Guest guest Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Hi! I have two daughters with OCD and am already feeling inspired by reading other's stories. I am not alone! In response to 's post, yes, I also feel like I have lost my daughter (my youngest is more severe than the older). I can no longer touch her- forget about a hug. It really hurts. Everything my toddler has touched when she runs around in her birthday suit ( I no longer allow it because it has caused so much grief ) has " naked germs " and can no longer be touched. Ever. Even if washed. That has escalated to anything she touches while clothed because she might have reached into her diaper when no one is looking and then spread more naked germs. She takes 30 minute showers (longer if I don't interfere) scrubbing and scrubbing. Then she exits the shower and washes again in the sink with more soap. She's usually sobbing and if I go to the door she screams at me, very loudly. Then she is " clean " and has to rush to her older sister's room in a towel, not from the cabinet- those are " dirty " - but from her sister's room and not come in the rest of the house until morning or she'll get contaminated. The irony is that her older sister is a hoarder and has by far has the dirtiest, messiest room in the house- but to her it's clean because her toddler sister is not allowed in there. There is much, much more and it is a battle to keep my sanity. Sherrie Mom to Delia (14), Amber (8), (12), Chloe (2) and Kira (4 months) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Hi Sherrie, Is your younger daughter in exposure and response prevention therapy or on medication? If the anxiety is too extreme or her ability to understand that this is an illness not a healthy thought is too limited, medications can help to bring the anxiety down to a level at which the she can more actively participate in therapy. Our 9 year old daughter, at the beginning of the summer, was using the bathroom only 2x daily, washing her entire arms for an hour afterwards each time, and would not use any bathroom outside our house. We canceled and/or revised two family trips, skipped swim lessons, and spent the summer visiting therapists, a psychiatrist, and a varied selection of public restrooms (for therapy). She has been on Zoloft and in ERP since last November, but her anxiety got much worse after an illness in June and with the knowledge that she was leaving her current school to go to a new one. We pushed the meds dosage up all summer (we are fortunate that she tolerates it well). Today, she attended her first day at her new school and was excited to go. We have met with her teacher and guidance counselor as she still washes for 15-20 minutes each time, but she can use a public bathroom. Haven't heard how the day went yet (I pick her up in a hour), but no phone calls home from the school. There is hope for your daughters and your family. Hang in there. I know on the worst days you can look at your child and wonder who she is, but you can get her back. Remember that deep down inside she doesn't like this either. Our daughter used to (and sometimes still does) fight with us because it is easier than fighting the OCD. (mom with OCD, 9 yr old daughter Lynn w/OCD) > > Subject: New to List > To: > Date: Monday, August 31, 2009, 11:38 AM > Hi! I have two daughters with > OCD and am already feeling inspired by reading other's > stories. I am not alone! In response to 's > post, yes, I also feel like I have lost my daughter (my > youngest is more severe than the older). I can no > longer touch her- forget about a hug. It really > hurts. Everything my toddler has touched when she runs > around in her birthday suit ( I no longer allow it because > it has caused so much grief ) has " naked germs " and can no > longer be touched. Ever. Even if washed. > That has escalated to anything she touches while clothed > because she might have reached into her diaper when no one > is looking and then spread more naked germs. She takes > 30 minute showers (longer if I don't interfere) scrubbing > and scrubbing. Then she exits the shower and washes > again in the sink with more soap. She's usually > sobbing and if I go to the door she screams at me, very > loudly. Then she is " clean " and has to rush to her > older sister's room in a towel, not from the > cabinet- those are " dirty " - but from her sister's room and > not come in the rest of the house until morning or she'll > get contaminated. The irony is that her older sister > is a hoarder and has by far has the dirtiest, messiest room > in the house- but to her it's clean because her toddler > sister is not allowed in there. There is much, much > more and it is a battle to keep my sanity. > Sherrie > Mom to Delia (14), Amber (8), (12), Chloe (2) and Kira > (4 months) > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Our list archives feature may be accessed at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group// > by scrolling down to the archives calendar . Our links > may be accessed at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group//links > . Our files may be accessed at > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group//files > . > Our list advisors are Gail B. , Ed.D.