Re: what is CBT~~Thank you..

[Guest guest]

Thanks Lynnelle, that really made alot of sense to me and cleared up

some things. This is just all so new and scary and I'm so anxious

to have my son back. I'm going after this thing full force.

Dana

>

> CBT -- As I understand it after reading 5 or 6 books

> and 6 months monitoring the 'OCDsupport' (probably the

> most helpful) site (and doing it with my 14 y/o son)

>

> CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) is, as you said,

> everywhere these days -- even used for sleep problems.

> It is sort of replacing " talk " therapy (in alot of

> cases). Talk therapy basically was built on the idea

> that we are mostly a product of our upbringing and

> past experiences(Freud). But talking about it

> apparently didn't cure us very well. Hence the jokes

> about being in therapy for years and years and not

> getting better. Dwelling on a bad past might just

> make the brain connections stronger (re: the bad exp)

>

> Instead -- CBT spends part of the time " adjusting "

> problematic thinking that the patient may have fallen

> into (the cognitive part) then emphasizes changing

> behavior (the " B " part of CBT). It has been proven in

> brain scans that changing behavior ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY

> CHANGES the brain!!!

>

> In the case of OCD the Cognitive part of the therapy

> would be (for example) telling someone who is afraid

> of germs that their thinking on this subject needs to

> be adjusted, that germs are unavoidable and natural

> and have been around forever and it's actually better

> to not avoid them all because they make our immune

> system stronger.

>

> The behavior part of CBT for OCD is to NOT DO what the

> OCD is telling you to do. Show the OCD monster that

> you are stronger than it is. Don't give in! Little

> kids might name the OCD something negative (some call

> it the OCD bully) so that they can more easily refuse

> to do what it is telling them to do.

> We all know that doing what a bully tells you to do is

> not going to make things better in the long run.

>

> " Feeding the OCD monster " is a great analogy I think.

>

> The more you feed it the stronger it becomes. The

> more parents give into the fears (enabling) the more

> the kid thinks their fears are warranted. The longer

> the kid gives into their " need " to do certain rituals

> the stronger the pathways in the brain become that

> tell them they need to do the ritual.

>

> In OCD the behavior therapy part is usually called ERP

> (Exposure Response Prevention). It is a specific type

> of therapy. Not all CBT therapists know much about it

> and even less know how to do it. There are lots of

> good books about it on the OCFoundation website. A

> good one that is mentioned often here is Tamar

> Chansky's " Freeing Your Child From OCD " or something

> like that. It is possible to learn how to do it on

> your own with your child (if you read enuf books). A

> good therapist is preferable at least for a while but

> the parent needs to learn how to do it at home in

> between sessions because the home is where most of the

> problems arise.

>

> One of the hardest parts may be changing our own

> behavior (of enabling). There are all kinds of things

> I do for my son that he should be able to do for

> himself and I constantly fight this tendency .

> Re-assuring our kids alot (about whatever there fears

> are) is also enabling.

>

> OCD was originally called the " doubting disease "

> because sufferers pretty much all want absolute

> certainty about things

> --am I SURE the door is locked

> --am I SURE there are no germs on my hands

> --am I SURE I won't kill someone with that knife

> --am I SURE I did all my homework perfectly

> --am I SURE I washed every single germ off my body in

> the shower

> --even tho I KNOW it's ridiculus to think my parents

> will die in a car accident if I don't do certain

> things everytime I go through a doorway -- am I SURE

> that if I don't do them they will be all right?

>

> The adult sufferers on the site who have done serious

> Exposure Therapy for OCD say it is quite painful to do

> the therapy -- to not do what the " OCD Monster " is

> telling them to do. This is because the monster

> targets those things which the person holds most dear.

> It tricks them by saying (for example) " your mother

> will die if you don't do what I am telling you to do " ,

> but the ones who have really done it say it is

> definitely worth it in the long run.

>

> But it is a specific type of CBT called ERP. It's

> pretty common sense if you think about it. Face your

> fears. If you give in to them they will probably get

> worse.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Like maybe: they pay some attention to how others

> don't worry about germs very much at all and they

> survive

>

[Guest guest]

I agree, thank you that was an excellent explanation.

