New to this group...my daughter...

[Guest guest]

I have 2 kids with Autism. My dd is 7 (2nd grade) and my ds is 5 (homeschool.

My dd is having a very difficult time. Her non-stop thoughts are back. They

are really bothering her this time. She needs to tell us her thoughts every

single time, even about brushing her teeth again or putting her fingers in her

pockets, etc. She keeps it together as school well enough until lately. She is

starting to tell her thoughts to students. Then she comes home and explodes!

At everyone. She is oppositional as well.

I suppose I am writing to see what others have done about thoughts that don't

stop and need to be told and recognized. Her coping mechanism is that when she

has a thought and/or tells us it, she ends it with " but not. " Meaning she

really doesn't feel that way but she can't stop thinking it. My daughter is a

wonderful reader. Very intelligent. But falling behind in other subjects and

of course social skills are lacking. When do you homeschool? I am worried

about the type of things she is saying at school will be misinterptreted. I

have spoke to the school but they say she is perfect in the class. There is

nothing wrong. She does not have an IEP. She qualifies for no services per

testing/evaluations.

Any thoughts or opinions?

Keri

[Guest guest]

Hi Keri, and welcome from another relative newbie. I have homeschooler simce my

oldest was in 2nd grade; it s not easy with an OCD child, and I don t know how

it would be with autism. But I do know there are moms out there who are doing

it.

We tried puttingour kids in school about six weeks ago (before we got the OCD

diagnosis), in hopes of relieving some stress in my life as I do my own work on

childhood trauma, but it rathceted up my daughter s OCD badly, and stressed us

all out so much that we finally brought everyone back home after two weeks.

Homeschooling isn t for everyone, as I m sure you know; and it s never easy for

me, but it is what works best for our family. What are your husband s thoughts

(if you re married)?

-Angi

>I have 2 kids with Autism. My dd is 7 (2nd grade) and my ds is 5 (homeschool.

My dd is having a very difficult time. Her non-stop thoughts are back. They

are really bothering her this time. She needs to tell us her thoughts every

single time, even about brushing her teeth again or putting her fingers in her

pockets, etc. She keeps it together as school well enough until lately. She is

starting to tell her thoughts to students. Then she comes home and explodes!

At everyone. She is oppositional as well.

>

>I suppose I am writing to see what others have done about thoughts that don't

stop and need to be told and recognized. Her coping mechanism is that when she

has a thought and/or tells us it, she ends it with " but not. " Meaning she

really doesn't feel that way but she can't stop thinking it. My daughter is a

wonderful reader. Very intelligent. But falling behind in other subjects and

of course social skills are lacking. When do you homeschool? I am worried

about the type of things she is saying at school will be misinterptreted. I

have spoke to the school but they say she is perfect in the class. There is

nothing wrong. She does not have an IEP. She qualifies for no services per

testing/evaluations.

>

>Any thoughts or opinions?

>

>Keri

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group, Keri.

If the school thinks she is fine, how are you aware that she is telling others

her thoughts? Just curious. Does she tell you she tells them?

Have you tried any CBT/ERP (cognitive behavioral therapy / exposure and response

prevention) for her thoughts? Is she on any meds for OCD, or does that cause

more problems with her Autism?

The CBT/ERP is a matter of learning to recognize the thoughts as OCD thoughts,

then learn to either " boss them back " which might be the easiest approach at her

age, or treat them like " junk email " . With junk email, they scream " important "

headlines, but when you open them you see they are junk so you delete them.

With OCD, you learn to disregard them as junk and not give them importance.

There is also the use of loop tapes, which is a way to deliberately expose them

to a disturbing thought, over and over, for a period of time, which can help

desensitize them.

Since she is also dealing with Autism, I was wondering if you have a good

therapist onboard?

Glad you found us.

BJ

>

> I have 2 kids with Autism. My dd is 7 (2nd grade) and my ds is 5 (homeschool.

My dd is having a very difficult time. Her non-stop thoughts are back. They

are really bothering her this time. She needs to tell us her thoughts every

single time, even about brushing her teeth again or putting her fingers in her

pockets, etc. She keeps it together as school well enough until lately. She is

starting to tell her thoughts to students. Then she comes home and explodes!

At everyone. She is oppositional as well.

>

> I suppose I am writing to see what others have done about thoughts that don't

stop and need to be told and recognized. Her coping mechanism is that when she

has a thought and/or tells us it, she ends it with " but not. " Meaning she

really doesn't feel that way but she can't stop thinking it. My daughter is a

wonderful reader. Very intelligent. But falling behind in other subjects and

of course social skills are lacking. When do you homeschool? I am worried

about the type of things she is saying at school will be misinterptreted. I

have spoke to the school but they say she is perfect in the class. There is

nothing wrong. She does not have an IEP. She qualifies for no services per

testing/evaluations.

>

> Any thoughts or opinions?

>

> Keri

>

[Guest guest]

She has to tell me when she comes home that she told kids her " weird thoughts "

sometimes they are very private.

