SSRI's - tics

[Guest guest]

I like some of these ideas! Thanks. We are kind of " stuck " with doing

it on this date (not stuck on the couch again, thank God!). For a

while I didn't know if we would even be able to get her there. Now, I

am more confident that we will be able to. She wants it - that is the

key. I will plan a test run, and also speak with the pdoc in depth. I

will also talk at length to the Rabbi. And if for some reason she

started ticcing a lot, maybe we could go out of order and have the

cantor sing or something??? Her tics are a facial grimace. It looks

like a big, fake smile. She is aware of it, but we haven't talked to

her about it yet. We are waiting to see if it will just go away.

Thanks for all the ideas. I am also going to call a private tutor - it

would be a good idea to get her OVERprepared. She is not there yet!!!

As you know, we have been working on putting underwear on and getting

unstuck from the couch! Agh!!!

I am going to try to invite only understanding people, BUT.....most

people don't know about our struggles. Her part will be MUCH shorter

than most....Oh well, that is not what it is all about. Screw the

people who will judge!!!!

Thanks......Ellen

[Guest guest]

I suggest she practice, practice, practice her parts--that is exposure. Use

imaginal exposure that everyone is there, listening, to increase and give

her the opportunity to acclimate to that performance pressure that everyone

feels, but especially our OCD/ticcy kids. If she's worrying about tics,

help her figure out what she can do if an urgent one comes up as she is

reading etc. (Pause and get a drink of water, turn slightly and let it go,

or ??? My child has been successful in substituting a more " normal "

movement for a tic sometimes, something less eye-catching.)

Someone else mentioned that tics may be nonexistent while she is reading but

may then " explode " in intensity after. This is true of my child who has

performed in plays several times--she doesn't tic on stage or while singing,

but sometimes tics almost violently as soon as she exits the stage.

Depending on the physical layout of the building and the usual flow of a Bat

Mitzvah (I've never attended one), maybe you could see that there are places

for her to tic in private if need be.

Seroquel + excitement of the day might overcome drowsiness effect. Maybe

something to discuss with her pdoc?

The Bat Mitzvah is far enough away that it would be impossible to predict

much, even with a " regular " kid who might be sick that day with the flu.

But your dd's response to Prozac is encouraging! I'm so glad to hear that

she's happier and more herself, you both deserve that and I certainly hope

it continues and only gets better from here on out.

Truly, in a few months, if the only problem she has is transient tics, you

will have come to see how less problematic and interfering these are than

OCD symptoms. People reading in front of others for all sorts of reasons

make odd noises, lose their places, tug at their clothing, sway back and

forth, etc. and we in the audience don't usually notice or think too much

about it. I predict your daughter will do just fine! :-)

Kathy R. in Indiana

----- Original Message -----

From: " musicgirl9395 " <musicgirl9395@...>

> Hello,

> The Bat Mitzvah is in a few months. We can't really change it

> because she has already learned some of the hebrew for that day. We

> have thought about making it REALLY small, with just family. But she

> wants a big deal like everyone else has. How can we deny her that

> experience? She has to go on with normal life experiences. She has

> been taking seroquel at nighttime. I guess we could maybe lower the

> ssri for a week (thanks for that idea), or give her seroquel that

> morning. (as long as she doesn't fall asleep in the middle!)

> Relatives come in from out of town, so it is not something to cancel

> easily. However, we will shorten her part in it, and try to make the

> whole thing as short as possible. Before the invitations are made, I

> better talk to her psychiatrist about it. Maybe he'll be able to

> figure something out. Thankfully, she is much happier on the

> prozac!!!!!!!! She is normal, for her. Zoloft made her almost

> psychotic.

> I am trying to really downplay the Bat Mitzvah for her. I am not

> getting uptight about it at all. I am making decisions easily and

> quickly and whatever will be will be. I figure that the calmer I am

> about it, the calmer she will be. I might wear a dress I already

> have, etc..

> It is hard because we can't really know how she will be doing then,

> now. Things can change so quickly. But I have to solidify plans now!

> I am hoping that my " no big deal " attitude will help...???

> I hope her tics go away too! I just found out that my husband's

> brother has a little eye tic when he is nervous. And I already knew

> that his nephew used to have a tic (he also has OCD/ADHD/and maybe

> TS) Oh my.... Good night all and thanks....Ellen

[Guest guest]

For every speech my son has to do (and they have this

darn Toastmasters at his so he is forever having some

ridiculous speech to do), I always make sure he's

overprepared. He has extreme difficulty with public

speaking, memorizing words, etc... so overpreparing

makes a huge difference. It's also nice because it's

teaching him he CAN do it. Which is great.

A grimace tic doesn't sound too bad. I don't think

most people would even notice that, and for those that

did, they'd probably interpret it as normal anxiety or

just think that your daughter ate too much and had a

stomach ache.

Even if overpreparing doesn't help with the tics, she

will at least feel good about what she's doing and may

even be self-assured enough to have some fun with the

whole thing.

Again, you could always ask the doctor about Tenex. I

know with my friend's son it helped with his tics

pretty immediately. I think it was only about a day!

But he had severe body, neck, face tics.

Tess

--- musicgirl9395 <musicgirl9395@...> wrote:

> I like some of these ideas! Thanks. We are kind of

> " stuck " with doing

> it on this date (not stuck on the couch again, thank

> God!). For a

> while I didn't know if we would even be able to get

> her there. Now, I

> am more confident that we will be able to. She

> wants it - that is the

> key. I will plan a test run, and also speak with

> the pdoc in depth. I

> will also talk at length to the Rabbi. And if for

> some reason she

> started ticcing a lot, maybe we could go out of

> order and have the

> cantor sing or something??? Her tics are a facial

> grimace. It looks

> like a big, fake smile. She is aware of it, but we

> haven't talked to

> her about it yet. We are waiting to see if it will

> just go away.

> Thanks for all the ideas. I am also going to call a

> private tutor - it

> would be a good idea to get her OVERprepared. She

> is not there yet!!!

> As you know, we have been working on putting

> underwear on and getting

> unstuck from the couch! Agh!!!

> I am going to try to invite only understanding

> people, BUT.....most

> people don't know about our struggles. Her part

> will be MUCH shorter

> than most....Oh well, that is not what it is all

> about. Screw the

> people who will judge!!!!

> Thanks......Ellen

>

>

>

>

>

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