Re: Link between OCD and PTSD

[Guest guest]

HI :

Sexual obsessions are very common, taboos mean that they are not spoken or

written about that often. I believe Steve is really suffering from these

right now and his female therapist has suggested we try to find a male

therapist for him to work with. Only trouble is it was so hard to find and

train her.

I was very interested in what you shared about a trauma-related protocol as

Steve has PTSD as well as OCD. I hope it will soon be published so that

our kids can get the benefit of Dr. March's work too.

I am looking forward to reading about Cameron's progress as he starts

treatment. Take care, good luck, aloha, Kathy (H)

kathyh@...

At 03:37 AM 05/12/2000 +0000, you wrote:

>After reading what so many other parents and children go through,

>what we are experiencing pales in comparison. OCD carries such a

>stigma and no one really talks about it openly but OCD with " sexual "

>connotations offers unique challenges. I have trouble opening up

>about it because people react differently to it than when it's the

>more recognized type of symptoms, like hand-washing or being

>meticulous, etc. Try explaining that your 5 year old son not only

>puts things in his pants but has coerced many of his kindergarten

>classmates to as well. Would you want your child to be my child's

>friend if you knew? I wouldn't. From what we know right now, it

>appears that Cameron only asked the other kids to put objects ( sand,

>crayons, paper towels) in their pants. If they didn't want to, he

>would say he wouldn't be their friend or refuse to play with them. I

>don't believe there has been any type of touching between these kids.

>I say that because one of Cameron's OCD symptoms is his need to

>confess, which he does about everything. I have to reassure him

>constantly that many of the things that pop into his head are normal

>and not OCD. I know to some extent I am involved in his rituals but

>I'm trying to learn the appropriate responses. It doesn't help that

>kids at this age commonly go through the " I'll show you mine, if you

>show me yours " stage. It freaks Cameron out if another child shows

>his underpants or makes a joke about " privates " .

>

>We are so new to this. I can't wait until Cameron starts therapy,

>mostly because he is so tormented by his " bad thoughts " and thinks of

>himself as evil but also so I can learn how to help him. Am I

>enabling if I take him to Blockbuster as a reward when he tells me he

>had strong " bad thoughts " but didn't ask anyone to put something in

>their pants? Cameron doesn't understand why he can't be " a normal

>kid " like he used to be and blames himself for bringing this on. I've

>tried to explain that it's the OCD but at his age, he really can't

>comprehend it.

>

>Dr. March mentioned in his evaluation letter to Cameron's

>pediatrician that he recommends blending in CBT for PTSD using his

>( P.C.A.A.D.) trauma-focused coping protocol, which he will provide

>to Cameron's psychotherapist in advance of publication. Perhaps

>medical experts are now recognizing a link between OCD and trauma. In

>any case, it's encouraging to know that a new trauma-focused CBT

>protocol is forthcoming, don't you agree?

>

>It has helped me to accept and better comprehend Cameron's diagnosis

>knowing that other parents recognize through their own experiences

>the connection between trauma and OCD. Many thanks!

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy. I'd be interested in learning more about what you know about the

link between OCD and PTSD. I know they are treated somewhat similarly, but

how does one emerge from the other? Not everyone with PTSD develops OCD.

I'm inclined to think living with OCD creates PTSD-like anxiety.

Mamimiz

[Guest guest]

HI Mamimiz:

I don't know much about any link between OCD and PTSD other than they are

both anxiety disorders. Steve has these two with his MDD. His mental

health professionals have dxed the PTSD based on the traumas he has dealt

with as a child (my near drowning, my near death from neutropenia, and his

grandmother's suicide by drowning). He also thinks his grandmother's

suicide was the trigger for his OCD.

I found your comment about OCD triggering PTSD very interesting. Steve's

CBT therapist told me she thinks I have some PTSD as a result of trying

unsuccessfully for so long to get good treatment for Steve. Certainly

living with OCD when it is untreated and severe must be like living in a

war zone which certainly seems to encourage the development of PTSD.

Since we don't know what causes OCD I don't think we can figure out if it

emerges from PTSD or vice versa. Certainly they travel together all too

well.

Take care, aloha, Kathy (H)

kathyh@...

At 09:04 AM 05/17/2000 -0400, you wrote:

>Hi Kathy. I'd be interested in learning more about what you know about the

>link between OCD and PTSD. I know they are treated somewhat similarly, but

>how does one emerge from the other? Not everyone with PTSD develops OCD.

>I'm inclined to think living with OCD creates PTSD-like anxiety.

>

>Mamimiz

[Guest guest]

,

I apologize for the delay in writing, I just received your post.

Yes, I would reward Cameron for Not acting on a compulsion. The confessing

to you is a different one. Personally, I would give him a big hug (if you

are allowed to touch him!!) and tell him how great he is for " bossing back "

that nasty ocd thought!

Sexual obsessions are so shocking to everyone when its a child because they

are innocents. Tom used the number 69 from age 12 - 13.5 in just about

every sentance. Imagine this kid coming up to his grandfather and saying:

" Hey! want to get ice cream? How about 69 of them! You know what 69 is dont

you grandpa?? " He could give you mathematical equations involving 69 in

'69' different ways. He would actually get a high if he saw a sign with 69,

like the price of gas, the cost of something in a store.... For the most

part, we ignored this behaviour. At 2 - 5 he would end every sentance with

kaki (as in feces). WE hadnt started any form of therapy until he was 13,

and by that time, the 69 stuff was minor in comparison to other things.

Now, we have learned to reward every achievement. When Cameron is ready to

work on his hierarchy, he will begin to separate different concepts which

will make it easier for him. You are soooo lucky to have him diagnosed now.

He will grow to understand how to control his ocd instead of it controlling

him. (my kids were just short of 13, 10.5 and 7 yo)

take care, wendy in canada wb4@...

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[Guest guest]

Kathy,What is PTSD? Thanks Beth in IN.

Re: Link between OCD and PTSD

> HI Mamimiz:

>

> I don't know much about any link between OCD and PTSD other than they are

> both anxiety disorders. Steve has these two with his MDD. His mental

> health professionals have dxed the PTSD based on the traumas he has dealt

> with as a child (my near drowning, my near death from neutropenia, and his

> grandmother's suicide by drowning). He also thinks his grandmother's

> suicide was the trigger for his OCD.

>

> I found your comment about OCD triggering PTSD very interesting. Steve's

> CBT therapist told me she thinks I have some PTSD as a result of trying

> unsuccessfully for so long to get good treatment for Steve. Certainly

> living with OCD when it is untreated and severe must be like living in a

> war zone which certainly seems to encourage the development of PTSD.

>

> Since we don't know what causes OCD I don't think we can figure out if it

> emerges from PTSD or vice versa. Certainly they travel together all too

> well.

>

> Take care, aloha, Kathy (H)

> kathyh@...

>

> At 09:04 AM 05/17/2000 -0400, you wrote:

> >Hi Kathy. I'd be interested in learning more about what you know about

the

> >link between OCD and PTSD. I know they are treated somewhat similarly,

but

> >how does one emerge from the other? Not everyone with PTSD develops OCD.

> >I'm inclined to think living with OCD creates PTSD-like anxiety.

> >

> >Mamimiz

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

PTSD = post traumatic stress disorder