Huda, homeopathy WAS Re:...another tough day!

[Guest guest]

Hi Huda, I believe SSRIs and cognitive behavior therapy (E & RP) are the only

treatments for OCD that have been proved in double-blind studies to reduce

OCD symptoms. The only alternative treatment that showed some benefit so

far is St. s Wort I believe.

If your child's OCD is mild or moderate, perhaps you could combine E & RP with

homeopathy, and avoid SSRI use. I like that the treatment center plans to

use CBT (make sure it includes E & RP) along with the alternative approaches.

If you decide to try homeopathy I would like to hear what you think about

it.

One thought about SSRI use: it's not necessarily a life sentence. Kids can

take them for a period of time while they work on getting OCD under control

through E & RP. We've been able to reduce our daughter's Zoloft from 200mg to

125mg. In our child's case, each SSRI we've tried has been helpful, but far

from a miracle, and she has made the most recovery through E & RP. For those

uneasy about giving these meds to their children, it may help to consider

them as potentially " temporary " , like a cast on a broken leg.

Are you from the UK Huda? My sister moved to Scotland a few years ago, and

I learned from her that homeopathy is common there. Her national health

program pediatrician referred her infant daughter to a homeopathist for

treatment of a reflux problem, after conventional medicine was only partly

helpful. I was amazed, this would never happen in the US!

Kathy R. in Indiana

Re: ...another tough day!

> >Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2000 11:25:41 EDT

> >

> >Laurie,

> >

> > Lesli and Kathy have already commented on the benefits of

medication

> >from a parents prospective, so i'm going to point out why a therapist

would

> >recommend it!

> >

> > When dealing with someone whose anxiety levels are so high, it is

> >difficult to communicate to them how to change their behaviours. When

> >recommending medication (Prozac, Paxil, Luvox, Celexa or Anafranil) it is

> >to

> >help the brain chemicals adjust so that the client is more able to

control

> >their symptoms. Not everyone needs medication, nor will they all need to

> >remain on medication forever. Once the basic principles of OCD therapy

are

> >applied, they can be used in any anxiety provoking situation.

> >

> > I would guess that most parents will try to avoid medications, but

since

> >there is no non-traditional (homiopathy) that will work for OCD, we are

> >left

> >with no choice. Research has been conducted over the years on diet,

various

> >combinations of homiopothy, etc. and none have proved helpful for OCD.

St.

> >'s Wart will work with mild depression, but it is not to be mixed

with

> >any of the traditional medications. Valariun (which smells like wet

rubber

> >boots) is available in various forms to relieve anxiety and has a short

> >term

> >calming effect. Lavender also is calming and smells a lot better!

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