IOCDF Conference

[Guest guest]

Hi all, I haven't been posting much but have been reading.

My sons and I attended the conference in Chicago. J(19) has OCD, dx at 14 (inpt

psych unit for a week and since has seen a CBT psychologist, is on meds but

still struggles). My other son (22) attended as support for J and we turned it

into a family vacation.

The conference was so informative but I find myself overwhelmed with

information. I'm still processing it all. I think the best workshops were those

with OCD survivors talking about their struggles and treatment. The keynote

speaker gave was inspiring. I hope that these moments helped J see that with

the right therapy he can get his life on track. It helped that several of the

speakers were young adult males who found the right therapy for them and have

persevered. WE all enjoyed a panel that included Fletcher Wortman who wrote the

book Triggered. The panel also included another OCD survivor who is now a PhD

candidate and working as a clinical psychologist and their therapists. They

discussed the pt/therapist relationship and how treatment worked for them.

There were also of course a broad range of workshops on treatment and research.

There was so much it was difficult to decide what to attend. Jeff Szymanski did

a presentation on Perfectionism that hit home for me. The boys also liked one

entitled Mr Monk vs Dr Spock Distinguishing between OCD and OC Behavior

Disorder.

Reid (from NC, I believe)talk on Changing the Mind of OCD was helpful for

me in understanding the importance and difficulty of seeking out and embracing

uncertainty for those with OCD.

My takeaways are for those with newly diagnosed kids is seek out the best

treatment early on. Talk with the therapist in depth about what treatment will

look like and what will be included. Listen for ERP, ask about their experience

with ERP. The situation we are now in is J has a therapist he loves but who

doesn't do ERP. They've made some progress but I think it could be better with

ERP. We were so shell-shocked in the beginning, we didn't ask the right

questions.

I would also get family therapy (as much as you can)to help in coping with the

strain this puts on the family. It's only recently that I realize the stress

this has placed on J's older brother and I'm sure it had a role in the breakup

of my marriage. OCD is a family disease, it affects everyone involved. There

was a workshop for siblings.

So learn as much as you can, be assertive, ask questions, interview therapists,

don't be afraid to change providers if therapy isn't following the course you

had been led to expect.

I know everyone's situation is different and it's often very difficult to find

good help but leave no stone unturned.

It was great to see so many people there, therapists, parents and siblings. I

left the conference with hope that things are changing and more and better

treatment will be available to all of those who need it.

If you ever have an opportunity to attend a conference, do it! This was a

financial stretch for us but it was so worth it.