new to group

January 15, 2008

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. My son is 12 years old. He

started exhibiting signs as early as 4. We struggled with it for

years until we got a firm handle on the fact that it was OCD (not

anxiety, not school phobia, etc.), but the puzzle began to click into

place after researching my husband's family. It was a verboten topic

in their family, but I finally got them talking. There were a number

of relatives who exhibited contamination and religious/scrupulosity

categories of OCD.

Here is a very interesting thing that occurred in our family, and I

hope it may help you all think about how powerful it is to try to

extinguish compulsions. A member of our family who had severe OCD

(religious/scrupulosity/contamination) had a benign brain tumor

removed which left her paralyzed (due to an anesthesia error). It

was a horrible event, however, while talking to her months afterward

about her OCD (which she'd shown as a very young child) she told me

that her OCD had abated to a very large extent (90%) because she

could no longer perform her rituals! I was fascinated by this. She

had spent hours washing, praying, etc. before surgery. When she was

not able to do this after surgery, her obsessive thoughts could not

get the " relief " compulsions are thought to give, and over time, the

thoughts decreased.

I think this is why CBT works so well. It works to eliminate the

compulsive behaviors first, which helps decrease the obsessive

thoughts. I don't want to belabor this here, but I think it's

fascinating that my relative was sort of a " test case " for what

happens if rituals cannot be performed. It's not likely that this

could ever be tested on anyone to any great degree without

restraining them for a long period of time, which is just

impossible. I just found it very enlightening regarding the theories

of tackling the compulsive behavior before dealing with the obssesive

thoughts.

That said, although we got great results with medication, CBT, and

exposure therapy with my son, he still obsesses at times. However,

he does not perform the compulsive behaviors which took up so much

time and caused such great anxiety if they were not completed

correctly. He learned that performing the rituals had nothing to do

with the thoughts over time, and now he handles his tendency to

obsess about all manner of things with greater control.

: My son also showed flashes of scrupulosity/religious

related OCD, and it actually kept me away from organized religion,

because I was so afraid he would just take off with that if he

started thinking too much about God, evil, etc. The more information

OCDers get, the more they do with it, etc.

Although I kept him off medication for years (I, too, tried Omega 3

for a while), we eventually placed him on Zoloft. It has worked very

well for him, and he's been on it for four years or so. It's

greatest effect was in easing the anxiety that had so overwhelmed

him.

I do hope researchers continue to look into the genetic component of

OCD. We have been part of the studies at s Hopkins regarding

this. My nephew (now 4) was recently diagnosed with OCD. Luckily

for him, the family is in full communication regarding our genetic

heritage and OCD, so his mom didn't have to struggle to figure out

what was happening with him.

Sorry so long, just wanted to give you some background. Thanks again

for the warm welcomes.

>

January 15, 2008

Great work you've done, . Welcome to the group. The full series

is being reprinted this month in the Schafer Autism Report.

Lenny Schafer

EOHarm List Co-Host and

SAR editor.

>

> Hi everyone.

> I just joined this group. I see you guys have talked about my

> series... Thank you so much for spreading the word about the reports.

> The team worked very hard.

> I will be at A1 this year. I would love to meet anyone and hear your

> comments on our series...

>

> Thank you!

> Reynolds

> Areynolds.autism@...

> www.combatingautismfromwithin.blogspot.com

>

January 15, 2008

Hi and welcome.

I am new as well. I just replied to Jeanette from Ontario who is

also new to the group. Our son (17 yrs) has OCD. We also have a genetic

factor. No one else in the family has had OCD, but there is family

history of other anxiety disorders and related disorders on both sides

of our family. My mom was bipolar. My paternal grandmother has

generalized anxiety disorder. My husband's father has depression and my

husband has generalized anxiety disorder. So, basically our son has

some pretty messed up genes. We also have a daughter (20 yrs) who

apparently got all the good genes.

From what I have seen already, this is a really supportive group.