Then her autism kicks in and she scripts everything from her day.

Meds have never been good. She is also seizure prone. She has not seizure in 4

years, since taking off meds.

She does recognize her repetitive thoughts and needing to voice every opinion.

She says at the end of every " brain " thought " ,but not " meaning that she doesn't

mean what she just thought (sometimes they are bad thoughts...death, illness,

etc.). We have started telling her to tell her brain to shut-up. She had a

good day today with that. she was happy today. She still tells me in detail

what she did and what she does and what she is going to do and when. So OCD's

or Autism? Both?

She will tell me her thoughts. I tell her " okay " or if they take further

talking I will. She knows if I say " okay " it is not a big deal. If she cannot

get to myself or my husband she will write it down. Then we will read it when we

are together/have time, etc. The thing I am concerned about is when she tells

her brain to " shut up " she is internalizing it or does that mean her brain is

receiving it as it should...not important?

We are dealing with this ourselves. We have tried professionals, but it takes

so much to get to the real her we just get turned away as being over sensitive

with a intelligent child, etc. She will outgrow it. I hate that one!

Thank you. This is a warm and friendly group.

Keri

Re: New to this group...my daughter...

Welcome to the group, Keri.

If the school thinks she is fine, how are you aware that she is telling others

her thoughts? Just curious. Does she tell you she tells them?

Have you tried any CBT/ERP (cognitive behavioral therapy / exposure and

response prevention) for her thoughts? Is she on any meds for OCD, or does that

cause more problems with her Autism?

The CBT/ERP is a matter of learning to recognize the thoughts as OCD thoughts,

then learn to either " boss them back " which might be the easiest approach at her

age, or treat them like " junk email " . With junk email, they scream " important "

headlines, but when you open them you see they are junk so you delete them. With

OCD, you learn to disregard them as junk and not give them importance.

There is also the use of loop tapes, which is a way to deliberately expose

them to a disturbing thought, over and over, for a period of time, which can

help desensitize them.

Since she is also dealing with Autism, I was wondering if you have a good

therapist onboard?

Glad you found us.

BJ

>

> I have 2 kids with Autism. My dd is 7 (2nd grade) and my ds is 5

(homeschool. My dd is having a very difficult time. Her non-stop thoughts are

back. They are really bothering her this time. She needs to tell us her thoughts

every single time, even about brushing her teeth again or putting her fingers in

her pockets, etc. She keeps it together as school well enough until lately. She

is starting to tell her thoughts to students. Then she comes home and explodes!

At everyone. She is oppositional as well.

>

> I suppose I am writing to see what others have done about thoughts that

don't stop and need to be told and recognized. Her coping mechanism is that when

she has a thought and/or tells us it, she ends it with " but not. " Meaning she

really doesn't feel that way but she can't stop thinking it. My daughter is a

wonderful reader. Very intelligent. But falling behind in other subjects and of

course social skills are lacking. When do you homeschool? I am worried about the

type of things she is saying at school will be misinterptreted. I have spoke to

the school but they say she is perfect in the class. There is nothing wrong. She

does not have an IEP. She qualifies for no services per testing/evaluations.

>

> Any thoughts or opinions?

>

> Keri

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Keri!

I am in the same boat, having a 9 year old daughter that has to insert " I think "

into every sentance she says some days. She is very intelligent as well, so much

so that most people look at us like we are crazy when we try to tell them

anything about the problems we have had. She has shown signs of something being

wrong since she was a year old, but has yet to be diagnosed. She had an IEP but

it was dismissed at the end of first grade, and about a week later she started

telling us she was touching people in thier privates. (Turned out to be a worry)

It is a frustrating thing to go through but helpful to find encouragement here.

I'm afraid I don't have too much advice since we are in the learning stage of

things too. I will say, stick to your guns and fight for your children, because

no one else will. You know them better than anyone else. Good luck with

everything and please keep us posted!

Heidi -WA

New to this group...my daughter...

I have 2 kids with Autism. My dd is 7 (2nd grade) and my ds is 5 (homeschool. My

dd is having a very difficult time. Her non-stop thoughts are back. They are

really bothering her this time. She needs to tell us her thoughts every single

time, even about brushing her teeth again or putting her fingers in her pockets,

etc. She keeps it together as school well enough until lately. She is starting

to tell her thoughts to students. Then she comes home and explodes! At everyone.

She is oppositional as well.

I suppose I am writing to see what others have done about thoughts that don't

stop and need to be told and recognized. Her coping mechanism is that when she

has a thought and/or tells us it, she ends it with " but not. " Meaning she really

doesn't feel that way but she can't stop thinking it. My daughter is a wonderful

reader. Very intelligent. But falling behind in other subjects and of course

social skills are lacking. When do you homeschool? I am worried about the type

of things she is saying at school will be misinterptreted. I have spoke to the

school but they say she is perfect in the class. There is nothing wrong. She

does not have an IEP. She qualifies for no services per testing/evaluations.

Any thoughts or opinions?