I stopped reading the OCD for parents books for a while, I needed a break, but

it's good to get a reminder to go back again.

J

Re: what is CBT~~Thank you..

Thanks Lynnelle, that really made alot of sense to me and cleared up

some things. This is just all so new and scary and I'm so anxious

to have my son back. I'm going after this thing full force.

Dana

>

> CBT -- As I understand it after reading 5 or 6 books

> and 6 months monitoring the 'OCDsupport' (probably the

> most helpful) site (and doing it with my 14 y/o son)

>

> CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) is, as you said,

> everywhere these days -- even used for sleep problems.

> It is sort of replacing " talk " therapy (in alot of

> cases). Talk therapy basically was built on the idea

> that we are mostly a product of our upbringing and

> past experiences(Freud). But talking about it

> apparently didn't cure us very well. Hence the jokes

> about being in therapy for years and years and not

> getting better. Dwelling on a bad past might just

> make the brain connections stronger (re: the bad exp)

>

> Instead -- CBT spends part of the time " adjusting "

> problematic thinking that the patient may have fallen

> into (the cognitive part) then emphasizes changing

> behavior (the " B " part of CBT). It has been proven in

> brain scans that changing behavior ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY

> CHANGES the brain!!!

>

> In the case of OCD the Cognitive part of the therapy

> would be (for example) telling someone who is afraid

> of germs that their thinking on this subject needs to

> be adjusted, that germs are unavoidable and natural

> and have been around forever and it's actually better

> to not avoid them all because they make our immune

> system stronger.

>

> The behavior part of CBT for OCD is to NOT DO what the

> OCD is telling you to do. Show the OCD monster that

> you are stronger than it is. Don't give in! Little

> kids might name the OCD something negative (some call

> it the OCD bully) so that they can more easily refuse

> to do what it is telling them to do.

> We all know that doing what a bully tells you to do is

> not going to make things better in the long run.

>

> " Feeding the OCD monster " is a great analogy I think.

>

> The more you feed it the stronger it becomes. The

> more parents give into the fears (enabling) the more

> the kid thinks their fears are warranted. The longer

> the kid gives into their " need " to do certain rituals

> the stronger the pathways in the brain become that

> tell them they need to do the ritual.

>

> In OCD the behavior therapy part is usually called ERP

> (Exposure Response Prevention). It is a specific type

> of therapy. Not all CBT therapists know much about it

> and even less know how to do it. There are lots of

> good books about it on the OCFoundation website. A

> good one that is mentioned often here is Tamar

> Chansky's " Freeing Your Child From OCD " or something

> like that. It is possible to learn how to do it on

> your own with your child (if you read enuf books). A

> good therapist is preferable at least for a while but

> the parent needs to learn how to do it at home in

> between sessions because the home is where most of the

> problems arise.

>

> One of the hardest parts may be changing our own

> behavior (of enabling). There are all kinds of things

> I do for my son that he should be able to do for

> himself and I constantly fight this tendency .

> Re-assuring our kids alot (about whatever there fears

> are) is also enabling.

>

> OCD was originally called the " doubting disease "

> because sufferers pretty much all want absolute

> certainty about things

> --am I SURE the door is locked

> --am I SURE there are no germs on my hands

> --am I SURE I won't kill someone with that knife

> --am I SURE I did all my homework perfectly

> --am I SURE I washed every single germ off my body in

> the shower

> --even tho I KNOW it's ridiculus to think my parents

> will die in a car accident if I don't do certain

> things everytime I go through a doorway -- am I SURE

> that if I don't do them they will be all right?

>

> The adult sufferers on the site who have done serious

> Exposure Therapy for OCD say it is quite painful to do

> the therapy -- to not do what the " OCD Monster " is

> telling them to do. This is because the monster

> targets those things which the person holds most dear.

> It tricks them by saying (for example) " your mother

> will die if you don't do what I am telling you to do " ,

> but the ones who have really done it say it is

> definitely worth it in the long run.

