Re: OCD Prognosis: What can we realistically expect?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/13/2006 8:21:13 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

herronmat@... writes:

>>Should I hope for the best but prepare for the worst?

This is always the best path to take - then you're ready for anything. I

will share that our psychologist (short lived as that relationship was....)

told us to stop being " such a downer " for our daughter. Every time dd brought

up wanting to decrease medication slowly to see if the rituals would

resurface, we would make some comment about knowing they will eventually... and

she

better be ready to come back to therapy when it happens.. etc.

The psychologist told us, " hey - why do you keep pointing out the bump in

the road to her? For all we know, she may move around the bump & continue on

down the road with no problem. " When we questioned her about this, she said

that, yes - in fact there ARE cases of kids who go off meds & the symptoms

don't return. This is not common place, but it *can* happen. What are the

chances? Who knows!

I posted the other day that our dd is now down to 30mg of Prozac a day (from

50mg) and we haven't really seen any rituals resurface. When the meds were

ramping up, at 30mg she was still a complete basket case & couldn't even go

to the bathroom by herself.

Who's to say what could happen? I know that she will always & forever have

OCD. If the rituals don't come back, I will spend the rest of my life being

afraid that the next bad/tragic/horrible thing that happens in her life will

bring it all flooding back --- and when would that be??? Who knows - when

she's living away at college somewhere? When she's married? After she has

kids & a family of her own to deal with? I just don't know. I'm sure no one

does.

LT

[Guest guest]

You should also read Dr. Aureen Wagner's book, What to do when your child has

OCD (I think that is the title). I like that equally as well - each for

different reasons.

herronmat <herronmat@...> wrote:

OK all...

I'm not sure if I really want an answer to this question.

I have just started reading Dr. Chansky's books about anxiety and OCD.

This has given me a great deal of hope for our son.

However... Do OCD kids every get better and stay better? By better, I

mean elimination or near-elimination of symptoms. Should I hope for

the best but prepare for the worst?

I guess I am looking for some hope with this post...but I am afraid of

what I might find.

---------------------------------

Everyone is raving about the all-new beta.

[Guest guest]

My dd is 5 and was dx a year ago (but looking back now, I see symptoms well

before that). She started therapy last Dec and has done VERY well. A lot of

her rituals/fears are GONE. She still has some, but not as bad as in the past.

Lately, she has been remembering some of the issues she used to have and is

proud she doesnt have them anymore. BUT, the bringing them up again, is almost

becoming a new one!!!!!!!!

She is very self-aware. She knew she had worries and other kids didnt, even

before she was dx. She knows when she needs a break and some down time, she

knows what calms her. She was telling me last night, things that are hard for

her right now involve making choices- what to wear, what to eat, what movie to

watch, etc. Not sure how to deal with that one, other than give her time to

decide. She usually asks me what I would pick and I tell her I will answer

after she does.

Sharon

OCD Prognosis: What can we realistically expect?

OK all...

I'm not sure if I really want an answer to this question.

I have just started reading Dr. Chansky's books about anxiety and OCD.

This has given me a great deal of hope for our son.

However... Do OCD kids every get better and stay better? By better, I

mean elimination or near-elimination of symptoms. Should I hope for

the best but prepare for the worst?

I guess I am looking for some hope with this post...but I am afraid of

what I might find.

[Guest guest]

However... Do OCD kids every get better and stay better?

YES! I have a niece who is now 21 and has been pretty much

symptom-free for maybe 7 or 8 years now. I say pretty much because I

don't spend much time with her, I do think she still thinks about

germs more than the average person, but does NOT obsess about them.

She started with OCD in middle school, mostly contamination issues,

but she was very bad off, her hands were raw and bleeding from

washing, and her privates, too, from over-wiping. She went from being

very affectionate to not being able to touch anyone.

