Re: Reassurance questions and relapse - Sue

[Guest guest]

My son has been doing well for a while now. I have him keep doing the exposures

to keep things in check. For instance, he went on a 3 day school trip this

morning. I could see he was a little anxious last night and this morning. I

had him do exposures (tough ones) until his anxiety was low. He got on the

school bus without hesitation.

I have been thinking that daily exposures may not be necessary, but that

occasional ones won;t hurt. Whenever I anticipate anxiety producing events for

my son, I have him do exposures and it seems to help. Based on your post, do

you think I'm right?

Bonnie

> > >

> > > My 11-year-old daughter was diagnosed with OCD a

> > little over a year ago.  We have a terrific,

> > nationally-known therapist who specializes in children with

> > OCD.  My daughter mainly has contamination fears, as

> > well as some socially-oriented fears.  Lately the

> > number of reassurance questions she asks have gone back up

> > to near the point they were when she first was

> > diagnosed.  I do know how to respond (or rather how to

> > avoid responding).  However, there's not much

> > decrease.  She knows she is supposed to boss back " OC "

> > but she seems to not want to or care about bossing " OC "

> > back.  She doesn't seem to apply what she has learned

> > in therapy, either.  For example, tonight she was all

> > worried that she touched pee that had run down her

> > leg.  She should know from therapy that touching pee is

> > not actually harmful.  Earlier, she was worried that

> > she touched my arm just after my hand had touched raw

> > chicken (as if germs could run up my arm and into her

> > body).  It is driving me crazy! 

> > >

> > > Perhaps this is a relapse, and as it is the first

> > since we started therapy over a year ago, I am not used to

> > dealing with that.  Would love some suggestions as to

> > how to cope with relapses or just stories about the waxing

> > and waning of OCD so that I do not feel so much like all the

> > time and money spent on therapy is for naught.  It

> > bothers me that she does not seem to want to boss back her

> > OCD anymore.  It does not seem to bother her much, but

> > it sure does bother me!

> > >

> > > Sue

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

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