As you begin this phase of monitoring your child's symptoms, you will feel a subtle shift in the role you are playing in your child's life. In addition to parent, you are becoming a facilitator in his diagnosis and treatment. Some parents look at the role more as their child's coach. Although it may feel new, trust that it's a positive and necessary step. As you become more informed about OCD and tuned in to his OCD-related challenges, you become a better advocate for him at home, at school, and in the medical community at large.

One-week OCD Symptom Log

The most useful log will cover at minimum a week's time. You may then wish to expand this time period to multiple weeks or a full month. A weeklong log done every few months is also a good way to get a snapshot view of how your child is doing over the period of months or a year. All of this information becomes valuable data for you and for your child's treatment provider when you are ready for a formal diagnosis.