Re: My First Post/Spew & Help

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the list. I know that you will find lots of support here.

We have all traveled a similar road and know exactly what you are going

through. I'm curious how long your daughter has been on the Zoloft?

Sometimes it can take several months to see results with any of the

SSRI meds. My daughter did well on 50 mg. for a couple of years. When

she reached 11 1/2 or 12 we had to increase to 75 mg. and 8 months

later bumped it up to 100 mg. As she reached puberty her body grew and

changed and, for her, 50 mg. was no longer enough. You might want to

discuss this with your daughter's psychiatrist and see if she/he thinks

that a med increase or a med change is in order. Feel free to vent

away. We all do it from time to time. Remember that OCD can and will

get better with the proper treatment.

Kathy

>

>

> Hello all,

>

> Man am I glad I found this resource! When I saw Dr. Chamskey

> advises the list, I knew it was the right place! We have her book,

> and I have NEVER EVER read anything on any subject which was so spot

> on as her book on OCD in children. Everything our 11 year-old

> daughter has been through is mentioned - in detail. It's as if she

> lives in our house!

>

> Since this is my first post, I first have to spew what we have

> endured for the last 6 or 7 years first. She's now in CBT and we

> are failing to find the right med to take the edge off so that the

> CBT can get a wedge in her terrible disorder. Of course, our life

> is a living hell too, and we miss our wonderful daughter. She cannot

> see how much life she is missing, and she refuses to try to help

> herself. It's killing her, it's killing us, and it's killing us to

> see her endure this.

>

> She's been diganosed with OCD and a comorbid Oppositional Defiant

> Disorder (ODD). Which is like trying to put out a fire with

> gasoline! Whe she's having an OCD moment and we try to tell her to

> tell the OCD monster to stop controlling her, she flies into a rage

> and yells things like, " I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE OCD, JUST TELL ME IF

> SHE'S SICK! " Yes, her fear of germs - and of course, the OCD she

> doesn't care about is exactly what's making her care so much.

>

> Fear of vomiting? How about having such a strong will she would

> make herself vomit everytime we went to a restaraunt - We've past

> that one (phew!), but for two years we hardly ever ate out, and when

> we did, we were always on pins and needles wating for it to come -

> which it always did.

>

> She went through a period of about a year that she insisted on

> checking the expiration date of every thing we ate, and wouldn't

> drink or eat anything if it was a few days away from expiring.

> Now her fear of germs has hit it's peak. She is late

> to classes b/c she goes in the bathroom to " scrub up for surgery "

> between classes. To help, and as a compromise, we have given her

> some hand sanitizer to reduce her time. But I doubt Purell ever

> intended their products to be used as a hair gel, or clothing

> detergent. Yes, if someone sitting around her sneezes or coughs,

> she'll be in the school bathroom, literally bathing herself in hand

> sanitizer. Her teachers know about her issues, and have even told

> us that she comes into class smelling like hand sanitizer.

> The worst part is how she treats her 5 year old sister. Even though

> she's not sick, she treats her like she has the plague.

>

> So now onto HELP!

>

> Two " answerable " problems we have: 1. How do we get her to realize

> how much life she is losing and how good it can be so that she will

> be open to helping herself and wants to care about getting better?

> 2. She's on 50mg of Zoloft, which is about as effective as a sugar

> pill (didn't work for my anxiety issues either). We'd like to ask

> her psych about other meds, but aren't sure which one's to try -

> Luvox? Prozac? Anafranil? Paxil was hell on me so I'm hesitant to

> try it with her. Does anyone know if those that come with potential

> sexual side effects (like Paxil was with me) can hamper sexual

> development in children?

>

> Thanks so much for this group, and bless you all who are cosuffering

> with us!

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> 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.(

> http://www.worrywisekids.org ), Dan Geller, M.D.,Aureen Pinto Wagner,

> Ph.D., ( http://www.lighthouse-press.com ). 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@... .

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the list. I know that you will find lots of support here.

We have all traveled a similar road and know exactly what you are going

through. I'm curious how long your daughter has been on the Zoloft?

Sometimes it can take several months to see results with any of the

SSRI meds. My daughter did well on 50 mg. for a couple of years. When

she reached 11 1/2 or 12 we had to increase to 75 mg. and 8 months

later bumped it up to 100 mg. As she reached puberty her body grew and

changed and, for her, 50 mg. was no longer enough. You might want to

discuss this with your daughter's psychiatrist and see if she/he thinks

that a med increase or a med change is in order. Feel free to vent

away. We all do it from time to time. Remember that OCD can and will

get better with the proper treatment.