They have a lot of knowledge and experience they can share with

us " newbies " .

Connie

January 15, 2008

Wow, that is interesting about your paralyzed relative. As I was

reading it I was thinking about how she was forced to do exposure

therapy, not being able to perform the ritual. She is proof of what

I've read about how exposure therpy and CBT can actually change your

brain and how it works. That is pretty cool.

We also have avoided church due to our son's propensity to focus on

all things religious, then meltdown with his scupulosity. I remember

one phase where he NEEDED a 100% guarantee that he wasn't going to go

to hell. Anything I said made it worse. <sigh> Anyway,at times I've

wondered if that was really the best choice (avoiding church). I've

found, for our son, the more we avoid a situation, even if it calms

him at the time, the more he fears it when he is confronted with it

again. There is something to desensitizing the OCDer to the things

they fear, but how to apply that without causing meltdown can sure be

tricky. Our son's therapist has been working with me as well as our

son, to try to help me to realize that my protecting him doesn't

always help him. As a Mom, it might feel like the right thing to do,

and it might even feel right at the time. .. But, in the long run, it

doesn't help him. But, I do know what you mean about being afraid of

them being around it because they start thinking about it too much.

Our son has done that a lot. Reading Biology last year for school, he

started melting down about genetic diseases because my Dad has

Alzheimers. These situations are obviously OCD overreacting to a

situation. How to handle them? I'm not entirely sure. We've still

got some of this to tackle in therapy. I just know I've really

missed church over the years.

BJ

>

> Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. My son is 12 years old. He

> started exhibiting signs as early as 4. We struggled with it for

> years until we got a firm handle on the fact that it was OCD (not

> anxiety, not school phobia, etc.), but the puzzle began to click into

> place after researching my husband's family. It was a verboten topic

> in their family, but I finally got them talking. There were a number

> of relatives who exhibited contamination and religious/scrupulosity

> categories of OCD.

>

> Here is a very interesting thing that occurred in our family, and I

> hope it may help you all think about how powerful it is to try to

> extinguish compulsions. A member of our family who had severe OCD

> (religious/scrupulosity/contamination) had a benign brain tumor

> removed which left her paralyzed (due to an anesthesia error). It

> was a horrible event, however, while talking to her months afterward

> about her OCD (which she'd shown as a very young child) she told me

> that her OCD had abated to a very large extent (90%) because she

> could no longer perform her rituals! I was fascinated by this. She

> had spent hours washing, praying, etc. before surgery. When she was

> not able to do this after surgery, her obsessive thoughts could not

> get the " relief " compulsions are thought to give, and over time, the

> thoughts decreased.

>

> I think this is why CBT works so well. It works to eliminate the

> compulsive behaviors first, which helps decrease the obsessive

> thoughts. I don't want to belabor this here, but I think it's

> fascinating that my relative was sort of a " test case " for what

> happens if rituals cannot be performed. It's not likely that this

> could ever be tested on anyone to any great degree without

> restraining them for a long period of time, which is just

> impossible. I just found it very enlightening regarding the theories

> of tackling the compulsive behavior before dealing with the obssesive

> thoughts.

>

> That said, although we got great results with medication, CBT, and

> exposure therapy with my son, he still obsesses at times. However,

> he does not perform the compulsive behaviors which took up so much

> time and caused such great anxiety if they were not completed

> correctly. He learned that performing the rituals had nothing to do

> with the thoughts over time, and now he handles his tendency to

> obsess about all manner of things with greater control.

>

> : My son also showed flashes of scrupulosity/religious

> related OCD, and it actually kept me away from organized religion,

> because I was so afraid he would just take off with that if he

> started thinking too much about God, evil, etc. The more information

> OCDers get, the more they do with it, etc.

>

> Although I kept him off medication for years (I, too, tried Omega 3

> for a while), we eventually placed him on Zoloft. It has worked very

> well for him, and he's been on it for four years or so. It's

> greatest effect was in easing the anxiety that had so overwhelmed

> him.