(http://www.ocdawareness.com ), Tamar Chansky, Ph.D.( http://www.worrywisekids.org ), and Dan Geller, M.D. > (http://www2.massgeneral.org/pediatricpsych/staff/geller.html > ). You may ask a question of any of these mental health > professionals by inserting the words " Ask Dr.(insert name) " > in the subject line of a post to the list. Our list > moderators are Castle, Judy Chabot, BJ Closner, and > Barb Nesrallah. Subscription issues or > suggestions may be addressed to Louis Harkins, list > administrator, at louisharkins@... > . Our group and related groups are listed > at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ocdsupportgroups/links > . OCF treatment providers list may be viewed at http://www.ocfoundation.info/treatment-providers-list.php > . > NLM-NIH Drug Information Portal may be viewed at > http://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov/drugportal/drugportal.jsp?APPLICATION_NAME=drugporta\ l > . OCF recommended reading list may be viewed at http://www.ocfoundation.org/ocd-oc-spectrum-disorders-book-list.html > . > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Hi Sherrie, Welcome and I'm glad you found us! No, you are not alone, there are many here who will understand, and who have great ideas for coping with the day to day stuff that comes with this crazy disorder, OCD. Our son, now 18, was like your daughter with the contamination issues. He is an only child, but still found lots of things to be " afraid " of. I know he did not like young children at all for a long time, for the same reason as your daughter. That must be really hard to live with!!! On the plus side, it is a forced exposure... I could not touch our son either. He was a hugger, we are affectionate as a family. Even though ours was 15, teen, I found this really hurt. What would hurt more, at first, was that he could hug others, but not me. I think I grieved this one for about two months. Ours can hug me now, and the first hug he was able to give I cried. I understand this one. Same stuff with the shower, ours would walk around naked after, couldn't touch anything until he got to his room where it was clean. Towel had to be positioned in a certain place, had to get towel out of closet, opening doors with his foot, hours in the bathroom, rituals being said in the shower.....he would be exhausted after. So hard to see day after day and not be able to do anything to help. Do you have a doctor that you are seeing? Any medication? Do you know about ERP based CBT? The anxiety went way down when medication was started with ours, and once he was able to do ERP, the contamination stuff stopped. It takes time, but this is what works, when they can do it. You have your hands full with five kids, and two of them with OCD!!! Hang in there, and keep posting. As I say there are many here who can help, or at minimum empathize. Hugs, Barb Ontario, Canada Son, 18, OCD, LD - doing quite well now! > > Hi! I have two daughters with OCD and am already feeling inspired by reading other's stories. I am not alone! In response to 's post, yes, I also feel like I have lost my daughter (my youngest is more severe than the older). I can no longer touch her- forget about a hug. It really hurts. Everything my toddler has touched when she runs around in her birthday suit ( I no longer allow it because it has caused so much grief ) has " naked germs " and can no longer be touched. Ever. Even if washed. That has escalated to anything she touches while clothed because she might have reached into her diaper when no one is looking and then spread more naked germs. She takes 30 minute showers (longer if I don't interfere) scrubbing and scrubbing. Then she exits the shower and washes again in the sink with more soap. She's usually sobbing and if I go to the door she screams at me, very loudly. Then she is " clean " and has to rush to her older sister's room in a towel, not from the cabinet- those are " dirty " - but from her sister's room and not come in the rest of the house until morning or she'll get contaminated. The irony is that her older sister is a hoarder and has by far has the dirtiest, messiest room in the house- but to her it's clean because her toddler sister is not allowed in there. There is much, much more and it is a battle to keep my sanity. > Sherrie > Mom to Delia (14), Amber (8), (12), Chloe (2) and Kira (4 months) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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