Guest guest Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 We just accomplished going to bed alone over the past 10 days. My 7 yr old was very anxious at bedtime and was also coming into my bed at night. We were lying down with him until he fell asleep, but this soon became inadequate. From the time he was a baby, we have had the same bedtime and routine. It just simply wasn't enough once OCD became more challenging for him. In the past a star on the calendar for each night he slept on his own and a reward (out for ice cream) for 5 stars did the trick. After a while, that didn't matter. What we did was make the reward more appealing. The idea (according to the psych) is to replace a bad thought with a good one. I had to have my son's input about what kind of reward he thought would do it. So were are now going for ice cream every 3 days. There may come a time when this too is no longer effective. I am hopng that it won't take a cadillac to sway his OCD thoughts in the end!!! Best wishes, Bonnie > > I know that she should have a routine, but isn't what > she has right now kind of a routine? We are quite > uninvolved for once. > But she goes to bed too late, tries to avoid it, and > doesn't have any regularity to her evening. I am so > happy that they are so much better than before.. > ___________________________________________ > > My first thought is that she's at least learning she > can go to bed with less stress. I don't see how it > could hurt for awhile. Then maybe have the helpers > only show up 3/week then 2/week. Meanwhile start CBT > if you haven't yet so she learns the tools for > problems that come up later. > > Maybe a reward of some kind for only going to sleep in > your bed 2/week then 1/week then none. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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