>

> But it is a specific type of CBT called ERP. It's

> pretty common sense if you think about it. Face your

> fears. If you give in to them they will probably get

> worse.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Like maybe: they pay some attention to how others

> don't worry about germs very much at all and they

> survive

>

[Guest guest]

what really hit home to me in that explaination was the " sure " part. my dd

needs reassurance and she asks me something, i answer, then she asks me if i am

" sure " . always asks that. she didnt at first, but as her need for reassurance

got less and less, she added the " sure " part. that is how i know for sure (LOL)

that it is ocd, not just her asking me something. the other phrase she uses for

ocd reassurance is " i wanted to tell you... " and then she tells me something she

needs reassurance for. i wonder if i could let her know that when she asks me

things this way i know it is ocd (her worries, as she calls it) and just point

out how she asked me, so i know it is ocd and i wont answer. hmm, may have to

think about that one, or ask her therapist.

sharon

Re: what is CBT~~Thank you..

Thanks Lynnelle, that really made alot of sense to me and cleared up

some things. This is just all so new and scary and I'm so anxious

to have my son back. I'm going after this thing full force.

Dana

>

> CBT -- As I understand it after reading 5 or 6 books

> and 6 months monitoring the 'OCDsupport' (probably the

> most helpful) site (and doing it with my 14 y/o son)

>

> CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) is, as you said,

> everywhere these days -- even used for sleep problems.

> It is sort of replacing " talk " therapy (in alot of

> cases). Talk therapy basically was built on the idea

> that we are mostly a product of our upbringing and

> past experiences(Freud). But talking about it

> apparently didn't cure us very well. Hence the jokes

> about being in therapy for years and years and not

> getting better. Dwelling on a bad past might just

> make the brain connections stronger (re: the bad exp)

>

> Instead -- CBT spends part of the time " adjusting "

> problematic thinking that the patient may have fallen

> into (the cognitive part) then emphasizes changing

> behavior (the " B " part of CBT). It has been proven in

> brain scans that changing behavior ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY

> CHANGES the brain!!!

>

> In the case of OCD the Cognitive part of the therapy

> would be (for example) telling someone who is afraid

> of germs that their thinking on this subject needs to

> be adjusted, that germs are unavoidable and natural

> and have been around forever and it's actually better

> to not avoid them all because they make our immune

> system stronger.

>

> The behavior part of CBT for OCD is to NOT DO what the

> OCD is telling you to do. Show the OCD monster that

> you are stronger than it is. Don't give in! Little

> kids might name the OCD something negative (some call

> it the OCD bully) so that they can more easily refuse

> to do what it is telling them to do.

> We all know that doing what a bully tells you to do is

> not going to make things better in the long run.

>

> " Feeding the OCD monster " is a great analogy I think.

>

> The more you feed it the stronger it becomes. The

> more parents give into the fears (enabling) the more

> the kid thinks their fears are warranted. The longer

> the kid gives into their " need " to do certain rituals

> the stronger the pathways in the brain become that

> tell them they need to do the ritual.

>

> In OCD the behavior therapy part is usually called ERP

> (Exposure Response Prevention). It is a specific type

> of therapy. Not all CBT therapists know much about it

> and even less know how to do it. There are lots of

> good books about it on the OCFoundation website. A

> good one that is mentioned often here is Tamar

> Chansky's " Freeing Your Child From OCD " or something

> like that. It is possible to learn how to do it on

> your own with your child (if you read enuf books). A

> good therapist is preferable at least for a while but

> the parent needs to learn how to do it at home in

> between sessions because the home is where most of the

> problems arise.

>

> One of the hardest parts may be changing our own

> behavior (of enabling). There are all kinds of things

> I do for my son that he should be able to do for

> himself and I constantly fight this tendency .

> Re-assuring our kids alot (about whatever there fears

> are) is also enabling.

>

> OCD was originally called the " doubting disease "

> because sufferers pretty much all want absolute

> certainty about things

> --am I SURE the door is locked

> --am I SURE there are no germs on my hands

> --am I SURE I won't kill someone with that knife

> --am I SURE I did all my homework perfectly

> --am I SURE I washed every single germ off my body in

> the shower

> --even tho I KNOW it's ridiculus to think my parents

> will die in a car accident if I don't do certain

> things everytime I go through a doorway -- am I SURE

> that if I don't do them they will be all right?

