Re: To Kathy R.

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy R.,

Just wanted to say hang in there with the CBT: you are such a trail blazer with

Kellen being so young. And I'm glad you're keeping a journal. I remember Kathy

H.

suggested this a long time ago when Kelsey was severe with OCD and I was having

so

much trouble determining if we were making progress or not. It's hard to believe

that I couldn't see it, in retrospect, because she actually made much progress

extremely quickly.

So, for kids who might take a little longer to come around with the CBT, I'm

guessing it would REALLY be difficult for a parent to notice progress with OCD's

" one step forward, two steps back " sort of thing. It sounds like she's doing

really well though, and I'm sure it's due to your hard work together.

It's such a different ball game with Kelsey's OCD these days. It's as if OCD is

even sneakier than it used to be because I'm never sure it was OCD until it

disappears (which is funny because I am esp. sensitized and informed about what

OCD looks like after all our work!) It often looks like other annoying

age-appropriate behaviors. The good thing is that the duration is so short and

severity so mild, that they don't require CBT these days. I just sort of look

back

and say " so that's what was going on with her! I'm glad it's gone. "

Keep up the good work....these baby steps toward recovery will pay off! Here's a

perspective to give you hope when she has new obsessions and compulsions:

Eventually you should notice that the new Os and Cs come on less and less

strong.

When I could notice that, then I knew we had turned the corner. And it was so

reassuring to be able to say to myself, " This new one isn't so bad. I'll never

have to worry about something new coming up that's worse than this cuz we can't

go

backwards! "

in San Diego

[Guest guest]

Congratulations to you and Kellen!

I can definitely relate to your appreciation that Kellen can wear clothes again!

(I remember when Kelsey had one dress she wore for a month, which then

became contaminated and we were homebound with her naked. We haven't had any

clothing contamination issues since last June!) It is such a major step

forward when they can handle unplanned exposures with aplomb. Please tell Kellen

that I'm impressed with her excellent bossing back and that I know what

courage it takes!

Take care,

in San Diego

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy R.,

I found your post quite interesting. It's the first time I've heard about any

time of movement disorder associated with OCD. So much you said about Kellen

fits Kelsey too and she doesn't have PANDAs (never had strep). She was very

clumsy when she was younger. (I remember a time when someone commented that she

must be trying hard to learn SOMETHING because her legs were so bruised up...but

it was just from not having a good sense of space and banging into things.) I

don't see that these days as much, but she's still on the less coordinated side

of kids playing handball, softball, etc. and doesn't rollerskate at 8!

You wrote:

Kel also does the weird positions--both you mentioned are

common ones for her--and I'm always bossing back saying " Stop, quit " since

it doesn't seem to do any good. :-) Kel's annoying to be around for any

length of time because of all this moving, sometimes I just want to grab her

and hold her still. That's why I'm curious whether all this is unpleasant

for *her* or just those around her. She doesn't seem irritable or bothered

by it.

Guess I better work on my bossing back I feel just this way about Kelsey.

It's hard to be around her because of all the moving around. She, however, is

just happy and enthusiastic...doesn't bother her a bit. That's why it seems more

ADHD-like---she's just more excited about the little things than most people!

And:

Kel has tics and I've noticed that during a cold, say, when increased

throat-clearing and sniffing makes sense, it will reactivate the tic which

will persist long after the cold is gone.

This is interesting too. I've often thought that when she has a cough or cold

and needs to clear her throat, that she does this way out of proportion to

what's required..in that OCD way so that the whole class is bothered by her

constant need to cough. Ilene's post about itchy eyes as an OCD symptom compared

to sticky hands was also quite interesting. I will have to investigate this.

Thanks for all the insight, Kathy. Here's a thought for you re: Kellen's

accomplishments bossing back OCD being undermined by successful punishments from

OCD! Perhaps you are working too high on her hierachy. For the CBT to be

successful, she needs to be confident OCD is not going to punish her. Do you

check in with her before the exposure? " How likely do you think it is that OCD

will make you throw up if you eat the banana bread/or make you eat too much? " If

she rates it above a 4, then try something smaller.

Good luck Kathy, that's a tough one...

Take care,

in San Diego