Re: New to group - need some advice

July 24, 2004

When I was in and Noble bookstore " doing research " on OCD (okay, I was

sitting in their chair reading their books, but I did end up buying one...) I

saw a really neat book by a boy with Aspergers. He was about 15 when he wrote

it, I don't remember the title maybe something about being a " geek. "

I read the first couple of chapters, and it would be great for an adolescent

with that disorder. Does anyone know if there is a book like that by a teen

with OCD?

Kim in IA

July 25, 2004

Hi dede, I am new to this group, my nine year old daughter has just recently

been diagnose OCD. She counts everything and it has to be an even number, her

steps, her motions, craft activities, etc.

I do not have answers for you but am interested in the very same questions. Her

neurologist has suggested boosting her immune system with 'probiotics " which I

do not know enough about to be comfortable administering them. Otherthan that I

would love to know more about diet related issues.

My daughter is also fond of reading and I think she would really relate to any

positive story about OCD and children. To date I haven't found any.

This week we start seeing a therapist for CBT. She has been on Zoloft for nine

months and it has really helped her affect, although the anxiety is still

present.

We are in the Boston area...

New to group - need some advice

Hello.

My daughter is just shy of 13 years old and will be entering 7th

grade this year. She was diagnosed w/ OCD one year ago, at the start

of 6th grade. It came on v. suddenly and it's been a tough year for

her.

Her " brand " or form of OCD has mostly to do with checking, counting,

and fear of disease/medical harm coming to her family members, with a

little religiosity thrown in every now and then. She's not

germphobic (at this point), but is afraid that if she doesn't perform

her ritual, I will get Polio and die or something along those lines

(Cancer, Polio, etc).

I got her into counseling right away. We went to a PhD on our

insurance plan at first, but there was no vibe, no connection. Then

we found a therapist - a LMHC - who is young and hip and even has OCD

herself. My preteen girl really responded to her.

Her therapy consists of CBT as well as EMDR, which I know isn't as

supported in the literature, but it works for my daughter, so we'll

keep it in the tool box for now. The EMDR helps her to reconnect the

fear-producers (words, images, ideas that cause stress) so that they

are just words again. Stress management has also been a big part of

her therapy - teaching her how to get control of her anxiety/stress

and take it down through breathing, music, (we're starting yoga

soon), etc. Affirmations have been very helpful - " It's not me, it's

my OCD. " " My thoughts don't have power. " " I am separate from my

thoughts. " " Recognize, Reject, Replace. "

She is not on meds at this point as she has a mild/moderate case,

though it seems to have worsened a little bit recently. I am

certainly open to medication, should she need it.

There are a few areas where I am looking to hear about the

experiences of others, if you would care to share them.

1) Too much down time.

This summer I noticed that she was avoiding going home (wanting to

stretch-out our errands or visits) and she was avoiding going to bed

(taking too long to get ready, waiting until the last minute, etc.)

When she has time to think, her thoughts turn in on her and she

thinks about things she doesn't want to think about - most recently

about suicide. Time to think has been a summer-specifc enemy. Any

advice? I've increased her activity level - to a point which I think

is helpful, but not codependent (that magical, invisible line of when

am I helping and when am I hurting is a slippery, elusive thing).

What do you do? How do you make down time less fearful and more

successful? Music (having the radio on, etc.) is helping for the

moment.

2) Nutrition/Diet.

I'm looking to make modifications in her diet to see if there are any

benefits for her to be had there. If anyone has had success in

finding connections between foods and symptoms/behaviors, I'd love to

hear about it. She very rarely has caffine (occasionally in

chocolate, but she limits her chocolate fairly strictly) because of

the connection between lack of sleep and an increase in her

symptoms. That's a BIG correlation for her.

3) Bibliotherapy:

Is anyone aware of any good books/novels which deal with OCD in a

positive light? I'm aware of the children's books, but I'm looking

for something older. Again, she's 12 and she's a high reader.

Thank you so much for any assistance you can provide.

- dede

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July 25, 2004

Kim,

I had to smile at the B & N part, as I read and " don't " buy a book!

That's where I went a few times to read up on OCD also.

The problem with 's OCD at that time was his was sooooo much

touching and actually physically getting stuck " on " or " to " things

and I didn't see much on that except in one book and that was just

about a page or so.

I'll have to look around for that book you mentioned by the 15 yr

old. is 15 and has Aspergers, might be a great book for him!

I think someone not too long ago here mentioned a book(s) for OCD

teens that their teen enjoyed. Let's search the archives and see

what we turn up!

> When I was in and Noble bookstore " doing research " on OCD

(okay, I was sitting in their chair reading their books, but I did

end up buying one...) I saw a really neat book by a boy with

Aspergers. He was about 15 when he wrote it, I don't remember the

title maybe something about being a " geek. "

> I read the first couple of chapters, and it would be great for an

adolescent with that disorder. Does anyone know if there is a book

like that by a teen with OCD?