>

> The adult sufferers on the site who have done serious

> Exposure Therapy for OCD say it is quite painful to do

> the therapy -- to not do what the " OCD Monster " is

> telling them to do. This is because the monster

> targets those things which the person holds most dear.

> It tricks them by saying (for example) " your mother

> will die if you don't do what I am telling you to do " ,

> but the ones who have really done it say it is

> definitely worth it in the long run.

>

> But it is a specific type of CBT called ERP. It's

> pretty common sense if you think about it. Face your

> fears. If you give in to them they will probably get

> worse.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Like maybe: they pay some attention to how others

> don't worry about germs very much at all and they

> survive

>

[Guest guest]

Sharon, You can let your dd know it is her ocd talking and tell her

you are not going to reassure or anwser ocd. When I know Bre's ocd

is asking, sometimes I give a silly answer. The point is not to give

in to ocd and fuel it. Let them ride out the anxiety and they will

see they can survive it. They search for certainty and it is hard

for them to obtain it because ocd is the doubting disease. Bre will

question things she knows for certain...like whether I really love

her or not. Then I tell her I hate her, she was adopted, why do I

put up with her( with a smile on my face) and she laughs because she

KNOWS it is not true, just her mind trying to trick her. Her anxiety

goes down and she sees she can have anxiety and survive it.

Sandy

-- In , " kidsnpets " <sdonovan1@...>

wrote:

>

> what really hit home to me in that explaination was the " sure "

part. my dd needs reassurance and she asks me something, i answer,

then she asks me if i am " sure " . always asks that. she didnt at

first, but as her need for reassurance got less and less, she added

the " sure " part. that is how i know for sure (LOL) that it is ocd,

not just her asking me something. the other phrase she uses for ocd

reassurance is " i wanted to tell you... " and then she tells me

something she needs reassurance for. i wonder if i could let her

know that when she asks me things this way i know it is ocd (her

worries, as she calls it) and just point out how she asked me, so i

know it is ocd and i wont answer. hmm, may have to think about that

one, or ask her therapist.

> sharon

> Re: what is CBT~~Thank you..

>

> Thanks Lynnelle, that really made alot of sense to me and

cleared up

> some things. This is just all so new and scary and I'm so

anxious

> to have my son back. I'm going after this thing full force.

>

> Dana

>

>

> >

> > CBT -- As I understand it after reading 5 or 6 books

> > and 6 months monitoring the 'OCDsupport' (probably the

> > most helpful) site (and doing it with my 14 y/o son)

> >

> > CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) is, as you said,

> > everywhere these days -- even used for sleep problems.

> > It is sort of replacing " talk " therapy (in alot of

> > cases). Talk therapy basically was built on the idea

> > that we are mostly a product of our upbringing and

> > past experiences(Freud). But talking about it

> > apparently didn't cure us very well. Hence the jokes

> > about being in therapy for years and years and not

> > getting better. Dwelling on a bad past might just

> > make the brain connections stronger (re: the bad exp)

> >

> > Instead -- CBT spends part of the time " adjusting "

> > problematic thinking that the patient may have fallen

> > into (the cognitive part) then emphasizes changing

> > behavior (the " B " part of CBT). It has been proven in

> > brain scans that changing behavior ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY

> > CHANGES the brain!!!

> >

> > In the case of OCD the Cognitive part of the therapy

> > would be (for example) telling someone who is afraid

> > of germs that their thinking on this subject needs to

> > be adjusted, that germs are unavoidable and natural

> > and have been around forever and it's actually better

> > to not avoid them all because they make our immune

> > system stronger.

> >

> > The behavior part of CBT for OCD is to NOT DO what the

> > OCD is telling you to do. Show the OCD monster that

> > you are stronger than it is. Don't give in! Little

> > kids might name the OCD something negative (some call

> > it the OCD bully) so that they can more easily refuse

> > to do what it is telling them to do.

> > We all know that doing what a bully tells you to do is

> > not going to make things better in the long run.

> >

> > " Feeding the OCD monster " is a great analogy I think.

> >

> > The more you feed it the stronger it becomes. The

> > more parents give into the fears (enabling) the more

> > the kid thinks their fears are warranted. The longer

> > the kid gives into their " need " to do certain rituals

> > the stronger the pathways in the brain become that

> > tell them they need to do the ritual.

