To Walter Maybe in MA?

[Guest guest]

Hi Walter,

Sounds like you are in or near Massachusetts. I had to initially put up with

caring but incompetent psychologists--who knew some cognitive behavioral

techniques and relaxation techniques, but old and incorrect knowledge about OCD.

There is a document I found--Google search--called " Expert Consensus for the

Treatment of OCD. " Just as recommended by the OC foundation and list advisors,

find someone knowledgeable and trained in exposure ritual prevention (ERP) type

of cog. behavioral therapy (CBT) If you are near central MA, here are 2 sources

to consider:

1) Dr. Young--psychiatrist at UMass Memorial Hospital Lake Ave. location

in Worcester, (508) 856-3149 He has an INCREDIBLY long wait list of 6-12

months, BUT :-) may have psychiatry fellow that he has trained ready and wanting

to take on clients/patients. We did this 3 years ago and after a year (NO co

pays or fees, either--part of Dr. Young's grant to train fellows), and then

followed that psych fellow to his private practice.

2) *Dr. Tracey Guertin, Julio Drive in Shrewsbury, MA, at Pediatric Behavioral

Health, 508-841-8121 (former psychiatry fellow of Dr. Young).

A great book to get for your daughter to read is Aureen Wagner’s book, " Up and

Down the Worry Hill " and for yourselves, Tamar Chansky's book, " Freeing Your

Child from OCD. " This will help you with terms to use and coach her.

Certainly the goal--even now for yourselves--is to just take baby steps, enough

not to give in or allow her to engage in 100% of the compulsions, but trying to

lessen how long she can engage or delay her slightly so many minutes she does a

compulsion (i.e. washing her hands).

When not coaching or stating to " boss back the OCD thought, " try using humor.

Come up with creative ways to show affection, " Well we gotta get in a 'love you'

hug somehow, how about the sign language " I love you sign " (ring finger and

middle finger down, others up) or an AIR hug and near miss air kisses cheek to

cheek or bumping hips.

My daughter used resources we got from BU's Center for Anxiety and Related

Disorders (CARD). We made a 3 ring thin binder, called her detective notebook.

Sometimes she wrote, sometimes she dictated to us. We recorded things that

bothered her, what her anxiety level was on a scale of 1-10, with 10 = worst.

We eventually used forms with other columns-- " Likelihood of fear occurring

(i.e. contact with someone really causing illness or death or exposure to

anthrax). We also had a column " What I missed out on by engaging in the

compulsion " i.e. being relaxed, cuddling for a story/movie, not getting to

friend's house, missing the start of favorite TV show, etc.

The last part listed: Fears Being Worked On, Plans for Exposures (i.e. Mom

going on errands without me for longer period of time each night or licking 1

food nobody else tasted first each day, etc.), and her favorite--REWARDS to earn

for effort and hard work.

Hope this helps you off to a good start.

Sue in MA