Re: Ever changing OCD

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori, my daughter also has experienced abrupt changes to " new " types of

obsessions/compulsions...I do think this is common with OCDers generally and

boy I can attest it is very common among little kids. Back then her

" issues " switched with alarming speed, it was hard to get a sense of whether

she was getting better OR the OCD was just changing again. My daughter is

nearly 10 now (4 when all this started) and her OCD issues seem much more

" stable " and less switchable than when she was younger. I can see where the

sudden contamination stuff in a 17-year-old would be scary.

Anyway Kel's pdoc always told me OCD was OCD was OCD--washing, checking and

etc. was all coming from the same " place " and all would diminish with

effective treatment...which has been true for us. If your daughter sees a

therapist, it would be a good idea to jump right on ERP for

contamination/germs. I have found that " new " compulsions are much easier

for my child to squash than old, entrenched and over-practiced ones.

I also enjoyed your term " Christmas OCD " and think it is so descriptive! My

daughter's onset was three weeks before the holiday that year and so

Christmas has become a sort of easy-to-remember marker of how she was doing

last year this time vs. is she better or worse this year. So far we are

enjoying the best, lowest-OCD Christmas season ever and feel very blessed.

It's been a lot of hard work (for her and us) over six years (five really,

we didn't do much that first whole year but try out what turned out to be

the " wrong " SSRIs) to beat back OCD and that makes this season especially

joyous for us.

Take care,

Kathy R. in Indiana

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

> I just need to vent to all who will understand, my 17 yr olds OCD has

always

> been obsessive thoughts Killing, sexual the usual. Well she came home from

> school yesterday saying she had full blown panic attack in math because

> everyone was sick and she had to get to the bathroom to wash her hands

> she used the hall pass to open doors, well you get the idea. She has

never

> had

> these type of compulsions. We saw the Psych yesterday who just said

> ocd symptoms can change. Just a little background, She gets sick very

easily

> and alot so I can see were it came from but the compulsion part really

> worried

> me. And for all who enjoyed my new term Christmas OCD, it is alive and

well

> at my house but I really appreciated the feedback, Knowing you are not

alone

> is half

> the battle. Merry Christmas to all (or Happy Holidays) Lori