> >

> > In OCD the behavior therapy part is usually called ERP

> > (Exposure Response Prevention). It is a specific type

> > of therapy. Not all CBT therapists know much about it

> > and even less know how to do it. There are lots of

> > good books about it on the OCFoundation website. A

> > good one that is mentioned often here is Tamar

> > Chansky's " Freeing Your Child From OCD " or something

> > like that. It is possible to learn how to do it on

> > your own with your child (if you read enuf books). A

> > good therapist is preferable at least for a while but

> > the parent needs to learn how to do it at home in

> > between sessions because the home is where most of the

> > problems arise.

> >

> > One of the hardest parts may be changing our own

> > behavior (of enabling). There are all kinds of things

> > I do for my son that he should be able to do for

> > himself and I constantly fight this tendency .

> > Re-assuring our kids alot (about whatever there fears

> > are) is also enabling.

> >

> > OCD was originally called the " doubting disease "

> > because sufferers pretty much all want absolute

> > certainty about things

> > --am I SURE the door is locked

> > --am I SURE there are no germs on my hands

> > --am I SURE I won't kill someone with that knife

> > --am I SURE I did all my homework perfectly

> > --am I SURE I washed every single germ off my body in

> > the shower

> > --even tho I KNOW it's ridiculus to think my parents

> > will die in a car accident if I don't do certain

> > things everytime I go through a doorway -- am I SURE

> > that if I don't do them they will be all right?

> >

> > The adult sufferers on the site who have done serious

> > Exposure Therapy for OCD say it is quite painful to do

> > the therapy -- to not do what the " OCD Monster " is

> > telling them to do. This is because the monster

> > targets those things which the person holds most dear.

> > It tricks them by saying (for example) " your mother

> > will die if you don't do what I am telling you to do " ,

> > but the ones who have really done it say it is

> > definitely worth it in the long run.

> >

> > But it is a specific type of CBT called ERP. It's

> > pretty common sense if you think about it. Face your

> > fears. If you give in to them they will probably get

> > worse.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Like maybe: they pay some attention to how others

> > don't worry about germs very much at all and they

> > survive

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

that just might work with her. thanks

sharon

Re: what is CBT~~Thank you..

>

> Thanks Lynnelle, that really made alot of sense to me and

cleared up

> some things. This is just all so new and scary and I'm so

anxious

> to have my son back. I'm going after this thing full force.

>

> Dana

>

>

> >

> > CBT -- As I understand it after reading 5 or 6 books

> > and 6 months monitoring the 'OCDsupport' (probably the

> > most helpful) site (and doing it with my 14 y/o son)

> >

> > CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) is, as you said,

> > everywhere these days -- even used for sleep problems.

> > It is sort of replacing " talk " therapy (in alot of

> > cases). Talk therapy basically was built on the idea

> > that we are mostly a product of our upbringing and

> > past experiences(Freud). But talking about it

> > apparently didn't cure us very well. Hence the jokes

> > about being in therapy for years and years and not

> > getting better. Dwelling on a bad past might just

> > make the brain connections stronger (re: the bad exp)

> >

> > Instead -- CBT spends part of the time " adjusting "

> > problematic thinking that the patient may have fallen

> > into (the cognitive part) then emphasizes changing

> > behavior (the " B " part of CBT). It has been proven in

> > brain scans that changing behavior ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY

> > CHANGES the brain!!!

> >

> > In the case of OCD the Cognitive part of the therapy

> > would be (for example) telling someone who is afraid

> > of germs that their thinking on this subject needs to

> > be adjusted, that germs are unavoidable and natural

> > and have been around forever and it's actually better

> > to not avoid them all because they make our immune

> > system stronger.

> >

> > The behavior part of CBT for OCD is to NOT DO what the

> > OCD is telling you to do. Show the OCD monster that

> > you are stronger than it is. Don't give in! Little

> > kids might name the OCD something negative (some call

> > it the OCD bully) so that they can more easily refuse

> > to do what it is telling them to do.

> > We all know that doing what a bully tells you to do is

> > not going to make things better in the long run.

> >

> > " Feeding the OCD monster " is a great analogy I think.

