Guest guest Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Hi , I always go elsewhere when I feel like I'm wasting my money. My daughter has been through dozens of therapists. If it doesn't feel like a fit, in my opinion,move on.It is so hard to find a therapist that does understand and know how to deal with children with OCD.I think he was wrong when he told you to stop " cold turkey " . That approach will cause way too much anxiety for your dd.The fact he told you he felt your dd was doing it all for attention goes to show he is " old school " in his thinking. I have come across a few docs and therapists like this. I'm glad to here she is doing a little better with the reduction in meds. It looks like it may already be taking affect. It is so individual. There is no standard time when she may feel better from the reduction. It can happen almost immediately, or it can take weeks. Does she take anything for sleep? I hope the new doctor has some good suggestions for you! Hugs judy ________________________________ To: Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 11:53:43 AM Subject: today's apt.  Today I went to a licensed clinical social worker to discuss ways to help Lilly with her ocd. (for the interim before getting to see Dr. Lee Fitzgibbons in Oct.) It felt like a waste of money. I really didn’t feel like he understood OCD at all. (textbook yes, real life, no) He pretty much told me to stop cold turkey with any reassurances I give her. I can’t just rip the rug out from under Lilly (12) like that. She feels so abandoned if we just leave her to suffer on her own and she withdraws from the world and goes into a depression when I’ve tried this in the past. It leaves her utterly hopeless and wanting to die. The social worker suggested that she is doing what she is doing because she wants attention. It couldn’t be further from the truth. We are a VERY close family that spends an inordinate amount of quality time together under normal circumstances. Lilly wants to be independent and normal. She does not choose this behavior because she feels it benefits her. It’s destroying her. So sad. I’m still working on reassuring her less and less and I think in a couple days I might try the tickets once I’ve worked it out in my mind. Lilly had a better day yesterday during the day than she has had for a while. (2nd day down to 100mg of Zoloft from 125mg—how long before the reduction might make a difference if it is going to?) Nighttime was not good. ¾ of the time getting ready for bed is spent avoiding the things that distress her and the other quarter of the time is spent being distressed. Then she woke in the night and was distressed for another hour trying to get back into bed and have it feel right. Poor kid. I can’t wait to get into Dr. Fitzgibbons and I really hope she is able to help Lilly in a way that is compassionate and helpful. Shaw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Judy, Lilly does not take anything for sleep. I’ll go there if I have to but I don’t think we are there yet. More often than not, once she gets through the teeth brushing and getting in and out of bed, she’s off to sleep quite quickly and usually sleeps through the night. 2 nights this week she has been up in the middle of the night but last night wasn’t as anxiety filled as the first time and was only for an hour as she tried to get comfortable but didn’t feel just right and had to get up repeatedly. The time before was very anxiety filled because I was trying not to accommodate her and it was a catastrophy. It’s hard to find the balance. Thank you VERY much for sharing your wisdom. It is so helpful and comforting to me. Today I’ve been gone and we’ve been visiting with my mom and so far it’s a pretty good day. Let’s hope it stays that way now that we are home and things are quieter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Hi , I certainly agree with the least amount of medication, the better! I'm glad to hear she seems to be doing so well today!! Cherish every good day!!!! Hugs Judy ________________________________ To: Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 3:00:45 PM Subject: RE: today's apt.  Judy, Lilly does not take anything for sleep. I’ll go there if I have to but I don’t think we are there yet. More often than not, once she gets through the teeth brushing and getting in and out of bed, she’s off to sleep quite quickly and usually sleeps through the night. 2 nights this week she has been up in the middle of the night but last night wasn’t as anxiety filled as the first time and was only for an hour as she tried to get comfortable but didn’t feel just right and had to get up repeatedly. The time before was very anxiety filled because I was trying not to accommodate her and it was a catastrophy. It’s hard to find the balance. Thank you VERY much for sharing your wisdom. It is so helpful and comforting to me. Today I’ve been gone and we’ve been visiting with my mom and so far it’s a pretty good day. Let’s hope it stays that way now that we are home and things are quieter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Hi , Just wanted to say on the medication piece, we generally found about three weeks with dose changes, depends though, and sometimes it's hard to tell when multiple things are going on. That is fabulous that your daughter will see Dr. Fitzgibbons. This is the author of a book on treating OCD? I can't imagine that she(?) would not be able to help, and have specific strategies for how to slowly withdraw accomodations. I'm with you on the accomodating. You can't just stop, esp when the OCD is severe, and if there is depression and withdrawal as you have described. They need to feel you are on their side, and sometimes that means doing the " wrong " thing for the right reason. Do what you feel is best, regardless of what any professional has to say! You know your child best. You really need an agreed upon strategy and usually a gradual approach is best, and ideally with a professional leading the way. It is easy to know what needs to be done. The doing of it, and the " way " of it, is a whole other matter. So easy for a doctor to say just stop accomodating. As you say they have no idea the real life experience of this!!! I used to get so angry I could spit! (sorry my sense memory was activated...) So glad you have an expert coming on board to work with you on all this. I wonder if you could email or fax to ask for any ideas that you could work now? Hang in there! Barb > > Today I went to a licensed clinical social worker to discuss ways to help > Lilly with her ocd. (for the interim before getting to see Dr. Lee > Fitzgibbons in Oct.) It felt like a waste of money. I really didn't feel > like he understood OCD at all. (textbook yes, real life, no) He pretty > much told me to stop cold turkey with any reassurances I give her. I can't > just rip the rug out from under Lilly (12) like that. She feels so > abandoned if we just leave her to suffer on her own and she withdraws from > the world and goes into a depression when I've tried this in the past. It > leaves her utterly hopeless and wanting to die. The social worker suggested > that she is doing what she is doing because she wants attention. It > couldn't be further from the truth. We are a VERY close family that spends > an inordinate amount of quality time together under normal circumstances. > Lilly wants to be independent and normal. She does not choose this behavior > because she feels it benefits her. It's destroying her. So sad. > > > > I'm still working on reassuring her less and less and I think in a couple > days I might try the tickets once I've worked it out in my mind. Lilly had > a better day yesterday during the day than she has had for a while. (2nd > day down to 100mg of Zoloft from 125mg—how long before the reduction might > make a difference if it is going to?) Nighttime was not good. ¾ of the > time getting ready for bed is spent avoiding the things that distress her > and the other quarter of the time is spent being distressed. Then she woke > in the night and was distressed for another hour trying to get back into bed > and have it feel right. Poor kid. > > > > I can't wait to get into Dr. Fitzgibbons and I really hope she is able to > help Lilly in a way that is compassionate and helpful. > > > > Shaw > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 , We too have gone the route of seeing a therapist who had no clue about OCD (although they thought they did). He was very Freudian and was concerned how we may have caused our son's OCD. He even said we should never being telling our children what is right and wrong...they should only learn it by observing us. WE didn't go back. Either wait for Fitzgibbons or find someone else. Screen them over the phone prior to find out if they understand OCD. Good luck. Becky in N.D. > > Today I went to a licensed clinical social worker to discuss ways to help > Lilly with her ocd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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