Kathy

>

>

> Hello all,

>

> Man am I glad I found this resource! When I saw Dr. Chamskey

> advises the list, I knew it was the right place! We have her book,

> and I have NEVER EVER read anything on any subject which was so spot

> on as her book on OCD in children. Everything our 11 year-old

> daughter has been through is mentioned - in detail. It's as if she

> lives in our house!

>

> Since this is my first post, I first have to spew what we have

> endured for the last 6 or 7 years first. She's now in CBT and we

> are failing to find the right med to take the edge off so that the

> CBT can get a wedge in her terrible disorder. Of course, our life

> is a living hell too, and we miss our wonderful daughter. She cannot

> see how much life she is missing, and she refuses to try to help

> herself. It's killing her, it's killing us, and it's killing us to

> see her endure this.

>

> She's been diganosed with OCD and a comorbid Oppositional Defiant

> Disorder (ODD). Which is like trying to put out a fire with

> gasoline! Whe she's having an OCD moment and we try to tell her to

> tell the OCD monster to stop controlling her, she flies into a rage

> and yells things like, " I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE OCD, JUST TELL ME IF

> SHE'S SICK! " Yes, her fear of germs - and of course, the OCD she

> doesn't care about is exactly what's making her care so much.

>

> Fear of vomiting? How about having such a strong will she would

> make herself vomit everytime we went to a restaraunt - We've past

> that one (phew!), but for two years we hardly ever ate out, and when

> we did, we were always on pins and needles wating for it to come -

> which it always did.

>

> She went through a period of about a year that she insisted on

> checking the expiration date of every thing we ate, and wouldn't

> drink or eat anything if it was a few days away from expiring.

> Now her fear of germs has hit it's peak. She is late

> to classes b/c she goes in the bathroom to " scrub up for surgery "

> between classes. To help, and as a compromise, we have given her

> some hand sanitizer to reduce her time. But I doubt Purell ever

> intended their products to be used as a hair gel, or clothing

> detergent. Yes, if someone sitting around her sneezes or coughs,

> she'll be in the school bathroom, literally bathing herself in hand

> sanitizer. Her teachers know about her issues, and have even told

> us that she comes into class smelling like hand sanitizer.

> The worst part is how she treats her 5 year old sister. Even though

> she's not sick, she treats her like she has the plague.

>

> So now onto HELP!

>

> Two " answerable " problems we have: 1. How do we get her to realize

> how much life she is losing and how good it can be so that she will

> be open to helping herself and wants to care about getting better?

> 2. She's on 50mg of Zoloft, which is about as effective as a sugar

> pill (didn't work for my anxiety issues either). We'd like to ask

> her psych about other meds, but aren't sure which one's to try -

> Luvox? Prozac? Anafranil? Paxil was hell on me so I'm hesitant to

> try it with her. Does anyone know if those that come with potential

> sexual side effects (like Paxil was with me) can hamper sexual

> development in children?

>

> Thanks so much for this group, and bless you all who are cosuffering

> with us!

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> 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.(

> http://www.worrywisekids.org ), Dan Geller, M.D.,Aureen Pinto Wagner,

> Ph.D., ( http://www.lighthouse-press.com ). 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@... .

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the list. I know that you will find lots of support here.

We have all traveled a similar road and know exactly what you are going

through. I'm curious how long your daughter has been on the Zoloft?

Sometimes it can take several months to see results with any of the

SSRI meds. My daughter did well on 50 mg. for a couple of years. When

she reached 11 1/2 or 12 we had to increase to 75 mg. and 8 months

later bumped it up to 100 mg. As she reached puberty her body grew and

changed and, for her, 50 mg. was no longer enough. You might want to

discuss this with your daughter's psychiatrist and see if she/he thinks

that a med increase or a med change is in order. Feel free to vent

away. We all do it from time to time. Remember that OCD can and will

get better with the proper treatment.

Kathy

>

>

> Hello all,

>

> Man am I glad I found this resource! When I saw Dr. Chamskey

> advises the list, I knew it was the right place! We have her book,

> and I have NEVER EVER read anything on any subject which was so spot

> on as her book on OCD in children. Everything our 11 year-old

> daughter has been through is mentioned - in detail. It's as if she

> lives in our house!