> >

> > The more you feed it the stronger it becomes. The

> > more parents give into the fears (enabling) the more

> > the kid thinks their fears are warranted. The longer

> > the kid gives into their " need " to do certain rituals

> > the stronger the pathways in the brain become that

> > tell them they need to do the ritual.

> >

> > In OCD the behavior therapy part is usually called ERP

> > (Exposure Response Prevention). It is a specific type

> > of therapy. Not all CBT therapists know much about it

> > and even less know how to do it. There are lots of

> > good books about it on the OCFoundation website. A

> > good one that is mentioned often here is Tamar

> > Chansky's " Freeing Your Child From OCD " or something

> > like that. It is possible to learn how to do it on

> > your own with your child (if you read enuf books). A

> > good therapist is preferable at least for a while but

> > the parent needs to learn how to do it at home in

> > between sessions because the home is where most of the

> > problems arise.

> >

> > One of the hardest parts may be changing our own

> > behavior (of enabling). There are all kinds of things

> > I do for my son that he should be able to do for

> > himself and I constantly fight this tendency .

> > Re-assuring our kids alot (about whatever there fears

> > are) is also enabling.

> >

> > OCD was originally called the " doubting disease "

> > because sufferers pretty much all want absolute

> > certainty about things

> > --am I SURE the door is locked

> > --am I SURE there are no germs on my hands

> > --am I SURE I won't kill someone with that knife

> > --am I SURE I did all my homework perfectly

> > --am I SURE I washed every single germ off my body in

> > the shower

> > --even tho I KNOW it's ridiculus to think my parents

> > will die in a car accident if I don't do certain

> > things everytime I go through a doorway -- am I SURE

> > that if I don't do them they will be all right?

> >

> > The adult sufferers on the site who have done serious

> > Exposure Therapy for OCD say it is quite painful to do

> > the therapy -- to not do what the " OCD Monster " is

> > telling them to do. This is because the monster

> > targets those things which the person holds most dear.

> > It tricks them by saying (for example) " your mother

> > will die if you don't do what I am telling you to do " ,

> > but the ones who have really done it say it is

> > definitely worth it in the long run.

> >

> > But it is a specific type of CBT called ERP. It's

> > pretty common sense if you think about it. Face your

> > fears. If you give in to them they will probably get

> > worse.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Like maybe: they pay some attention to how others

> > don't worry about germs very much at all and they

> > survive

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think you hit the nail on the head! - I absolutely think you should

tell her and in doing so help her realize when it's ocd talking - I

told dd for just a few nights - I know that's OCD asking and I can't

answer or if I give you this look - you'll no I'm refusing to answer

cause it's OCD asking - stopped the " I'm going to have a bad dream

tonight " comment in just a few nights - good luck

PS teacher called home today just to touch base - I'm glad I spoke up

and maybe she won't even need too much from the school but they're on

board - feels good!

BUT... I still have to send #2 to kindergarten in the morning and don't

want to let go!!! :-(

I'll only have the 2 boys with me - very empty and weird - I'm usually

pregnant again by now - but dh says no more - I'll have to work on him

LOL!!!

Quoting kidsnpets <sdonovan1@...>:

> what really hit home to me in that explaination was the " sure " part.

> my dd needs reassurance and she asks me something, i answer, then she

> asks me if i am " sure " . always asks that. she didnt at first, but

> as her need for reassurance got less and less, she added the " sure "

> part. that is how i know for sure (LOL) that it is ocd, not just her

> asking me something. the other phrase she uses for ocd reassurance

> is " i wanted to tell you... " and then she tells me something she

> needs reassurance for. i wonder if i could let her know that when

> she asks me things this way i know it is ocd (her worries, as she

> calls it) and just point out how she asked me, so i know it is ocd

> and i wont answer. hmm, may have to think about that one, or ask her

> therapist.

> sharon

> Re: what is CBT~~Thank you..

>

> Thanks Lynnelle, that really made alot of sense to me and cleared up

> some things. This is just all so new and scary and I'm so anxious

> to have my son back. I'm going after this thing full force.

>

> Dana

>

>

> >

> > CBT -- As I understand it after reading 5 or 6 books

> > and 6 months monitoring the 'OCDsupport' (probably the

> > most helpful) site (and doing it with my 14 y/o son)

> >

> > CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) is, as you said,

> > everywhere these days -- even used for sleep problems.