She went through many meds with no success, then found a CBT with ERP

specialist and after much hard work she overcame it all. She is now

leading a very " normal " , happy life. She now attends college and

lives on campus, using the public showers and everything! I was

holding my breath for her when she went away, figured the stress, etc

was bound to spark the OCD, but she says she's been fine!

My husband has OCD, and as a child it was much more pronounced than

today (he's 40). He mostly only does rituals at home, and I'm usually

the only one who notices them (although my OCD'er has proclaimed on

occasion, " Daddy's doing OCD!!! " ) It does come up more when he's

stressed, but to the " outside world " nothing is amiss.

There is much hope!

nna.

NY

[Guest guest]

from what I know it's RARE that it goes completely, basically never

happens (i'm still waiting for a miracle though - don't give up

hope)also with ERP 50-80% of symptoms go - so always seek knowledge

and get help - you're headed in the right direction

good luck

eileen

Quoting herronmat <herronmat@...>:

> OK all...

>

> I'm not sure if I really want an answer to this question.

>

> I have just started reading Dr. Chansky's books about anxiety and OCD.

> This has given me a great deal of hope for our son.

>

> However... Do OCD kids every get better and stay better? By better, I

> mean elimination or near-elimination of symptoms. Should I hope for

> the best but prepare for the worst?

>

> I guess I am looking for some hope with this post...but I am afraid of

> what I might find.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

so nice to hear!!!!!! good for her!!!!

eileen

thank GOD for ERP!!!

Quoting nna <mdonlon@...>:

>

>

> However... Do OCD kids every get better and stay better?

>

>

>

> YES! I have a niece who is now 21 and has been pretty much

> symptom-free for maybe 7 or 8 years now. I say pretty much because I

> don't spend much time with her, I do think she still thinks about

> germs more than the average person, but does NOT obsess about them.

>

> She started with OCD in middle school, mostly contamination issues,

> but she was very bad off, her hands were raw and bleeding from

> washing, and her privates, too, from over-wiping. She went from being

> very affectionate to not being able to touch anyone.

>

> She went through many meds with no success, then found a CBT with ERP

> specialist and after much hard work she overcame it all. She is now

> leading a very " normal " , happy life. She now attends college and

> lives on campus, using the public showers and everything! I was

> holding my breath for her when she went away, figured the stress, etc

> was bound to spark the OCD, but she says she's been fine!

>

> My husband has OCD, and as a child it was much more pronounced than

> today (he's 40). He mostly only does rituals at home, and I'm usually

> the only one who notices them (although my OCD'er has proclaimed on

> occasion, " Daddy's doing OCD!!! " ) It does come up more when he's

> stressed, but to the " outside world " nothing is amiss.

>

> There is much hope!

>

> nna.

> NY

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you!

I needed to hear this...

Great for your niece and husband...

>

> However... Do OCD kids every get better and stay better?

>

>

>

> YES! I have a niece who is now 21 and has been pretty much

> symptom-free for maybe 7 or 8 years now. I say pretty much because I

> don't spend much time with her, I do think she still thinks about

> germs more than the average person, but does NOT obsess about them.

>

> She started with OCD in middle school, mostly contamination issues,

> but she was very bad off, her hands were raw and bleeding from

> washing, and her privates, too, from over-wiping. She went from being

> very affectionate to not being able to touch anyone.

>

> She went through many meds with no success, then found a CBT with ERP

> specialist and after much hard work she overcame it all. She is now

> leading a very " normal " , happy life. She now attends college and

> lives on campus, using the public showers and everything! I was

> holding my breath for her when she went away, figured the stress, etc

> was bound to spark the OCD, but she says she's been fine!

>

> My husband has OCD, and as a child it was much more pronounced than

> today (he's 40). He mostly only does rituals at home, and I'm usually

> the only one who notices them (although my OCD'er has proclaimed on

> occasion, " Daddy's doing OCD!!! " ) It does come up more when he's

> stressed, but to the " outside world " nothing is amiss.