>

> I do hope researchers continue to look into the genetic component of

> OCD. We have been part of the studies at s Hopkins regarding

> this. My nephew (now 4) was recently diagnosed with OCD. Luckily

> for him, the family is in full communication regarding our genetic

> heritage and OCD, so his mom didn't have to struggle to figure out

> what was happening with him.

>

> Sorry so long, just wanted to give you some background. Thanks again

> for the warm welcomes.

>

> >

>

January 15, 2008

A comment regarding your relative's inability to perform rituals, and

that she was in an enforced or no-choice situation, due to her

paralysis (this might apply mainly to scrupulosity or hyper

responsibility ocd).

I know that ERP is supposed to take place with willing participation

of the client, but I think there is something to enforcing

treatment, or making it somehow non-negotoiable in some cases, that

relieves the individual of responsibility for choosing to do or not

do the ritual. If one has no choice but to forgo the rituals

(illness, hospitalization, inpatient treatment, disaster/crisis, or

whatever non-negotiable setting) I think one's mind tells them that

they are not then fully resposnible for consequences-which is a

relief in a way.

So in cases of scrupulosity or hyper responsbility, an enforced

treatment situation might even be relieving b/c the individual is

absolved of all the doubts and baggage associated with free will and

choice. I think in my dd's case (scrupulous based eating disorder)

that was the only way to get her to eat enough(inpatient).

If we could have created the non-negotiable set up at home we would

have. Inpatient enforced treatment kind of breaks the back of the

rituals that are absolute and non-negotiable in the sufferer's

perception, so that they can see it otherwise, and treatment can move

forward. At some point the free will and choice has to come into

play again, but maybe once the ocd-individual is less compromised by

a rigid and absolutist perception (and the increased flexibility is

initiated by " forced " violation of rituals).

nancy grace

> >

> > Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. My son is 12 years

old. He

> > started exhibiting signs as early as 4. We struggled with it for

> > years until we got a firm handle on the fact that it was OCD (not

> > anxiety, not school phobia, etc.), but the puzzle began to click

into

> > place after researching my husband's family. It was a verboten

topic

> > in their family, but I finally got them talking. There were a

number

> > of relatives who exhibited contamination and

religious/scrupulosity

> > categories of OCD.

> >

> > Here is a very interesting thing that occurred in our family, and

I

> > hope it may help you all think about how powerful it is to try to

> > extinguish compulsions. A member of our family who had severe

OCD

> > (religious/scrupulosity/contamination) had a benign brain tumor

> > removed which left her paralyzed (due to an anesthesia error).

It

> > was a horrible event, however, while talking to her months

afterward

> > about her OCD (which she'd shown as a very young child) she told

me

> > that her OCD had abated to a very large extent (90%) because she

> > could no longer perform her rituals! I was fascinated by this.

She

> > had spent hours washing, praying, etc. before surgery. When she

was

> > not able to do this after surgery, her obsessive thoughts could

not

> > get the " relief " compulsions are thought to give, and over time,

the

> > thoughts decreased.

> >

> > I think this is why CBT works so well. It works to eliminate the

> > compulsive behaviors first, which helps decrease the obsessive

> > thoughts. I don't want to belabor this here, but I think it's

> > fascinating that my relative was sort of a " test case " for what

> > happens if rituals cannot be performed. It's not likely that

this

> > could ever be tested on anyone to any great degree without

> > restraining them for a long period of time, which is just

> > impossible. I just found it very enlightening regarding the

theories

> > of tackling the compulsive behavior before dealing with the

obssesive

> > thoughts.

> >

> > That said, although we got great results with medication, CBT,

and

> > exposure therapy with my son, he still obsesses at times.

However,

> > he does not perform the compulsive behaviors which took up so

much

> > time and caused such great anxiety if they were not completed

> > correctly. He learned that performing the rituals had nothing to

do

> > with the thoughts over time, and now he handles his tendency to

> > obsess about all manner of things with greater control.