> > It is sort of replacing " talk " therapy (in alot of

> > cases). Talk therapy basically was built on the idea

> > that we are mostly a product of our upbringing and

> > past experiences(Freud). But talking about it

> > apparently didn't cure us very well. Hence the jokes

> > about being in therapy for years and years and not

> > getting better. Dwelling on a bad past might just

> > make the brain connections stronger (re: the bad exp)

> >

> > Instead -- CBT spends part of the time " adjusting "

> > problematic thinking that the patient may have fallen

> > into (the cognitive part) then emphasizes changing

> > behavior (the " B " part of CBT). It has been proven in

> > brain scans that changing behavior ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY

> > CHANGES the brain!!!

> >

> > In the case of OCD the Cognitive part of the therapy

> > would be (for example) telling someone who is afraid

> > of germs that their thinking on this subject needs to

> > be adjusted, that germs are unavoidable and natural

> > and have been around forever and it's actually better

> > to not avoid them all because they make our immune

> > system stronger.

> >

> > The behavior part of CBT for OCD is to NOT DO what the

> > OCD is telling you to do. Show the OCD monster that

> > you are stronger than it is. Don't give in! Little

> > kids might name the OCD something negative (some call

> > it the OCD bully) so that they can more easily refuse

> > to do what it is telling them to do.

> > We all know that doing what a bully tells you to do is

> > not going to make things better in the long run.

> >

> > " Feeding the OCD monster " is a great analogy I think.

> >

> > The more you feed it the stronger it becomes. The

> > more parents give into the fears (enabling) the more

> > the kid thinks their fears are warranted. The longer

> > the kid gives into their " need " to do certain rituals

> > the stronger the pathways in the brain become that

> > tell them they need to do the ritual.

> >

> > In OCD the behavior therapy part is usually called ERP

> > (Exposure Response Prevention). It is a specific type

> > of therapy. Not all CBT therapists know much about it

> > and even less know how to do it. There are lots of

> > good books about it on the OCFoundation website. A

> > good one that is mentioned often here is Tamar

> > Chansky's " Freeing Your Child From OCD " or something

> > like that. It is possible to learn how to do it on

> > your own with your child (if you read enuf books). A

> > good therapist is preferable at least for a while but

> > the parent needs to learn how to do it at home in

> > between sessions because the home is where most of the

> > problems arise.

> >

> > One of the hardest parts may be changing our own

> > behavior (of enabling). There are all kinds of things

> > I do for my son that he should be able to do for

> > himself and I constantly fight this tendency .

> > Re-assuring our kids alot (about whatever there fears

> > are) is also enabling.

> >

> > OCD was originally called the " doubting disease "

> > because sufferers pretty much all want absolute

> > certainty about things

> > --am I SURE the door is locked

> > --am I SURE there are no germs on my hands

> > --am I SURE I won't kill someone with that knife

> > --am I SURE I did all my homework perfectly

> > --am I SURE I washed every single germ off my body in

> > the shower

> > --even tho I KNOW it's ridiculus to think my parents

> > will die in a car accident if I don't do certain

> > things everytime I go through a doorway -- am I SURE

> > that if I don't do them they will be all right?

> >

> > The adult sufferers on the site who have done serious

> > Exposure Therapy for OCD say it is quite painful to do

> > the therapy -- to not do what the " OCD Monster " is

> > telling them to do. This is because the monster

> > targets those things which the person holds most dear.

> > It tricks them by saying (for example) " your mother

> > will die if you don't do what I am telling you to do " ,

> > but the ones who have really done it say it is

> > definitely worth it in the long run.

> >

> > But it is a specific type of CBT called ERP. It's

> > pretty common sense if you think about it. Face your

> > fears. If you give in to them they will probably get

> > worse.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Like maybe: they pay some attention to how others

> > don't worry about germs very much at all and they

> > survive

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

that is great it worked for her. I will give it a try. thanks

sharon

Re: what is CBT~~Thank you..

>

> Thanks Lynnelle, that really made alot of sense to me and cleared up

> some things. This is just all so new and scary and I'm so anxious

> to have my son back. I'm going after this thing full force.