>

> There is much hope!

>

> nna.

> NY

>

[Guest guest]

When I ponder this question for myself, I can't but think of my other

(unaffected) child. I wonder what challenges will come her way. I

don't know how they will impact her choices in life. I worry that I

might miss something because I have busy with her brother, and I worry

that she may resent her brother. On top of that, of course I worry

about my son who seems already so disadvantaged.

We don't quite know what to expect from any of our children. It is

easy to get wrapped up in a child who has a lot of problems. It is

harder to focus on the positive sometimes. However, from all that I

have learned, that is the point to start from. Build upon your

strenghts and your path will be laid. I hope this is the case...I

hope that I can teach my son to do that long before I learned it!

Best,

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing this story--so wonderful to hear! I'm really

frazzled lately with ocd's hold on our family and feeling down; this

really boosts my spirits! Patty

>

> However... Do OCD kids every get better and stay better?

>

>

>

> YES! I have a niece who is now 21 and has been pretty much

> symptom-free for maybe 7 or 8 years now. I say pretty much because

I

> don't spend much time with her, I do think she still thinks about

> germs more than the average person, but does NOT obsess about them.

>

> She started with OCD in middle school, mostly contamination issues,

> but she was very bad off, her hands were raw and bleeding from

> washing, and her privates, too, from over-wiping. She went from

being

> very affectionate to not being able to touch anyone.

>

> She went through many meds with no success, then found a CBT with

ERP

> specialist and after much hard work she overcame it all. She is now

> leading a very " normal " , happy life. She now attends college and

> lives on campus, using the public showers and everything! I was

> holding my breath for her when she went away, figured the stress,

etc

> was bound to spark the OCD, but she says she's been fine!

>

> My husband has OCD, and as a child it was much more pronounced than

> today (he's 40). He mostly only does rituals at home, and I'm

usually

> the only one who notices them (although my OCD'er has proclaimed on

> occasion, " Daddy's doing OCD!!! " ) It does come up more when he's

> stressed, but to the " outside world " nothing is amiss.

>

> There is much hope!

>

> nna.

> NY

>

[Guest guest]

I think of the positives my other kids are getting from dealing with their

sister. They are learning patience, tolerance, kindness, acceptance, diversity,

understanding, patience, patience, patience, etc. :0)

Sharon

Re: OCD Prognosis: What can we realistically

expect?

When I ponder this question for myself, I can't but think of my other

(unaffected) child. I wonder what challenges will come her way. I

don't know how they will impact her choices in life. I worry that I

might miss something because I have busy with her brother, and I worry

that she may resent her brother. On top of that, of course I worry

about my son who seems already so disadvantaged.

We don't quite know what to expect from any of our children. It is

easy to get wrapped up in a child who has a lot of problems. It is

harder to focus on the positive sometimes. However, from all that I

have learned, that is the point to start from. Build upon your

strenghts and your path will be laid. I hope this is the case...I

hope that I can teach my son to do that long before I learned it!

Best,

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Bonnie,

We are both fortunate and unfortunate that our son is an only child -

all our eggs in one basket so to speak.

I really just want him to be a happy person and with the OCD he so

often is not.

- SadDad!

>

> When I ponder this question for myself, I can't but think of my other

> (unaffected) child. I wonder what challenges will come her way. I

> don't know how they will impact her choices in life. I worry that I

> might miss something because I have busy with her brother, and I worry

> that she may resent her brother. On top of that, of course I worry

> about my son who seems already so disadvantaged.

>

> We don't quite know what to expect from any of our children. It is

> easy to get wrapped up in a child who has a lot of problems. It is

> harder to focus on the positive sometimes. However, from all that I

> have learned, that is the point to start from. Build upon your

> strenghts and your path will be laid. I hope this is the case...I

> hope that I can teach my son to do that long before I learned it!

>

> Best,

> Bonnie

>