Re: To Judith

[Guest guest]

Gail, thanks for taking the time to respond with your lovely, supportive

post.

We live in Los Angeles, in West Los Angeles, no shortage of doctors. It's

finding the right one. Right now he is seeing one who is not necessarily an

OCD specialist, but long time psychiatrist who treats adolescents, who is very

able and knowledgable. We, including me, don't think behavioral therapy is

the thing for him. That part of the OCD isn't the worse part. It's that

need for perfectionism that is paralyzing him. Coupled with where he is in

school, his age, it's just stressful times. I don't feel guilty. I feel sad

and

powerless. It's as if he is raising himself, as my imput, other than to get

him around, is limited. We all know there is no reason with this disorder.

I have to keep it short today, because I was so depressed nothing got done

around here. More later, but thanks with all my heart.

Judith

[Guest guest]

Wow...so many stories...I am so grateful I came out. A bit busy now but

wanted to thank you so much and add one more thing...I have been on zoloft for

about two years, as even before this started I was depressed. It takes a bit

of time, a few weeks, and what it does is give one a lift. It's not a happy

pill, but I found the lows just weren't as low. I recently increased my dose

to 100 mg, from 50 which is very low, because I was in such a slump. I

think you will find it very helpful. I have had no side affects (always hate

that word, because I can't remember if it is effect!). More later.

Judith

[Guest guest]

Wow...so many stories...I am so grateful I came out. A bit busy now but

wanted to thank you so much and add one more thing...I have been on zoloft for

about two years, as even before this started I was depressed. It takes a bit

of time, a few weeks, and what it does is give one a lift. It's not a happy

pill, but I found the lows just weren't as low. I recently increased my dose

to 100 mg, from 50 which is very low, because I was in such a slump. I

think you will find it very helpful. I have had no side affects (always hate

that word, because I can't remember if it is effect!). More later.

Judith

[Guest guest]

Hi, Judith and welcome to the list. I have been here since June and

have found it a huge source of encouragement and education.

My son , 15, was finally diagnosed with OCD in May following a

total change in personality which seemed to come on suddenly last fall.

(Although, when the psychiatrist asked questions about his younger

years, there were a lot of things that he had displayed that I thought

were just quirky or picky or even cute.) He was at first diagnosed with

major depression and went on zoloft in early April. He went from a

happy, active kid who loved to play outside with neighbor kids to a boy

who preferred to lie in the fetal position on his bed. Fears of

contamination made him wash his hands very frequently, but he refused to

change out of dirty clothes because the dirty ones had safe germs,

whereas the clean ones might have unsafe ones. He refused to eat food

that I prepared or that we stored in the refrigerator, only would eat

microwaveable things like Dinty beef stew or fastfood. He

developed a phobia towards his younger sister, with whom he had always

been close. He " can't " be near her or hear her voice without reacting

to it in fear of some harm coming to him. He cannot explain what will

happen or why.

He has been on zoloft and risperdal since mid-May and is doing much

better. He eats everything in sight now, bathes and changes his clothes

again, I can wash his clothes without doing the disinfection measures to

the washer and dryer, he is making and keeping friends again (the

neighbor relations are still strained, though). He is attending school

and maintaining a C average, having difficulties in 2 classes, but the

rest are okay. The only major thing that remains is his sister phobia.

His psychiatrist suggested that he is just doing it for attention and

that it is not caused by OCD last week, which I think has made it worse

this week. He is very angry that she and we would think that he would

make something like that up. I don't know. I don't think he is that

good an actor that he could do this and be believable for all this

time. She told me he is trying to play on my emotions, which I don't

agree with either as he feels guilty when he makes me cry over

something. We are scheduled to go to a teaching hospital in Feb. for a

complete work up on and I am hoping they can get him to talk with

them about the thing with his sister. He now does not trust his psych

doctor and calls her a bad name when talking about her.

I talked to my doctor about my stress and feelings of hopelessness

regarding my son's condition and other family issues (on the advice of

others on this list) and she asked me to try a low dose of zoloft for a

while to see if that helps. So, I started yesterday. Maybe if I can

get my spirits lifted I can better help him.

I know how you feel seeing your bright talented boy struggling so. I

hope you see a breakthrough soon.

Kim in IA