> >

> > : My son also showed flashes of

scrupulosity/religious

> > related OCD, and it actually kept me away from organized

religion,

> > because I was so afraid he would just take off with that if he

> > started thinking too much about God, evil, etc. The more

information

> > OCDers get, the more they do with it, etc.

> >

> > Although I kept him off medication for years (I, too, tried Omega

3

> > for a while), we eventually placed him on Zoloft. It has worked

very

> > well for him, and he's been on it for four years or so. It's

> > greatest effect was in easing the anxiety that had so overwhelmed

> > him.

> >

> > I do hope researchers continue to look into the genetic component

of

> > OCD. We have been part of the studies at s Hopkins regarding

> > this. My nephew (now 4) was recently diagnosed with OCD.

Luckily

> > for him, the family is in full communication regarding our

genetic

> > heritage and OCD, so his mom didn't have to struggle to figure

out

> > what was happening with him.

> >

> > Sorry so long, just wanted to give you some background. Thanks

again

> > for the warm welcomes.

> >

> > >

> >

>

January 15, 2008

I think you are right on target, . That's why " talk " therapy, or

trying to reason with the obsessive throughts behind the rituals is

futile. Interesting how tackling the rituals first works backward to

get at the obsessive thoughts. The thoughts lose all their power.

> > >

> > > Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. My son is 12 years

> old. He

> > > started exhibiting signs as early as 4. We struggled with it for

> > > years until we got a firm handle on the fact that it was OCD (not

> > > anxiety, not school phobia, etc.), but the puzzle began to click

> into

> > > place after researching my husband's family. It was a verboten

> topic

> > > in their family, but I finally got them talking. There were a

> number

> > > of relatives who exhibited contamination and

> religious/scrupulosity

> > > categories of OCD.

> > >

> > > Here is a very interesting thing that occurred in our family, and

> I

> > > hope it may help you all think about how powerful it is to try to

> > > extinguish compulsions. A member of our family who had severe

> OCD

> > > (religious/scrupulosity/contamination) had a benign brain tumor

> > > removed which left her paralyzed (due to an anesthesia error).

> It

> > > was a horrible event, however, while talking to her months

> afterward

> > > about her OCD (which she'd shown as a very young child) she told

> me

> > > that her OCD had abated to a very large extent (90%) because she

> > > could no longer perform her rituals! I was fascinated by this.

> She

> > > had spent hours washing, praying, etc. before surgery. When she

> was

> > > not able to do this after surgery, her obsessive thoughts could

> not

> > > get the " relief " compulsions are thought to give, and over time,

> the

> > > thoughts decreased.

> > >

> > > I think this is why CBT works so well. It works to eliminate the

> > > compulsive behaviors first, which helps decrease the obsessive

> > > thoughts. I don't want to belabor this here, but I think it's

> > > fascinating that my relative was sort of a " test case " for what

> > > happens if rituals cannot be performed. It's not likely that

> this

> > > could ever be tested on anyone to any great degree without

> > > restraining them for a long period of time, which is just

> > > impossible. I just found it very enlightening regarding the

> theories

> > > of tackling the compulsive behavior before dealing with the

> obssesive

> > > thoughts.

> > >

> > > That said, although we got great results with medication, CBT,

> and

> > > exposure therapy with my son, he still obsesses at times.

> However,

> > > he does not perform the compulsive behaviors which took up so

> much

> > > time and caused such great anxiety if they were not completed

> > > correctly. He learned that performing the rituals had nothing to

> do

> > > with the thoughts over time, and now he handles his tendency to

> > > obsess about all manner of things with greater control.

> > >

> > > : My son also showed flashes of

> scrupulosity/religious

> > > related OCD, and it actually kept me away from organized

> religion,

> > > because I was so afraid he would just take off with that if he

> > > started thinking too much about God, evil, etc. The more

> information

> > > OCDers get, the more they do with it, etc.

