Guest guest Posted December 13, 2001 Report Share Posted December 13, 2001 Hi , My younger daughter is 9 and was 8 when I saw ocd symptoms (I also have a 13 yr old with ocd spectrums). In her case I believe OCD is a more minor component of a high functioning autism or non-verbal learning disorder, so it may be milder than your son's. It comes on with changes in environment or novel situations. Anyway, the monster analogy was wrong for her too in that it seemed too " make-believe " . I also wonder how that analogy would work for kids like my 5 yr old who go through fear of/belief in monster phases. Some people call OCD the " worry flea " My younger daughter uses the " junk mail " analogy. When you receive mail you normally toss all the stuff that is uneccesary, and you do it without much of a backward glance (unless you're a hoarder I suppose). OCD thoughts and fears are like junk mail for her, and she can learn to see that they have no relevance for daily activities or functioning, so throw them away, don't let them waste your time or energy. I suppose for some kids that can be easier said then done though. You do actually have to work at sorting and reminding yourself not to hold onto junk mail and clutter, it is a practiced excercise, the same can go for " mind clutter " too, I think. Grace > Gail, > I've been trying to talk to my son about the " worry monster " who is making > him get upset about things so he can boss it back and he is NOT getting it > at all. He keeps saying that there is no worry monster it is just him. I > have tried different variations on this theme but they meet with the same > response - that he thinks I'm crazy or something inventing some external > thing to take the hit for his problems. I just got " up and down the worry > hill " in the mail yesterday so we'll see if that can explain it to him > better than I can. I'm getting no where on that front. > > As for the light and sound, my son's psychologist is skeptical but she said > she uses light therapy to help people work through trauma so she thinks it > may be along the same lines so said why not try it. Although she made it > clear that if it were HER kid he'd be on Zoloft right now. > > Stacey > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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