>

> Dana

>

>

> >

> > CBT -- As I understand it after reading 5 or 6 books

> > and 6 months monitoring the 'OCDsupport' (probably the

> > most helpful) site (and doing it with my 14 y/o son)

> >

> > CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) is, as you said,

> > everywhere these days -- even used for sleep problems.

> > It is sort of replacing " talk " therapy (in alot of

> > cases). Talk therapy basically was built on the idea

> > that we are mostly a product of our upbringing and

> > past experiences(Freud). But talking about it

> > apparently didn't cure us very well. Hence the jokes

> > about being in therapy for years and years and not

> > getting better. Dwelling on a bad past might just

> > make the brain connections stronger (re: the bad exp)

> >

> > Instead -- CBT spends part of the time " adjusting "

> > problematic thinking that the patient may have fallen

> > into (the cognitive part) then emphasizes changing

> > behavior (the " B " part of CBT). It has been proven in

> > brain scans that changing behavior ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY

> > CHANGES the brain!!!

> >

> > In the case of OCD the Cognitive part of the therapy

> > would be (for example) telling someone who is afraid

> > of germs that their thinking on this subject needs to

> > be adjusted, that germs are unavoidable and natural

> > and have been around forever and it's actually better

> > to not avoid them all because they make our immune

> > system stronger.

> >

> > The behavior part of CBT for OCD is to NOT DO what the

> > OCD is telling you to do. Show the OCD monster that

> > you are stronger than it is. Don't give in! Little

> > kids might name the OCD something negative (some call

> > it the OCD bully) so that they can more easily refuse

> > to do what it is telling them to do.

> > We all know that doing what a bully tells you to do is

> > not going to make things better in the long run.

> >

> > " Feeding the OCD monster " is a great analogy I think.

> >

> > The more you feed it the stronger it becomes. The

> > more parents give into the fears (enabling) the more

> > the kid thinks their fears are warranted. The longer

> > the kid gives into their " need " to do certain rituals

> > the stronger the pathways in the brain become that

> > tell them they need to do the ritual.

> >

> > In OCD the behavior therapy part is usually called ERP

> > (Exposure Response Prevention). It is a specific type

> > of therapy. Not all CBT therapists know much about it

> > and even less know how to do it. There are lots of

> > good books about it on the OCFoundation website. A

> > good one that is mentioned often here is Tamar

> > Chansky's " Freeing Your Child From OCD " or something

> > like that. It is possible to learn how to do it on

> > your own with your child (if you read enuf books). A

> > good therapist is preferable at least for a while but

> > the parent needs to learn how to do it at home in

> > between sessions because the home is where most of the

> > problems arise.

> >

> > One of the hardest parts may be changing our own

> > behavior (of enabling). There are all kinds of things

> > I do for my son that he should be able to do for

> > himself and I constantly fight this tendency .

> > Re-assuring our kids alot (about whatever there fears

> > are) is also enabling.

> >

> > OCD was originally called the " doubting disease "

> > because sufferers pretty much all want absolute

> > certainty about things

> > --am I SURE the door is locked

> > --am I SURE there are no germs on my hands

> > --am I SURE I won't kill someone with that knife

> > --am I SURE I did all my homework perfectly

> > --am I SURE I washed every single germ off my body in

> > the shower

> > --even tho I KNOW it's ridiculus to think my parents

> > will die in a car accident if I don't do certain

> > things everytime I go through a doorway -- am I SURE

> > that if I don't do them they will be all right?

> >

> > The adult sufferers on the site who have done serious

> > Exposure Therapy for OCD say it is quite painful to do

> > the therapy -- to not do what the " OCD Monster " is

> > telling them to do. This is because the monster

> > targets those things which the person holds most dear.

> > It tricks them by saying (for example) " your mother

> > will die if you don't do what I am telling you to do " ,

> > but the ones who have really done it say it is

> > definitely worth it in the long run.

> >

> > But it is a specific type of CBT called ERP. It's

> > pretty common sense if you think about it. Face your

> > fears. If you give in to them they will probably get

> > worse.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Like maybe: they pay some attention to how others

> > don't worry about germs very much at all and they

> > survive

> >

>

>