> > >

> > > Although I kept him off medication for years (I, too, tried Omega

> 3

> > > for a while), we eventually placed him on Zoloft. It has worked

> very

> > > well for him, and he's been on it for four years or so. It's

> > > greatest effect was in easing the anxiety that had so overwhelmed

> > > him.

> > >

> > > I do hope researchers continue to look into the genetic component

> of

> > > OCD. We have been part of the studies at s Hopkins regarding

> > > this. My nephew (now 4) was recently diagnosed with OCD.

> Luckily

> > > for him, the family is in full communication regarding our

> genetic

> > > heritage and OCD, so his mom didn't have to struggle to figure

> out

> > > what was happening with him.

> > >

> > > Sorry so long, just wanted to give you some background. Thanks

> again

> > > for the warm welcomes.

> > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

January 15, 2008

Good point, Grace.

> > >

> > > Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. My son is 12 years

> old. He

> > > started exhibiting signs as early as 4. We struggled with it for

> > > years until we got a firm handle on the fact that it was OCD (not

> > > anxiety, not school phobia, etc.), but the puzzle began to click

> into

> > > place after researching my husband's family. It was a verboten

> topic

> > > in their family, but I finally got them talking. There were a

> number

> > > of relatives who exhibited contamination and

> religious/scrupulosity

> > > categories of OCD.

> > >

> > > Here is a very interesting thing that occurred in our family, and

> I

> > > hope it may help you all think about how powerful it is to try to

> > > extinguish compulsions. A member of our family who had severe

> OCD

> > > (religious/scrupulosity/contamination) had a benign brain tumor

> > > removed which left her paralyzed (due to an anesthesia error).

> It

> > > was a horrible event, however, while talking to her months

> afterward

> > > about her OCD (which she'd shown as a very young child) she told

> me

> > > that her OCD had abated to a very large extent (90%) because she

> > > could no longer perform her rituals! I was fascinated by this.

> She

> > > had spent hours washing, praying, etc. before surgery. When she

> was

> > > not able to do this after surgery, her obsessive thoughts could

> not

> > > get the " relief " compulsions are thought to give, and over time,

> the

> > > thoughts decreased.

> > >

> > > I think this is why CBT works so well. It works to eliminate the

> > > compulsive behaviors first, which helps decrease the obsessive

> > > thoughts. I don't want to belabor this here, but I think it's

> > > fascinating that my relative was sort of a " test case " for what

> > > happens if rituals cannot be performed. It's not likely that

> this

> > > could ever be tested on anyone to any great degree without

> > > restraining them for a long period of time, which is just

> > > impossible. I just found it very enlightening regarding the

> theories

> > > of tackling the compulsive behavior before dealing with the

> obssesive

> > > thoughts.

> > >

> > > That said, although we got great results with medication, CBT,

> and

> > > exposure therapy with my son, he still obsesses at times.

> However,

> > > he does not perform the compulsive behaviors which took up so

> much

> > > time and caused such great anxiety if they were not completed

> > > correctly. He learned that performing the rituals had nothing to

> do

> > > with the thoughts over time, and now he handles his tendency to

> > > obsess about all manner of things with greater control.

> > >

> > > : My son also showed flashes of

> scrupulosity/religious

> > > related OCD, and it actually kept me away from organized

> religion,

> > > because I was so afraid he would just take off with that if he

> > > started thinking too much about God, evil, etc. The more

> information

> > > OCDers get, the more they do with it, etc.

> > >

> > > Although I kept him off medication for years (I, too, tried Omega

> 3

> > > for a while), we eventually placed him on Zoloft. It has worked

> very

> > > well for him, and he's been on it for four years or so. It's

> > > greatest effect was in easing the anxiety that had so overwhelmed

> > > him.

> > >

> > > I do hope researchers continue to look into the genetic component

> of

> > > OCD. We have been part of the studies at s Hopkins regarding

> > > this. My nephew (now 4) was recently diagnosed with OCD.