>

> Kim in IA

>

July 26, 2004

Dede,

Your first paragraph sounded like our experience. My son (15) had a

sudden onset of OCD after starting 6th grade. He'd been in 6th grade

for perhaps 3 or 4 weeks when behaviors began. (he'd always had OCD

tendencies, but nothing troublesome)

was suddenly doing a lot of compulsions - touching, a bit of

repeating, his handwriting entirely changed, he erased & rewrote or

didn't rewrite, drew lines on his papers, had a thing about

clocks....I could list so much! His had to do with a feeling

that " something bad would happen to him " and also a " just right "

feeling. He was severe at first, but now his OCD is manageable and

sooooo much better. (thankfully after this much time!)

I always worry about summers with nothing to occupy 's time.

Bedtime problems have come up over the years, it was one of the worst

OCD problems at one time. I'm no help here though. The hard part

was just getting him " into " bed. Once there, he would lie there as

if frozen but I could leave the room once he was " in. " At one time I

would stick in a movie/VCR tape for him to watch (hopefully something

that he'd seen too many times to catch his interest and keep him up);

that helped some.

How do you think 7th grade will go this year? We had to get a 504

Plan for when his OCD problems began in 6th. We still have

it in effect although he hasn't needed it (cross fingers, knock on

wood!!) this last year.

single mom, 3 sons

, 15, with OCD, dysgraphia and HFA/Aspergers

> Hello.

>

> My daughter is just shy of 13 years old and will be entering 7th

> grade this year. She was diagnosed w/ OCD one year ago, at the

start

> of 6th grade. It came on v. suddenly and it's been a tough year

for

> her.

>

> Her " brand " or form of OCD has mostly to do with checking,

counting,

July 26, 2004

Hi Dede and welcome to the group. You wrote:

> 1) Too much down time.

> This summer I noticed that she was avoiding going home (wanting to

> stretch-out our errands or visits) and she was avoiding going to bed

> (taking too long to get ready, waiting until the last minute, etc.)

> When she has time to think, her thoughts turn in on her and she

> thinks about things she doesn't want to think about - most recently

> about suicide. Time to think has been a summer-specifc enemy. Any

> advice? I've increased her activity level - to a point which I think

> is helpful, but not codependent (that magical, invisible line of when

> am I helping and when am I hurting is a slippery, elusive thing).

> What do you do? How do you make down time less fearful and more

> successful? Music (having the radio on, etc.) is helping for the

> moment.

*****I used ERP for getting my child over her fear of downtimes, mostly in

the form of waiting 5 minutes (later, longer) before turning on the TV or

the radio in the car, etc. We both found out that she *feared* the bad

thoughts would come if she wasn't constantly engaged or distracted by

something, more than this was still happening consistently.

> 2) Nutrition/Diet.

> I'm looking to make modifications in her diet to see if there are any

> benefits for her to be had there. If anyone has had success in

> finding connections between foods and symptoms/behaviors, I'd love to

> hear about it. She very rarely has caffine (occasionally in

> chocolate, but she limits her chocolate fairly strictly) because of

> the connection between lack of sleep and an increase in her

> symptoms. That's a BIG correlation for her.

*****Dairy seemed to increase my child's tics and general agitation when

younger (10 now), and so did artificial colors (candy, yogurt, etc.) These

days it seems she can have modest amounts of these without trouble. I

haven't noticed caffeine in chocolate being a problem, either due to

affecting symptom levels or sleeping. She doesn't drink cola or other

caffeine beverages, so all she's ever had is from chocolate--which btw she

has steadfastly held makes OCD go away.

HTH,

Kathy R. in Indiana

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

> Hello.

>

> My daughter is just shy of 13 years old and will be entering 7th

> grade this year. She was diagnosed w/ OCD one year ago, at the start

> of 6th grade. It came on v. suddenly and it's been a tough year for

> her.

>

> Her " brand " or form of OCD has mostly to do with checking, counting,

> and fear of disease/medical harm coming to her family members, with a

> little religiosity thrown in every now and then. She's not

> germphobic (at this point), but is afraid that if she doesn't perform

> her ritual, I will get Polio and die or something along those lines

> (Cancer, Polio, etc).

>

> I got her into counseling right away. We went to a PhD on our

> insurance plan at first, but there was no vibe, no connection. Then

> we found a therapist - a LMHC - who is young and hip and even has OCD

> herself. My preteen girl really responded to her.

>

> Her therapy consists of CBT as well as EMDR, which I know isn't as

> supported in the literature, but it works for my daughter, so we'll

> keep it in the tool box for now. The EMDR helps her to reconnect the

> fear-producers (words, images, ideas that cause stress) so that they

> are just words again. Stress management has also been a big part of

> her therapy - teaching her how to get control of her anxiety/stress

> and take it down through breathing, music, (we're starting yoga

> soon), etc. Affirmations have been very helpful - " It's not me, it's

> my OCD. " " My thoughts don't have power. " " I am separate from my

> thoughts. " " Recognize, Reject, Replace. "

>

> She is not on meds at this point as she has a mild/moderate case,

> though it seems to have worsened a little bit recently. I am

> certainly open to medication, should she need it.

>

> There are a few areas where I am looking to hear about the

> experiences of others, if you would care to share them.