>

> Since this is my first post, I first have to spew what we have

> endured for the last 6 or 7 years first. She's now in CBT and we

> are failing to find the right med to take the edge off so that the

> CBT can get a wedge in her terrible disorder. Of course, our life

> is a living hell too, and we miss our wonderful daughter. She cannot

> see how much life she is missing, and she refuses to try to help

> herself. It's killing her, it's killing us, and it's killing us to

> see her endure this.

>

> She's been diganosed with OCD and a comorbid Oppositional Defiant

> Disorder (ODD). Which is like trying to put out a fire with

> gasoline! Whe she's having an OCD moment and we try to tell her to

> tell the OCD monster to stop controlling her, she flies into a rage

> and yells things like, " I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE OCD, JUST TELL ME IF

> SHE'S SICK! " Yes, her fear of germs - and of course, the OCD she

> doesn't care about is exactly what's making her care so much.

>

> Fear of vomiting? How about having such a strong will she would

> make herself vomit everytime we went to a restaraunt - We've past

> that one (phew!), but for two years we hardly ever ate out, and when

> we did, we were always on pins and needles wating for it to come -

> which it always did.

>

> She went through a period of about a year that she insisted on

> checking the expiration date of every thing we ate, and wouldn't

> drink or eat anything if it was a few days away from expiring.

> Now her fear of germs has hit it's peak. She is late

> to classes b/c she goes in the bathroom to " scrub up for surgery "

> between classes. To help, and as a compromise, we have given her

> some hand sanitizer to reduce her time. But I doubt Purell ever

> intended their products to be used as a hair gel, or clothing

> detergent. Yes, if someone sitting around her sneezes or coughs,

> she'll be in the school bathroom, literally bathing herself in hand

> sanitizer. Her teachers know about her issues, and have even told

> us that she comes into class smelling like hand sanitizer.

> The worst part is how she treats her 5 year old sister. Even though

> she's not sick, she treats her like she has the plague.

>

> So now onto HELP!

>

> Two " answerable " problems we have: 1. How do we get her to realize

> how much life she is losing and how good it can be so that she will

> be open to helping herself and wants to care about getting better?

> 2. She's on 50mg of Zoloft, which is about as effective as a sugar

> pill (didn't work for my anxiety issues either). We'd like to ask

> her psych about other meds, but aren't sure which one's to try -

> Luvox? Prozac? Anafranil? Paxil was hell on me so I'm hesitant to

> try it with her. Does anyone know if those that come with potential

> sexual side effects (like Paxil was with me) can hamper sexual

> development in children?

>

> Thanks so much for this group, and bless you all who are cosuffering

> with us!

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> 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.(

> http://www.worrywisekids.org ), Dan Geller, M.D.,Aureen Pinto Wagner,

> Ph.D., ( http://www.lighthouse-press.com ). 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@... .

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, welcome!!

I have a 15 yr old son with OCD. His OCD problems began at around

age 11.5, right after he began 6th grade. What a year!! By the time

he got to 8th grade, things were much better (compared to previous)

and by 9th and also 10th (current) things have been pretty great! He

is still dealing with OCD but it's manageable and no longer so

traumatic on him & the entire family!

As to how to get a child/teen or anyone to actually work on CBT, I

haven't figured that out yet! still has some things he

should be doing but says he's handling it. Well, yeah, by avoidance

instead of exposure. He's never had an actual therapist (just me!)

but this spring/summer we're going to see about one and I'm hoping

someone else can motivate him a bit. I think since he's so much

better than those previous years, he is just accepting " manageable "

as opposed to still working on it.

Those previous years, we'd do as you've probably read - pick

something that was low on his anxiety/hierarchy list to work on.

Baby steps for us. For him, once he succeeded at some smaller

behaviors, some of the other compulsions, etc., seemed to get better

on their own; or either the success at those helped with others.

Those behaviors you listed sound SO familiar as to what others have

mentioned here. hasn't dealt with some of the huge

contamination issues (whew!) that others have. I think to some small

degree it's " there " though, things like always washing hands before

eating or at least using hand sanitizer. Just not overdoing it, but

it would and has bothered him if he couldn't.

Perhaps a different medication might help your daughter. I'm not

sure about dosages with the different meds, is she pretty much at the

maximum for Zoloft?? I'd skip trying Paxil too since it didn't do

well for you. Like you said, if she can get on the right med/dosage,

it should help take the edge off to help with therapy.

So far as sexual side effects, taking meds at this young age,

developmental years, etc., I had just this week asked that question

in another group, and the doctor (Dr. Claiborn) said: " It is very

difficult to research long term effects of medications but I

am not aware of any significant problems associated with being on

SSRIs for a long time or during developmental years.. " is

on Celexa at 50mg/day.

