(no subject)

[Guest guest]

Pam,, Mitzi and Kathy -- Thank you, thank you for your responses to my

post. It is so wonderful to know that someone else understands. I have lots of

questions but don't want to jump the gun on Joe's diagnosis. I took him to his

therapist yesterday and she said that for now, we will treat him as if all of

his compulsions are OCD. We completed our 3rd session of CBT and it seems to be

helping. Yesterday, she began using something other than just e & rp on the

compulsions that appear to be tic like. It is called habit reversal. I am

wondering if anyone has any experience with it and knows how successful it can

be. March and Mulle have a few pages on it in their book but there is no

mention of how successful the treatment generally is. It was my understanding

prior to this, that tic disorders were not successfully treated with anything

other than meds.

I also wanted to comment on the discussion going around yesterday from

those saying that their spouses, therapists, in laws, ect.... thought they

either caused their child's OCD or made it worse. I am another that relates to

that. It is a tramatic experience to have a beautiful, intellegent, healthy

child who appears to have the world by the tail and then suddenly begins to act

in a rather odd manner. WHO WOULDN'T BE CONCERNED? Of course the child

displays most of those mannerisms in front of those he knows loves him

unconditionally. My husband works long hours so he didn't observe much either.

Those were the worst days. Everyone thought I over reacted and made comments

like " Oh, he is your oldest child, you will relax when you get a little more

experience. " I didn't even feel like I could tell someone when I got really

concerned. (If I've ever had an obsession, it was in wanting to be the absolute

best parent for my children. Everyone blamed Joe's compulsions on my

" permissive parenting " or my sheltering style or my giving them too much

attention.... There was no support and that hurt the worst. Now that Joe's

compulsions are more out in the open, my husband is concerned, my father-in-law

even cries about it and my family is supportive instead of talking behind my

back. I am now the most calm and " in control " member of the family. As I've

mentioned before, I drive Joe 4 hours one way for CBT, and my family supports

it. My husband even travels with us. It's too bad Joe had to get that bad

before the rest of the family supported my efforts - but now we are on the road

to recovery. I feel empowered - no longer a basket case. elizabeth