Guest guest Posted November 26, 2006 Report Share Posted November 26, 2006 Hi Kim, Sorry to hear about your daughter. My son's OCD is causing the panic attacks related to going to school. It's a brand new school for him and was totally overwhelming after the first day. His OCD " tells " him that he has to feel totally " comfortable " before he can go anywhere or do anything. He had trouble with this last year too - he missed 25 days total but was able to keep it together and get all A's believe it or not!! The summer was not a good one - we saw an increase in his OCD symptoms---they are also related to sensory issues - we went the occupational therapy route which did not totally address the problem. As for the school, they are pretty supportive and we are in the process of getting him classified. We have told them right away about his OCD. I know a lot of people struggle with this decision. In the long run, it has proven helpful for our kids. My older son is also classified and is now attending a private therapeutic school that our district is paying for. He is doing well. Last year, we had a meeting with the Child Study Team for my younger son to get him a 504 but he was not eligible because his grades were not impacted. Now they are - his report card was a big blank! We sent a letter from his psychiatrist describing his issues. The school is going to provide tutoring 5 hours a week very soon. We'll see how that goes. One thing I notice though with this year's teachers, they don't go out of their way to send my son any notes of encouragement. It felt like I was pushing them to even send home the homework and class handouts. Hopefully with the IEP, things will go better. Good luck with your daughter. Take care, Robin in NJ In , mnmomof1@... wrote: > > Hi Robin. Is your son's school issue specifically school phobia? My daughter > has problems attending school whenever her issues are more active. She has > depression, as well as OCD. We are going through this right now trying to get her > to school. She is in 11th grade though. She didn't miss a day of school until > the middle of Oct. Things were going well, then her issues started flaring. > First, she couldn't get out of bed because she sleeps a lot more when her > depression starts up, then she was having panic and sheer fear trying to get to > school. She has missed up to 17 of the last 23 school days in some classes. As a > teen, who was ranked in the top 3% of a class of over 400, it is especially > difficult. I think her grades and rank will fall, but she received incompletes > for 4 classes because she hasn't been able to do the work. Her school has been > very supportive. Has yours? Good luck with your son. I hope things turn around > soon. Kim > > In a message dated 11/22/2006 7:30:14 AM Central Standard Time, > rbeers@... writes: > I am > feeling very overwhelmed myself. I was just wondering if anyone has > had any experience with school phobia and what advice they can give. > Thanks, > Robin > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 2006 Report Share Posted November 26, 2006 Robin, In terms of getting set up so quickly we were just lucky in several respects: 1) I am a certified teacher (but really you don't need to be) 2) I now develop software (my original vocation) at home 3) My son (sans OCD) is a very good / easy student During the " worst of times " we switch from book-work to more active project based learning or field trips. For example: 1) we went to a lumber mill and got a big slice of tree for counting / labeling tree rings: 2) We do nature hikes; 3) We entered a young inventors contest. Anyway, there are lots of alternative ways to teach and learn other than just " read and memorize " and we really are lucky to be able to homeschool while our son is going through what is hopefully the worst of this blasted OCD monster. About the " puffing " that you mention... is it possible that your son is having " bad thought " OCD symptoms? My son suffers from bad thoughts and when it is at its worst, he practically hyperventalates. No problem with emailing me directly if you have not already. Hang in there! > > > > > > Hi, > > > I have a 12year old son who has a very severe case of school > phobia. > > > His OCD has always been manageable and he has attended very well > in > > > past years. It just seemed that the transition to middle school > was > > > too much for him. He came home the first day totally overwhelmed > and > > > didn't go back the second day. He has only been there for 3 full > days > > > so far. He has panic attacks and after trying for 2 months to get > him > > > in to the building even just to sit in the office, we are taking > a > > > break. He was able to get to one class for a few days here and > there. > > > We see a psychologist once a week. The school is going to provide > > > tutoring 5 hours a week starting next week. We decided to start > him > > > on an SSRI (Lexapro) and are still not sure if it is working. He > > > started very slowly 1/4 of a 5 mg pill at a time since the first > week > > > of September. He got up to 10 mg and we saw an increase in his > OCD > > > symptoms and his panic. He would start puffing with anxiety at > home > > > for no reason. The doctor called it akathesia and now he is on 5 > mg. > > > He is having such a tough time with being isolated at home. I am > > > feeling very overwhelmed myself. I was just wondering if anyone > has > > > had any experience with school phobia and what advice they can > give. > > > Thanks, > > > Robin > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 2006 Report Share Posted November 26, 2006 Robin, In terms of getting set up so quickly we were just lucky in several respects: 1) I am a certified teacher (but really you don't need to be) 2) I now develop software (my original vocation) at home 3) My son (sans OCD) is a very good / easy student During the " worst of times " we switch from book-work to more active project based learning or field trips. For example: 1) we went to a lumber mill and got a big slice of tree for counting / labeling tree rings: 2) We do nature hikes; 3) We entered a young inventors contest. Anyway, there are lots of alternative ways to teach and learn other than just " read and memorize " and we really are lucky to be able to homeschool while our son is going through what is hopefully the worst of this blasted OCD monster. About the " puffing " that you mention... is it possible that your son is having " bad thought " OCD symptoms? My son suffers from bad thoughts and when it is at its worst, he practically hyperventalates. No problem with emailing me directly if you have not already. Hang in there! > > > > > > Hi, > > > I have a 12year old son who has a very severe case of school > phobia. > > > His OCD has always been manageable and he has attended very well > in > > > past years. It just seemed that the transition to middle school > was > > > too much for him. He came home the first day totally overwhelmed > and > > > didn't go back the second day. He has only been there for 3 full > days > > > so far. He has panic attacks and after trying for 2 months to get > him > > > in to the building even just to sit in the office, we are taking > a > > > break. He was able to get to one class for a few days here and > there. > > > We see a psychologist once a week. The school is going to provide > > > tutoring 5 hours a week starting next week. We decided to start > him > > > on an SSRI (Lexapro) and are still not sure if it is working. He > > > started very slowly 1/4 of a 5 mg pill at a time since the first > week > > > of September. He got up to 10 mg and we saw an increase in his > OCD > > > symptoms and his panic. He would start puffing with anxiety at > home > > > for no reason. The doctor called it akathesia and now he is on 5 > mg. > > > He is having such a tough time with being isolated at home. I am > > > feeling very overwhelmed myself. I was just wondering if anyone > has > > > had any experience with school phobia and what advice they can > give. > > > Thanks, > > > Robin > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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