Guest guest Posted April 20, 2006 Report Share Posted April 20, 2006 Hi Jill, My son's OCD symptoms started when he was 4. They were mild but his anxiety was pretty bad. By 5 years old, his " bad thoughts " were really taking over his life. We tried play therapy but it did not help. Even though he was so young, we took him to a therapist that worked with CBT. Along with it, I started giving him Inositol (from the vitamin B family). I did not want him on medication because I currently cannot survive without it (OCD, Panic attacks) and I wanted to try a different route with for him. After 1 week on Inositol and a few suggestions from the therapist (and a whole lot of support and ideas from this group) he showed major improvement. I know 4 is so young but if you need ideas, you came to the right place. I am sure you will get a lot of great advise!! Good luck, Jodi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2006 Report Share Posted April 20, 2006 Hi Jill, My son's OCD started to show when he was 2 and 1/2. When he was three we moved and I started back to work. Hayden's OCD really flared up and to be honest it was a nice break to go back to work just to separate myself from it for a few hours. I went around to many of the child cares and found one I really liked. He eventually adjusted to the new environment and I felt better having a break from it. The babysitter idea sounds great too. You could try the baby sitter first and if it just isn't working look around for another place that you like. In the summer is there any programs at your church or local churches in your area? If not, maybe you could change out with someone else who has a four year old and take turn watching them so you get a break and she stays busy. My son's doctor said the same thing that when they are little like that you can't really work with them on using the CBT and other OCD treatments. They really have to be old enough to understand what they are learning. It is still hard for my son to learn from all the therapy. He is very immature for his age , and he just can't sit still, or he doesn't want to even try to do any of the therapy. VERY FRUSTRATING! Good luck. I hope you find peace with your solution to your problem. Sheree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2006 Report Share Posted April 20, 2006 Hi Jill, I still think a *good* therapist can do CBT with her. That said, we couldn't find any therapist near where we live so had to manage with the help of this group, lots of reading and just trying different ways/ideas. Maybe one of the books on OCD written for children might help her, she might relate to something in it. Tricky thoughts, real thoughts, you can still talk to her about trying to change/stop some of her behaviors. Rewards can work well with some kids, collecting a certain number of stickers or something towards a reward, getting to earn some treat or item or extra time.... Picking certain times she should wash her hands (before eating, after toileting...) and then limiting the number of other times she can wash them...say, only 5 more times or something (any number just so it begins at 1,2,3 less than she's now washing each day). She earns points for reaching her goal that day. Of course, *effort* is rewarded too, holding off washing for 5 seconds longer, 10 seconds, even if they end up washing. I'm rambling, sorry, but I keep getting interrupted by one of my sons and lose my train of thought! I know separation anxiety is so hard for some kids (hey, I went through it as a kid, my 3 sons all have at some age too) and hard for mom/dad too. I would at some calm times just talk about the future a bit (daycare, school, mommy working...). I volunteered at my twins' preschool at first when they began, then slowly began doing things like leaving the room, coming back of course, leaving for longer periods.... I talked to them some too about my eventually leaving them there while I ran errands, did stuff at home, etc. It was slow work but they ended up fine. Well, hang in there and keep us updated! > > Hi, > > I'm new to the board. I wrote once a couple of weeks ago but have been reading the posts everyday and am very grateful for all that you all have shared. My 4 year old daughter is very anxious and when her anxiety is at its' worst, she has OCD behaviors, i.e. won't touch food with her hands, gets a clean fork if she has a second helping of something (when she eats at all). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2006 Report Share Posted April 21, 2006 I too have dealt with the summertime issues. I am able to be home most of the time and do not have the childcare araangements, but it is hard to figure out what to do with him all day. We joined the community pool. It's really the only thing that he enjoys and can do wither by himself or with a friend. My daughter will go to camp half days for 5 weeks and that will help. Otherwise, I try to get together with family or friends a couple of times per week. When introducing a new routine, I find it helps to take baby steps. Sometimes though the kids can surprise you and adjust so well. My son has the bad thought OCD with a ompulsion to avoid anxiety producing things and seek reassurance. It helps him when we separate OCD from more rational thinking by asking is that a bad thought or is it a thought? We tell him that bad thoughts don't come true. When he has a hard time with it, we say would you rather be thinking about this or something else. He usually responds " I can't help it " , and then we give him something constructive to get involved in. However, he definitely needs meds as these measures help only briefly. I wish you the best. Bonnie -- > I'm new to the board. I wrote once a couple of weeks ago but have been reading the posts everyday and am very grateful for all that you all have shared. My 4 year old daughter is very anxious and when her anxiety is at its' worst, she has OCD behaviors, i.e. won't touch food with her hands, gets a clean fork if she has a second helping of something (when she eats at all). > She has been working with a play therapist for a few weeks now. I know cognitive behavioral therapy is best for OCD. I've been told by several social workers and psychologists that 4 is too young for CBT. I've tried labeling my daughter's belief that her hands are dirty as " tricky thoughts " (to describe the OCD) but she gets mad and says " they're not tricky thoughts, they're real! " She is only 4 and is not capable of the abstract reasoning that CBT requires. I'm wondering if other people with very young children, or whose children's anxiety showed up at a young age, can share how you've dealt with it. > > Several people referred to the kids having a hard time after the spring vacation. too is having a difficult time getting back into the school routine. Her nursery school closes in June and I'm dreading the summer. Her separation anxiety is at an all time high. I don't want to keep her home all summer but there aren't many good options for 4 year olds where I live. Being home with me the whole time will not be good for either of us. > > I'm sorry this is so long but 1 more thing- I may have to go back to work and switch her childcare arrangements. I'm trying to figure out a way to work and keep her in the same nursery school next year and have a babysitter pick her up or some other arrangement so that she doesn't have to adjust to a new school and me being around less (she also starts Kindergarten the following year and will have to adjust to that then). > Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. > Thank you all, > Jill > > > --------------------------------- > New Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC and save big. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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