Keri

[Guest guest]

Hi Keri,

I have multiple kids with Asperger's and OCD and I homeschool all of them. 

They are better off at home where they are understood and are not under huge

amounts of stress and pressure.. I would be happy to answer any specific

questions you may have about homeschooling.. My children are 12, 9, 7, & 3.. All

girls except the youngest.  And we have homeschooled since the beginning.

Misty

http://www.livingmynormal.blogspot.com

________________________________

To:

Sent: Tue, March 30, 2010 2:38:14 PM

Subject: New to this group...my daughter...

 

I have 2 kids with Autism. My dd is 7 (2nd grade) and my ds is 5 (homeschool. My

dd is having a very difficult time. Her non-stop thoughts are back. They are

really bothering her this time. She needs to tell us her thoughts every single

time, even about brushing her teeth again or putting her fingers in her pockets,

etc. She keeps it together as school well enough until lately. She is starting

to tell her thoughts to students. Then she comes home and explodes! At everyone.

She is oppositional as well.

I suppose I am writing to see what others have done about thoughts that don't

stop and need to be told and recognized. Her coping mechanism is that when she

has a thought and/or tells us it, she ends it with " but not. " Meaning she really

doesn't feel that way but she can't stop thinking it. My daughter is a wonderful

reader. Very intelligent. But falling behind in other subjects and of course

social skills are lacking. When do you homeschool? I am worried about the type

of things she is saying at school will be misinterptreted. I have spoke to the

school but they say she is perfect in the class. There is nothing wrong. She

does not have an IEP. She qualifies for no services per testing/evaluations .

Any thoughts or opinions?

Keri

[Guest guest]

Oh yeah, sounds like meds could impossible with the seizure issue. Is she on

any meds for the seizures? I have a brother-in-law who had a brain tumor

removed, who now has a seizure disorder. Having the tumor removed also changed

his brain chemistry so he gets some pretty severe depression. He is on an SSRI,

along with seizure medication, but they monitor his regularly, due to the risk,

so understand your concern. Can she tolerate anything like Inositol?

BJ

> >

> > I have 2 kids with Autism. My dd is 7 (2nd grade) and my ds is 5

(homeschool. My dd is having a very difficult time. Her non-stop thoughts are

back. They are really bothering her this time. She needs to tell us her thoughts

every single time, even about brushing her teeth again or putting her fingers in

her pockets, etc. She keeps it together as school well enough until lately. She

is starting to tell her thoughts to students. Then she comes home and explodes!

At everyone. She is oppositional as well.

> >

> > I suppose I am writing to see what others have done about thoughts that

don't stop and need to be told and recognized. Her coping mechanism is that when

she has a thought and/or tells us it, she ends it with " but not. " Meaning she

really doesn't feel that way but she can't stop thinking it. My daughter is a

wonderful reader. Very intelligent. But falling behind in other subjects and of

course social skills are lacking. When do you homeschool? I am worried about the

type of things she is saying at school will be misinterptreted. I have spoke to

the school but they say she is perfect in the class. There is nothing wrong. She

does not have an IEP. She qualifies for no services per testing/evaluations.

> >

> > Any thoughts or opinions?

> >

> > Keri

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

She is on no seizure meds...no seizures for 4 yrs.

She is on supplements for the autism. She is on Inositol, Gaba, Taurine,

Omegas,Zinc, Biotin,Cal/Mag w/extra Calcium, B vitamins.

Keri

Re: New to this group...my daughter...

Oh yeah, sounds like meds could impossible with the seizure issue. Is she on

any meds for the seizures? I have a brother-in-law who had a brain tumor

removed, who now has a seizure disorder. Having the tumor removed also changed

his brain chemistry so he gets some pretty severe depression. He is on an SSRI,

along with seizure medication, but they monitor his regularly, due to the risk,

so understand your concern. Can she tolerate anything like Inositol?

BJ

> >

> > I have 2 kids with Autism. My dd is 7 (2nd grade) and my ds is 5

(homeschool. My dd is having a very difficult time. Her non-stop thoughts are

back. They are really bothering her this time. She needs to tell us her thoughts

every single time, even about brushing her teeth again or putting her fingers in

her pockets, etc. She keeps it together as school well enough until lately. She

is starting to tell her thoughts to students. Then she comes home and explodes!

At everyone. She is oppositional as well.

> >

> > I suppose I am writing to see what others have done about thoughts that

don't stop and need to be told and recognized. Her coping mechanism is that when

she has a thought and/or tells us it, she ends it with " but not. " Meaning she

really doesn't feel that way but she can't stop thinking it. My daughter is a

wonderful reader. Very intelligent. But falling behind in other subjects and of

course social skills are lacking. When do you homeschool? I am worried about the

type of things she is saying at school will be misinterptreted. I have spoke to

the school but they say she is perfect in the class. There is nothing wrong. She

does not have an IEP. She qualifies for no services per testing/evaluations.

> >

> > Any thoughts or opinions?

> >

> > Keri

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>