> Luckily

> > > for him, the family is in full communication regarding our

> genetic

> > > heritage and OCD, so his mom didn't have to struggle to figure

> out

> > > what was happening with him.

> > >

> > > Sorry so long, just wanted to give you some background. Thanks

> again

> > > for the warm welcomes.

> > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

January 15, 2008

Ms. Reynolds:

I will be speaking at AutismOne this year and would be honored to meet you. I

think I will be giving what I call my " X-files " lecture which puts the current

situation in perspective - historic perspective.

How did we get to a place where poorly informed physician-administrator civil

servants became the dupes dark-hearted individuals as they a corrupted and

manipulated a medical intervention that was originally meant to protect but

instead became a tool to make people sick and create revenue streams.

This is so much more than heavy metals, the toxicity of which these physicians

knew nothing about - that is put the tip of the iceberg. And when they found out

they went into cover up mode, because by now they were but employees of the

manufacturers.

KP Stoller, MD

President, International Hyperbaric Medical Assoc

Medical Director, Hyperbaric Medical Center of New Mexico

www.hbotnm.com

_____________________________________________________________

How pure is your water? Click now and get pure water filtration.

http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2221/fc/Ioyw6i4tVtY0yuNXMcFQ5O2dKNlvNmwQD\

P1QYM4PGOA0xNZxtZ5Npa/

January 15, 2008

Ms. Reynolds:

I will be speaking at AutismOne this year and would be honored to meet you. I

think I will be giving what I call my " X-files " lecture which puts the current

situation in perspective - historic perspective.

How did we get to a place where poorly informed physician-administrator civil

servants became the dupes dark-hearted individuals as they a corrupted and

manipulated a medical intervention that was originally meant to protect but

instead became a tool to make people sick and create revenue streams.

This is so much more than heavy metals, the toxicity of which these physicians

knew nothing about - that is put the tip of the iceberg. And when they found out

they went into cover up mode, because by now they were but employees of the

manufacturers.

KP Stoller, MD

President, International Hyperbaric Medical Assoc

Medical Director, Hyperbaric Medical Center of New Mexico

www.hbotnm.com

_____________________________________________________________

How pure is your water? Click now and get pure water filtration.

http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2221/fc/Ioyw6i4tVtY0yuNXMcFQ5O2dKNlvNmwQD\

P1QYM4PGOA0xNZxtZ5Npa/

January 16, 2008

I am also fascinated with the paralyzed relative -- good information

for the researchers to have. And I really appreciate everyone elses

thoughtful comments. I am wondering how this works into the school

and school phobia picture. I know this is a hot topic -- for me and

for many of you as well. My son is on homebound instruction right

now, and my biggest fear was always that if I let him drop school

(for now), what would he want to drop out of next? Still worrying

about that one. Any thoughts?

mm

> > > >

> > > > Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. My son is 12 years

> > old. He

> > > > started exhibiting signs as early as 4. We struggled with it

for

> > > > years until we got a firm handle on the fact that it was OCD

(not

> > > > anxiety, not school phobia, etc.), but the puzzle began to

click

> > into

> > > > place after researching my husband's family. It was a

verboten

> > topic

> > > > in their family, but I finally got them talking. There were a

> > number

> > > > of relatives who exhibited contamination and

> > religious/scrupulosity

> > > > categories of OCD.

> > > >

> > > > Here is a very interesting thing that occurred in our family,

and

> > I

> > > > hope it may help you all think about how powerful it is to

try to

> > > > extinguish compulsions. A member of our family who had

severe

> > OCD

> > > > (religious/scrupulosity/contamination) had a benign brain

tumor

> > > > removed which left her paralyzed (due to an anesthesia

error).

> > It

> > > > was a horrible event, however, while talking to her months

> > afterward

> > > > about her OCD (which she'd shown as a very young child) she

told

> > me

> > > > that her OCD had abated to a very large extent (90%) because

she

> > > > could no longer perform her rituals! I was fascinated by

this.