I always wonder about an ODD diagnosis with OCD. Don't know a lot

about ODD, but kids can get pretty defiant when OCD is running their

lives!

Well, again, welcome!! This group has been my best support these OCD

years!!

>

> Hello all,

>

> Man am I glad I found this resource! When I saw Dr. Chamskey

> advises the list, I knew it was the right place! We have her book,

> and I have NEVER EVER read anything on any subject which was so

spot

> on as her book on OCD in children. Everything our 11 year-old

> daughter has been through is mentioned - in detail. It's as if she

[Guest guest]

Hi, welcome!!

I have a 15 yr old son with OCD. His OCD problems began at around

age 11.5, right after he began 6th grade. What a year!! By the time

he got to 8th grade, things were much better (compared to previous)

and by 9th and also 10th (current) things have been pretty great! He

is still dealing with OCD but it's manageable and no longer so

traumatic on him & the entire family!

As to how to get a child/teen or anyone to actually work on CBT, I

haven't figured that out yet! still has some things he

should be doing but says he's handling it. Well, yeah, by avoidance

instead of exposure. He's never had an actual therapist (just me!)

but this spring/summer we're going to see about one and I'm hoping

someone else can motivate him a bit. I think since he's so much

better than those previous years, he is just accepting " manageable "

as opposed to still working on it.

Those previous years, we'd do as you've probably read - pick

something that was low on his anxiety/hierarchy list to work on.

Baby steps for us. For him, once he succeeded at some smaller

behaviors, some of the other compulsions, etc., seemed to get better

on their own; or either the success at those helped with others.

Those behaviors you listed sound SO familiar as to what others have

mentioned here. hasn't dealt with some of the huge

contamination issues (whew!) that others have. I think to some small

degree it's " there " though, things like always washing hands before

eating or at least using hand sanitizer. Just not overdoing it, but

it would and has bothered him if he couldn't.

Perhaps a different medication might help your daughter. I'm not

sure about dosages with the different meds, is she pretty much at the

maximum for Zoloft?? I'd skip trying Paxil too since it didn't do

well for you. Like you said, if she can get on the right med/dosage,

it should help take the edge off to help with therapy.

So far as sexual side effects, taking meds at this young age,

developmental years, etc., I had just this week asked that question

in another group, and the doctor (Dr. Claiborn) said: " It is very

difficult to research long term effects of medications but I

am not aware of any significant problems associated with being on

SSRIs for a long time or during developmental years.. " is

on Celexa at 50mg/day.

I always wonder about an ODD diagnosis with OCD. Don't know a lot

about ODD, but kids can get pretty defiant when OCD is running their

lives!

Well, again, welcome!! This group has been my best support these OCD

years!!

>

> Hello all,

>

> Man am I glad I found this resource! When I saw Dr. Chamskey

> advises the list, I knew it was the right place! We have her book,

> and I have NEVER EVER read anything on any subject which was so

spot

> on as her book on OCD in children. Everything our 11 year-old

> daughter has been through is mentioned - in detail. It's as if she

[Guest guest]

Hi, welcome!!

I have a 15 yr old son with OCD. His OCD problems began at around

age 11.5, right after he began 6th grade. What a year!! By the time

he got to 8th grade, things were much better (compared to previous)

and by 9th and also 10th (current) things have been pretty great! He

is still dealing with OCD but it's manageable and no longer so

traumatic on him & the entire family!

As to how to get a child/teen or anyone to actually work on CBT, I

haven't figured that out yet! still has some things he

should be doing but says he's handling it. Well, yeah, by avoidance

instead of exposure. He's never had an actual therapist (just me!)

but this spring/summer we're going to see about one and I'm hoping

someone else can motivate him a bit. I think since he's so much

better than those previous years, he is just accepting " manageable "

as opposed to still working on it.

Those previous years, we'd do as you've probably read - pick

something that was low on his anxiety/hierarchy list to work on.

Baby steps for us. For him, once he succeeded at some smaller

behaviors, some of the other compulsions, etc., seemed to get better

on their own; or either the success at those helped with others.

Those behaviors you listed sound SO familiar as to what others have

mentioned here. hasn't dealt with some of the huge

contamination issues (whew!) that others have. I think to some small

degree it's " there " though, things like always washing hands before

eating or at least using hand sanitizer. Just not overdoing it, but

it would and has bothered him if he couldn't.

