Guest guest Posted September 8, 2004 Report Share Posted September 8, 2004 Hi everyone. I've been reading here for a while, trying to find out if this is where we belong. My son, 14, is a pretty complex kid (aren't they all) He was diagnosed recently as gifted, Aspergers - but not quite - non-verbal learning disorder - but not quite - SID - but not quite - OCD - but not quite. Everything about him is atypical and it's driving us nuts, because none of the usual approaches for his difficulties seem to apply. The psychologist apparently (water- cooler talk) said he was the most complicated case she's run across. Anyway, we've just started him seeing a psychiatrist for OCD - if that's what it is. I've read your posts here and I'm not sure if it's the same thing. My son has always been extremely anxious. Around Gr. 3 he started clearing his throat constantly. We tried ignoring it, then suggested he chew gum, be tested for allergies, nothing worked. Finally he got control of it (because of teasing) and replaced it with something else. This has been the case for the past six years. It went to sniffing, to repeating words he just said, to staring at people, to blinking. He also has a few strange things he'll do, like wipe the toilet seat a certain number of times. The latter seems like an OCD. Right now the doc has him in CBT trying to work on the blinking, which they seem to think is the first one to tackle. Here's the problem: He's not doing anything about it. Granted, it's the start of high school and he's stressed. But the blinking is worse and he isn't using the thoughts the doc suggested to stop. (He must do it five times or something like that.) I think it happens so quick and often that it would be incredibly stressful to stop every time and think to himself " no I don't need to listen to that compulsion " . Part of his trouble is that he has never been motivated to anything that requires effort and this is hard work, it seems. He has asked if we can help (ie medication) him stop it, but we want to avoid drugs and doc agrees, as the OCDs are mild enough. This has rambled a bit. Sorry. I'm just wondering if we're heading down the right road for this. It seems there's no thinking " If I do this something bad might happen " which is how I view normal OCD. It's more an unthinking habit. Does anyone know what this is all about or have suggestions? Thank you. I really value your collective wisdom/experiences. kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2004 Report Share Posted September 8, 2004 I'm sorry but isn't this Tourette's? And isn't the best thing for Tourette's to ignore the blinking/throat clearing/sniffing? It could be OCD I guess but these are extremely typical vocal tics. There are also meds for Tourette's -- my ds is currently taking Topamax, an anti-seizure med, with very good results. Anyway since I haven't met your son and I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, you should take what I say with a grain of salt, but let me give you some links. BTW, CBT does not work for tics. Christie http://www.tourettesyndrome.net/ http://tourettenowwhat.tripod.com/ http://www.tsa-usa.org/ From: kimzz120 Anyway, we've just started him seeing a psychiatrist for OCD - if that's what it is. I've read your posts here and I'm not sure if it's the same thing. My son has always been extremely anxious. Around Gr. 3 he started clearing his throat constantly. We tried ignoring it, then suggested he chew gum, be tested for allergies, nothing worked. Finally he got control of it (because of teasing) and replaced it with something else. This has been the case for the past six years. It went to sniffing, to repeating words he just said, to staring at people, to blinking. He also has a few strange things he'll do, like wipe the toilet seat a certain number of times. The latter seems like an OCD. Right now the doc has him in CBT trying to work on the blinking, which they seem to think is the first one to tackle. Here's the problem: He's not doing anything about it. Granted, it's the start of high school and he's stressed. But the blinking is worse and he isn't using the thoughts the doc suggested to stop. (He must do it five times or something like that.) I think it happens so quick and often that it would be incredibly stressful to stop every time and think to himself " no I don't need to listen to that compulsion " . Part of his trouble is that he has never been motivated to anything that requires effort and this is hard work, it seems. He has asked if we can help (ie medication) him stop it, but we want to avoid drugs and doc agrees, as the OCDs are mild enough. This has rambled a bit. Sorry. I'm just wondering if we're heading down the right road for this. It seems there's no thinking " If I do this something bad might happen " which is how I view normal OCD. It's more an unthinking habit. Does anyone know what this is all about or have suggestions? Thank you. I really value your collective wisdom/experiences. kim Our list archives, bookmarks, files, and chat feature may be accessed at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group// . Our list advisors are Gail B. , Ed.D., Tamar Chansky, Ph.D., Aureen Pinto Wagner, Ph.D., and Dan Geller, M.D. Our list moderators are Birkhan, Castle, Fowler, Kathy Hammes, Joye, Kathy Mac, Gail Pesses, and Kathy . Subscription issues or suggestions may be addressed to Louis Harkins, list owner, at louisharkins@... , louisharkins@... , louisharkins@... . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2004 Report Share Posted September 8, 2004 I'm sorry but isn't this Tourette's? And isn't the best thing for Tourette's to ignore the blinking/throat clearing/sniffing? It could be OCD I guess but these are extremely typical vocal tics. There are also meds for Tourette's -- my ds is currently taking Topamax, an anti-seizure med, with very good results. Anyway since I haven't met your son and I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, you should take what I say with a grain of salt, but let me give you some links. BTW, CBT does not work for tics. Christie http://www.tourettesyndrome.net/ http://tourettenowwhat.tripod.com/ http://www.tsa-usa.org/ From: kimzz120 Anyway, we've just started him seeing a psychiatrist for OCD - if that's what it is. I've read your posts here and I'm not sure if it's the same thing. My son has always been extremely anxious. Around Gr. 3 he started clearing his throat constantly. We tried ignoring it, then suggested he chew gum, be tested for allergies, nothing worked. Finally he got control of it (because of teasing) and replaced it with something else. This has been the case for the past six years. It went to sniffing, to repeating words he just said, to staring at people, to blinking. He also has a few strange things he'll do, like wipe the toilet seat a certain number of times. The latter seems like an OCD. Right now the doc has him in CBT trying to work on the blinking, which they seem to think is the first one to tackle. Here's the problem: He's not doing anything about it. Granted, it's the start of high school and he's stressed. But the blinking is worse and he isn't using the thoughts the doc suggested to stop. (He must do it five times or something like that.) I think it happens so quick and often that it would be incredibly stressful to stop every time and think to himself " no I don't need to listen to that compulsion " . Part of his trouble is that he has never been motivated to anything that requires effort and this is hard work, it seems. He has asked if we can help (ie medication) him stop it, but we want to avoid drugs and doc agrees, as the OCDs are mild enough. This has rambled a bit. Sorry. I'm just wondering if we're heading down the right road for this. It seems there's no thinking " If I do this something bad might happen " which is how I view normal OCD. It's more an unthinking habit. Does anyone know what this is all about or have suggestions? Thank you. I really value your collective wisdom/experiences. kim Our list archives, bookmarks, files, and chat feature may be accessed at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group// . Our list advisors are Gail B. , Ed.D., Tamar Chansky, Ph.D., Aureen Pinto Wagner, Ph.D., and Dan Geller, M.D. Our list moderators are Birkhan, Castle, Fowler, Kathy Hammes, Joye, Kathy Mac, Gail Pesses, and Kathy . Subscription issues or suggestions may be addressed to Louis Harkins, list owner, at louisharkins@... , louisharkins@... , louisharkins@... . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2004 Report Share Posted September 9, 2004 I'll chime in an agree that, the way you are describing them, these things sound more like tics then compulsions. However, given the AS diagnosis, they could also be stims. There are a lot of conflicting views about stimming, and some people do think that these should be stopped. I guess it would be important to find out what the doctor thinks these are, for sure. Jeanne jwestpha@... NBCT - Exceptional Needs (2000) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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