> > She

> > > > had spent hours washing, praying, etc. before surgery. When

she

> > was

> > > > not able to do this after surgery, her obsessive thoughts

could

> > not

> > > > get the " relief " compulsions are thought to give, and over

time,

> > the

> > > > thoughts decreased.

> > > >

> > > > I think this is why CBT works so well. It works to eliminate

the

> > > > compulsive behaviors first, which helps decrease the

obsessive

> > > > thoughts. I don't want to belabor this here, but I think

it's

> > > > fascinating that my relative was sort of a " test case " for

what

> > > > happens if rituals cannot be performed. It's not likely that

> > this

> > > > could ever be tested on anyone to any great degree without

> > > > restraining them for a long period of time, which is just

> > > > impossible. I just found it very enlightening regarding the

> > theories

> > > > of tackling the compulsive behavior before dealing with the

> > obssesive

> > > > thoughts.

> > > >

> > > > That said, although we got great results with medication,

CBT,

> > and

> > > > exposure therapy with my son, he still obsesses at times.

> > However,

> > > > he does not perform the compulsive behaviors which took up so

> > much

> > > > time and caused such great anxiety if they were not completed

> > > > correctly. He learned that performing the rituals had

nothing to

> > do

> > > > with the thoughts over time, and now he handles his tendency

to

> > > > obsess about all manner of things with greater control.

> > > >

> > > > : My son also showed flashes of

> > scrupulosity/religious

> > > > related OCD, and it actually kept me away from organized

> > religion,

> > > > because I was so afraid he would just take off with that if

he

> > > > started thinking too much about God, evil, etc. The more

> > information

> > > > OCDers get, the more they do with it, etc.

> > > >

> > > > Although I kept him off medication for years (I, too, tried

Omega

> > 3

> > > > for a while), we eventually placed him on Zoloft. It has

worked

> > very

> > > > well for him, and he's been on it for four years or so. It's

> > > > greatest effect was in easing the anxiety that had so

overwhelmed

> > > > him.

> > > >

> > > > I do hope researchers continue to look into the genetic

component

> > of

> > > > OCD. We have been part of the studies at s Hopkins

regarding

> > > > this. My nephew (now 4) was recently diagnosed with OCD.

> > Luckily

> > > > for him, the family is in full communication regarding our

> > genetic

> > > > heritage and OCD, so his mom didn't have to struggle to

figure

> > out

> > > > what was happening with him.

> > > >

> > > > Sorry so long, just wanted to give you some background.

Thanks

> > again

> > > > for the warm welcomes.

> > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

January 16, 2008

I am also fascinated with the paralyzed relative -- good information

for the researchers to have. And I really appreciate everyone elses

thoughtful comments. I am wondering how this works into the school

and school phobia picture. I know this is a hot topic -- for me and

for many of you as well. My son is on homebound instruction right

now, and my biggest fear was always that if I let him drop school

(for now), what would he want to drop out of next? Still worrying

about that one. Any thoughts?

mm

> > > >

> > > > Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. My son is 12 years

> > old. He

> > > > started exhibiting signs as early as 4. We struggled with it

for

> > > > years until we got a firm handle on the fact that it was OCD

(not

> > > > anxiety, not school phobia, etc.), but the puzzle began to

click

> > into

> > > > place after researching my husband's family. It was a

verboten

> > topic

> > > > in their family, but I finally got them talking. There were a

> > number

> > > > of relatives who exhibited contamination and

> > religious/scrupulosity

> > > > categories of OCD.

> > > >

> > > > Here is a very interesting thing that occurred in our family,

and

> > I

> > > > hope it may help you all think about how powerful it is to

try to

> > > > extinguish compulsions. A member of our family who had

severe

> > OCD

> > > > (religious/scrupulosity/contamination) had a benign brain

tumor

> > > > removed which left her paralyzed (due to an anesthesia

error).

