Hi Missy. I never had any professional help for it, so I really don't know what a doctor would recommend, except perhaps therapy and some kind of medication. Does she have fillings or is the problem definitely bio-chemical? I suspect the fillings may have triggered it for me because I didn't have it until I had them, but I might be wrong.

I've read that it's caused by a serotonin problem. Eating foods that contain tryptophan can help the natural creation of serotonin - like milk, eggs, bananas. You can get a list of foods high in this quite easily by doing a google search.

I've also read it could be due to magnesium deficiency, so taking a supplement (not magnesium oxide) might help.

How bad is she at the moment? Cases vary from very bad to moderate anxiety. What is her relationship like with her parents? When you have OCD, then you get panic attacks that demand to be relieved, and often doing a ritual is a way of relieving it, but if she had a good relationship with her parents, then maybe she could be encouraged to go to them for a hug when she feels anxious, rather than to feel she has to hide her anxiety from them and having to relieve it in another way.

Does she believe in God? If she does, then telling herself that God is in control can help relieve the need for rituals. Becoming a Christian helped me in this respect, because I told myself and accepted that the rituals wouldn't make any difference.

Trying not to get hungry can help, but to take regular healthy snacks. Chocolate is good for making serotonin but cam cause a sharp drop in it too.

I've also heard that not absorbing food very well can contribute to anxiety, so maybe eating foods or taking a supplement suitable for her age can help with that - I'm sure Russ or Laura will be able to recommend something.

I've really just learnt to live with the condition, and through force of will get over the rituals, knowing they won't make any difference. Some other things I still have, like compulsion to blink, anxiety, phobias.

Therapy might well help her to deal with some phobias. OCD often centers around particular phobias i.e. germs, radiation, outdoors, health. Dealing with the phobias might help.

Hope this is of some use.