Perhaps a different medication might help your daughter. I'm not

sure about dosages with the different meds, is she pretty much at the

maximum for Zoloft?? I'd skip trying Paxil too since it didn't do

well for you. Like you said, if she can get on the right med/dosage,

it should help take the edge off to help with therapy.

So far as sexual side effects, taking meds at this young age,

developmental years, etc., I had just this week asked that question

in another group, and the doctor (Dr. Claiborn) said: " It is very

difficult to research long term effects of medications but I

am not aware of any significant problems associated with being on

SSRIs for a long time or during developmental years.. " is

on Celexa at 50mg/day.

I always wonder about an ODD diagnosis with OCD. Don't know a lot

about ODD, but kids can get pretty defiant when OCD is running their

lives!

Well, again, welcome!! This group has been my best support these OCD

years!!

>

> Hello all,

>

> Man am I glad I found this resource! When I saw Dr. Chamskey

> advises the list, I knew it was the right place! We have her book,

> and I have NEVER EVER read anything on any subject which was so

spot

> on as her book on OCD in children. Everything our 11 year-old

> daughter has been through is mentioned - in detail. It's as if she

[Guest guest]

Hi there, and welcome to the list. I am very short of time but what jumped

out at me was that your daughter is on a very low dose of Zoloft to treat

OCD. Zoloft is less potent than say, Prozac, and in any case none of the

SSRIs equate milligram to milligram. My daughter will be 11 in a few days,

and she takes 150mg Zoloft/day and has for four years now. For three of

those years my child also took a small dose of a second SSRI to potentiate

the effect of the Zoloft. Our daughter was also very impaired by OCD and in

her case, it was crucial to get effective SSRI dose in place, that is what

allowed her to participate and benefit from CBT/ERP.

For quite awhile now her symptoms have been low and manageable, and this is

certainly possible for your child too. I very much suggest making sure her

prescribing pdoc is aware of how much her OCD is still affecting her, and

see if s/he will consider going up on the Zoloft or switching to a different

med, or perhaps consider augmenting the Zoloft with a second SSRI. It's not

your job to figure out which SSRI to add or switch to, a good pdoc will

choose based on your daughter's, and perhaps your, reactions to the various

ones. With any SSRI, " starting low and going slow " is a good way to avoid

side effects.

My daughter is reading over my shoulder and is interested in emailing your

daughter if she would like that. Let me know :0)

Take care,

Kathy R. in Indiana

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

From: " thiin_white_duke " <thiin_white_duke@...

> Hello all,

>

> Man am I glad I found this resource! When I saw Dr. Chamskey

> advises the list, I knew it was the right place! We have her book,

> and I have NEVER EVER read anything on any subject which was so spot

> on as her book on OCD in children. Everything our 11 year-old

> daughter has been through is mentioned - in detail. It's as if she

> lives in our house!

>

> Since this is my first post, I first have to spew what we have

> endured for the last 6 or 7 years first. She's now in CBT and we

> are failing to find the right med to take the edge off so that the

> CBT can get a wedge in her terrible disorder. Of course, our life

> is a living hell too, and we miss our wonderful daughter. She cannot

> see how much life she is missing, and she refuses to try to help

> herself. It's killing her, it's killing us, and it's killing us to

> see her endure this.

>

> She's been diganosed with OCD and a comorbid Oppositional Defiant

> Disorder (ODD). Which is like trying to put out a fire with

> gasoline! Whe she's having an OCD moment and we try to tell her to

> tell the OCD monster to stop controlling her, she flies into a rage

> and yells things like, " I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE OCD, JUST TELL ME IF

> SHE'S SICK! " Yes, her fear of germs - and of course, the OCD she

> doesn't care about is exactly what's making her care so much.

>

> Fear of vomiting? How about having such a strong will she would

> make herself vomit everytime we went to a restaraunt - We've past

> that one (phew!), but for two years we hardly ever ate out, and when

> we did, we were always on pins and needles wating for it to come -

> which it always did.

>

> She went through a period of about a year that she insisted on

> checking the expiration date of every thing we ate, and wouldn't

> drink or eat anything if it was a few days away from expiring.

> Now her fear of germs has hit it's peak. She is late

> to classes b/c she goes in the bathroom to " scrub up for surgery "

> between classes. To help, and as a compromise, we have given her

> some hand sanitizer to reduce her time. But I doubt Purell ever

> intended their products to be used as a hair gel, or clothing

> detergent. Yes, if someone sitting around her sneezes or coughs,

> she'll be in the school bathroom, literally bathing herself in hand

> sanitizer. Her teachers know about her issues, and have even told

> us that she comes into class smelling like hand sanitizer.