> > It

> > > > was a horrible event, however, while talking to her months

> > afterward

> > > > about her OCD (which she'd shown as a very young child) she

told

> > me

> > > > that her OCD had abated to a very large extent (90%) because

she

> > > > could no longer perform her rituals! I was fascinated by

this.

> > She

> > > > had spent hours washing, praying, etc. before surgery. When

she

> > was

> > > > not able to do this after surgery, her obsessive thoughts

could

> > not

> > > > get the " relief " compulsions are thought to give, and over

time,

> > the

> > > > thoughts decreased.

> > > >

> > > > I think this is why CBT works so well. It works to eliminate

the

> > > > compulsive behaviors first, which helps decrease the

obsessive

> > > > thoughts. I don't want to belabor this here, but I think

it's

> > > > fascinating that my relative was sort of a " test case " for

what

> > > > happens if rituals cannot be performed. It's not likely that

> > this

> > > > could ever be tested on anyone to any great degree without

> > > > restraining them for a long period of time, which is just

> > > > impossible. I just found it very enlightening regarding the

> > theories

> > > > of tackling the compulsive behavior before dealing with the

> > obssesive

> > > > thoughts.

> > > >

> > > > That said, although we got great results with medication,

CBT,

> > and

> > > > exposure therapy with my son, he still obsesses at times.

> > However,

> > > > he does not perform the compulsive behaviors which took up so

> > much

> > > > time and caused such great anxiety if they were not completed

> > > > correctly. He learned that performing the rituals had

nothing to

> > do

> > > > with the thoughts over time, and now he handles his tendency

to

> > > > obsess about all manner of things with greater control.

> > > >

> > > > : My son also showed flashes of

> > scrupulosity/religious

> > > > related OCD, and it actually kept me away from organized

> > religion,

> > > > because I was so afraid he would just take off with that if

he

> > > > started thinking too much about God, evil, etc. The more

> > information

> > > > OCDers get, the more they do with it, etc.

> > > >

> > > > Although I kept him off medication for years (I, too, tried

Omega

> > 3

> > > > for a while), we eventually placed him on Zoloft. It has

worked

> > very

> > > > well for him, and he's been on it for four years or so. It's

> > > > greatest effect was in easing the anxiety that had so

overwhelmed

> > > > him.

> > > >

> > > > I do hope researchers continue to look into the genetic

component

> > of

> > > > OCD. We have been part of the studies at s Hopkins

regarding

> > > > this. My nephew (now 4) was recently diagnosed with OCD.

> > Luckily

> > > > for him, the family is in full communication regarding our

> > genetic

> > > > heritage and OCD, so his mom didn't have to struggle to

figure

> > out

> > > > what was happening with him.

> > > >

> > > > Sorry so long, just wanted to give you some background.

Thanks

> > again

> > > > for the warm welcomes.

> > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

January 16, 2008

Can you clarify for me, does your son only go to school 3 days a week and

only a half day then? My daughter is on homebound and it is always a major

struggle to get her back to school. She is in high school though. It is so

difficult to get her to go 2 days in a row. I almost wonder if it would be

better

to to plan for her to go every other day instead of fighting every day to get

her to school. It is very stressful on everyone and usually isn't successful.

Thanks for sharing your story. Kim.

In a message dated 1/16/2008 4:06:03 P.M. Central Standard Time,

nancynina72@... writes:

In my son's case, we shortened his school day. He is still going what

we call a " condensed " day 3 times a week in the 6th grade. When we had

him going half days in 3rd and 4th grade, he got all A's! I had to

work with him, of course, but it still kept him in school. I think

school phobia is simply one of the anxieties OCDers exhibit because

they'd rather be in a safe place--home. However, it was always my

concern that we would slip into too homebound a situation. This goes

back to all the discussion about 504s, but if you can get your school

to agree to a shortened day and some work to take home, it could help.

If you'd like more detail about this, please let me know.

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January 16, 2008