On TV earlier - OCD

[Guest guest]

I never watch MTV, but this afternoon on some MTV show...True Life

might have been the name, there was an episode about OCD and 3 people

suffering with it. Before the OCD one, was one on Tourette's.

There were 2 young women and 1 man. One of the women really reminded

me of what went through back in 6th grade with his

compulsions and touching. Even Randall (my oldest son) agreed they

were really similar, and some the same. Sort of a relief to see

someone similar for me! She had to have others in her family do

things for her a lot.

I guess this one was around college age, she was just getting ready

to begin it, so figure she was 18.

The other young woman was in college already for some time. Her

rituals were a lot of tapping, touching, having things in the right

place (not messy/crooked). She spent a lot of time on them. And

they all were done to keep her mother alive. Her OCD was centered

around the fear/anxiety that her mother would die if she didn't do

these things.

The man lived with his girlfriend. I can't recall his job, but he

also played in a band. Anyway, he was a checker and repeater, and

had to get a " right " feeling for a lot of things.

The two woman each ended up in intensive outpatient therapy. And

they both were OCD-free when they got through! It was really good to

see that outcome!! The man...well, I had to leave the room so don't

know the ending there; he wasn't in therapy so I have a feeling he

was still dealing with his OCD. But both girls were no longer doing

any of their previous behaviors, no OCD at all. And both said they

now had the TOOLS to help with any return of OCD.

With the first woman, one thing she did for her *fear of vomiting*

was sit and write the word " vomit " over & over again on a sheet of

paper. Then she did a sheet with " puke " , etc.

The one who feared for her mother had an exposure where she had to

see blood drawn from her mother during the mom's regular checkup for

her thyroid. The woman feared her mom would die, that all the blood

would just drain out. It looked like her *therapist* was there with

her (maybe 2 of them) and they helped her and she had to NOT perform

any rituals while watching this being done to her mom. It was hard

for her, but by the time they were back outside, she was proud of

herself for no rituals. She also, at the end of her treatment, had a

funeral for her mom, just her and the therapist at the chapel and the

cemetery. Soooo...some therapists DO go out with their clients!

Well, that was a quick summary but it was just amazing/happy to see

those two woman succeed and how happy they both were with OCD not

disrupting their lives and time any longer! I wish hadn't

already left for today when that came on! (on overnighter with his

youth group)