Re: son just diagnosed with ocd in central nj - need help

[Guest guest]

Hi and welcome! You have found a tremendous source of support,

understanding, and encouragement from a group of parents who have

been/are walking in your shoes. Please know that this overwhelming

disease is treatable and will get better...it's just SO hard when

OCD is new and at its full force.

I have a now 13-year-old daughter who was diagnosed with OCD when

she was 11...in October of 2002. Her OCD took the form of major

contamination fears along with the need for reassurance, the need to

confess, bad/disturbing thoughts, and some just-right issues. What

kind of trouble is your son having with his OCD?

With therapy...a combination of medication (usually an 'SSRI' =

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor which helps balance brain

chemicals) and behavioral modification - helping the OCDer face

fears in a step-wise fashion from 'least' fearful to more fearful,

Anne has made great progress in the last year and a half. Progress

can be excruciatingly slow at first...but don't give up. You'll

find several examples of success from families on this site. Are

you seeing a psychiatrist/psychologist/social worker for your son's

therapy? Is he/she familiar with OCD in children and the treatment

(especially the ERP...exposure:response-prevention behavioral

therapy)? It's so important to hook up with someone who is familiar

with OCD in children to get the ball rolling in the right direction

with beneficial interventions.

Have you found any books about OCD? Two of my favorites are Tamar

Chansky's " Freeing Your Child from OCD " and Aureen Wagner's " What to

do When Your Child has OCD " . I found the books to be invaluable

references. Also, there is an OCD website: www.ocfoundation.org -

if you've not already found it. There are good resources listed

there as well.

I don't have much time tonight, but I just wanted to say welcome and

send ((((HUGS)))) your way. I know how terribly difficult this

initial time can be.

Blessings to you. Continue to post and ask questions. I don't know

how I would survive without the support of this wonderful group.

(Ohio) Anne (13, OCD, ADHD, diabetes

[Guest guest]

Hi and welcome to the list. As awful as things are right now for your son

and your family, I can promise that things will get better. I've been where

you are, there are many parents here who are right now just starting out on

this journey with you, and many others whose kids have successfully beat

back OCD into a small corner of their lives. These kids are back to playing

with friends, attending school, participating in sports or whatever else it

is that OCD stole from them at its worst, and family life is back to normal.

If you are like I was when I was standing at square one, this probably seems

impossible to hope for, but for now just hold on to the fact that OCD is a

very treatable disorder.

Is your son taking an SSRI (medication such as Prozac or Zoloft?) This type

of medication plus one certain type of therapy--Cognitive Behavior Therapy

with Exposure and Response Prevention--is possibly the quickest route to low

and stable symptoms. (Some kids also do well with therapy only however.)

You will want to be certain this is the type of therapy your son is starting

this week, it is the only type that reduces OCD symptoms such as obsessions

and compulsions and gives children " tools " to manage these. Other

types--talking therapy, art therapy, Freudian-style analysis to probe the

meanings behind the content of the obsessions, etc.--do not reduce OCD, but

some of these may be helpful in other ways, such as providing support. I'm

emphasizing this since so many families on this list have had the experience

of spending time and money with the wrong type of therapy, which just delays

a child's recovery.

My suggestion for coping is to find ways to take care of yourself. You

can't help and support your son through this difficult time if you are

running on empty or falling apart. I do know how difficult this can be when

a child's OCD is raging, but it truly is crucial to his recovery and your

own well-being.

Write back and let us know how the appointment goes.

Take care,

Kathy R. in Indiana

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

> my 11 year old son has just been diagnosed with ocd beginning of the

> month-- it has been a nightmare-- our lives have been turned upside

> down-- I am home with him as he cannot attend school anymore-- we are

> starting therapy this week - any suggestions for copeing with this

[Guest guest]

I do believe everyone on this list can empathize with what you're going through.

My son, who is 9, started medication just recently, maybe 1 month ago or so, and

he is now gaining some control over it. Medication was part of the answer for

us, as he was so totally uncomfortable, crying and obsessing and panicking.....

He has improved so much, and he's doing ERP, which we started on our own as we

haven't made it to the doctor yet. These kind people on this parenting list

have been true sources of support and information for me, and I feel stronger

because of it.

Good luck, and remember there is hope.

in So IL

son just diagnosed with ocd in central nj - need

help

my 11 year old son has just been diagnosed with ocd beginning of the

month-- it has been a nightmare-- our lives have been turned upside

down-- I am home with him as he cannot attend school anymore-- we are

starting therapy this week - any suggestions for copeing with this

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[Guest guest]

Hi

Welcome, we've all have been at the terrible place you are at now but it does

get better

and more manageable.. I also live in central jersey in Monmouth cty. My

daughter is 18 now , dx at 13, we too had to take off and I didnt take my eyes

off

her. This intensity passed once the meds kicked in. In NJ you can apply for

Family Medical Leave so that your job is not jepordized, your work should be

able to give you the form. Also in NJ

OCD is considered a medical dx and treated reimbursement wise like any other

medical dx

I have a really good psychiatrist if you havent found one. Email me if you

are in Monmouth cty and if there is something specific you need help with. Also

the folk on this email are very knowledgeable. Please hang in there an hold

on to the thought it will improve!!!

(((HUGS))) LoriT in NJ