Inherit OCD. 

One of my four year old twin girls, R, is definitely shows signs of OCD. I have been wondering if this is possibly hereditary because as a child right through to my teenage years and early twenties I suffered from this condition, although I’m not sure it was known as that in those days. I was probably just thought of as a bit nutty. OMG! I found a cure. I became a parent and was instantly cured! Sleep deprivation, screaming babies and your life being taken away from you! Why would care if the house was in the order you wanted it? So a picture frame was crooked! There is toys all over the floor. Never mind!

On a more serious note growing up in a very dysfunctional family home and having what I call an interesting childhood, I found a sense of security in having my little part of the world in order.

An example of this would be that I collected vinyl records and they would always have to have an order alphabetically and all the artists together and then the order in which they were realeased. I used to read a lot, then I had children, no more reading time! However, when I was younger my books were always on a shelf in perfect order of those read and those unread. My school books were always in pristine condition and all my clothes were in an order in my wardrobe.

This was very important to me because in the midst of a car crash of a childhood this is what kept me sane and made me feel normal, although I’m sure my friends thought differently, but it helped me through some very difficult times.

Fast forward to parenthood, well you simply don’t have time, and after 5 children you don’t care or have the desire. Yippee! My OCD is cured!

My own children, well I definitely think two of them inherited my OCD. My eldest who is 21, if you get in her car everything has its place and god forbid you touch or move anything. She also used to share a bedroom with her sister and it was like looking at two different worlds. Her side was perfect and everything in its place and her sister, well that looks like a bomb had just gone off clothes and all her possessions everywhere.

As mentioned above, R  appears to have OCD and this is fascinating. She seems to have rituals and likes to make collections of toys, but the toys are in a particular order always and not to be touched. Every night she puts her sheep watch, Nike cap with her initials on it, her green sunglasses and teenage mutant turtle shoes down by the sofa where she sits ready for the morning. The one that really fascinates me is her books by the side of her bed. They have to be in a certain order which is related to size and if they fall down no-one is allowed to put them back except her. It never ceases to amaze me how carefully she puts them back.

Now is it possible to inherit OCD? I don’t know if I’m honest, but thankfully the cure is out there. Become a PARENT!