> The worst part is how she treats her 5 year old sister. Even though

> she's not sick, she treats her like she has the plague.

>

> So now onto HELP!

>

> Two " answerable " problems we have: 1. How do we get her to realize

> how much life she is losing and how good it can be so that she will

> be open to helping herself and wants to care about getting better?

> 2. She's on 50mg of Zoloft, which is about as effective as a sugar

> pill (didn't work for my anxiety issues either). We'd like to ask

> her psych about other meds, but aren't sure which one's to try -

> Luvox? Prozac? Anafranil? Paxil was hell on me so I'm hesitant to

> try it with her. Does anyone know if those that come with potential

> sexual side effects (like Paxil was with me) can hamper sexual

> development in children?

>

> Thanks so much for this group, and bless you all who are cosuffering

> with us!

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the list! I know you will find a lot of support here!

We did not see a huge change on 50 mg zoloft, but our son is older (15)

and probably bigger, now on 150 mg. When the doctor added risperdal (an

antipsychotic which can also used along with the ssri for OCD) we saw a

bigger difference. He is " mostly " better. Way less contamination

issues, now I have to tell him to wash his hands sometimes, he was

hearing voices (loud OCD ideas?), and isn't now, he lost all his friends

by avoiding everyone but is making new friends now. He was very

defiant, smashing things and lunging at people (especially his dad) but

now just has minor outbursts of temper and some swearing (never used to

swear).

On good days he wants to get better and will try to communicate and work

on things. We don't have formal CBT/ERP just some do-it-yourself by me

at home, no therapists here do it. On less than good days he " likes "

OCD and thinks of it as a " friend " which " protects " him. From what? Life?

The biggest stronghold which is still a major problem reminds me of what

you said about your daughter and her little sister. My son has singled

out one of his sisters (we have 5 kids total) and treats her like SHE

has the plague. He is terrified of her, runs and hides, hisses or

growls, and covers his " parts " so they won't be harmed. He can't tell

me why or what he thinks will happen, although on a good day he will

try. Of course that is hard on her. One part of him seems to feel sad

and guilty for treating her this way and the other part of him is

unwilling to give it up. His psychiatrist suggested he was making it up

for attention that there is no medical reason for him to fear his

sister, and now he is mad and even more unwilling to work on it. He

feels like she is denying something that is real and now he doesn't

trust her. He did make his sister a present for her 11th birthday but

couldn't watch her open it except by peeking around the corner with one

eye. She cried and later told her friends it was her best gift.

Christmas day will be interesting.

I hope you find some answers and that you soon get your girl back. I am

happy for the progress my son has made already and optomistic for the

future again.

Kim in IA

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the list! I know you will find a lot of support here!

We did not see a huge change on 50 mg zoloft, but our son is older (15)

and probably bigger, now on 150 mg. When the doctor added risperdal (an

antipsychotic which can also used along with the ssri for OCD) we saw a

bigger difference. He is " mostly " better. Way less contamination

issues, now I have to tell him to wash his hands sometimes, he was

hearing voices (loud OCD ideas?), and isn't now, he lost all his friends

by avoiding everyone but is making new friends now. He was very

defiant, smashing things and lunging at people (especially his dad) but

now just has minor outbursts of temper and some swearing (never used to

swear).

On good days he wants to get better and will try to communicate and work

on things. We don't have formal CBT/ERP just some do-it-yourself by me

at home, no therapists here do it. On less than good days he " likes "

OCD and thinks of it as a " friend " which " protects " him. From what? Life?

The biggest stronghold which is still a major problem reminds me of what

you said about your daughter and her little sister. My son has singled

out one of his sisters (we have 5 kids total) and treats her like SHE

has the plague. He is terrified of her, runs and hides, hisses or

growls, and covers his " parts " so they won't be harmed. He can't tell

me why or what he thinks will happen, although on a good day he will

try. Of course that is hard on her. One part of him seems to feel sad

and guilty for treating her this way and the other part of him is

unwilling to give it up. His psychiatrist suggested he was making it up

for attention that there is no medical reason for him to fear his

sister, and now he is mad and even more unwilling to work on it. He

feels like she is denying something that is real and now he doesn't

trust her. He did make his sister a present for her 11th birthday but

couldn't watch her open it except by peeking around the corner with one

eye. She cried and later told her friends it was her best gift.

Christmas day will be interesting.

I hope you find some answers and that you soon get your girl back. I am

happy for the progress my son has made already and optomistic for the

future again.

Kim in IA

>