OCD and Waco, TX

[Guest guest]

My daughter has just recently been diagnosed with OCD and is only now

beginning to admit it to herself. (She didn't want us to think she

was " crazy " .) Does anyone live in our area and know anything about

therapists and support groups? Currently she is seeing a counselor

from our church (she formerly worked at a local psych. hospital so is

professionally trained). She readily admits she is not an expert on

ocd but we're starting with her because we don't know where to go.

Also my daughter (17) doesn't respond well to men therapists -- we've

already taken her to one and he totally missed the ocd even when we

told him we were concerned about it. He just said we needed to " get

tough " with her. It made things much worse and now we are

homeschooling which has been extremely difficult because her biggest

problems are with rereading and rereading ... and with making writing

perfectly. Our family doctor also believes she has narcolepsy and

very recently started her on Vyvanse (sp?) for that. It has been a

nightmare trying to get her through a school day. First, it could

take anywhere from 1 - 4 hours to wake her up and then I would have

the ocd stuff to deal with. I've been about to go crazy and my

husband has been no help at all. I think he feels overwhelmed. Is

there anyone out there that's going through anything like this? She

is 17 and is a junior but I have only gotten her halfway through her

sophomore books. Fortunately, she took a bunch of high school

courses in 8th grade so it hasn't yet been a catastrophe but I'm

worried it may come to that.

[Guest guest]

Hi, have you checked the OCD Foundation's website to see if any

therapists are located in your area? Of course not all are listed

there, so don't give up if you don't see one, though I'm sure you've

been calling around already. Universities and hospitals can

sometimes direct you or have an area that treats, any around Waco?

With the writing, is she able to type without any problem? Or does

the re-reading cause a problem with typing?

If you can make the time, you might try reading to her for some

schoolwork; my son did okay with that, my reading to him. At a later

point, we took turns and he would read a paragraph, then I'd read,

etc. She may find reading aloud easier (though I don't take as much

info " in " when I read aloud).

Some things to try now would be to set aside some time for " OCD

homework " and for her to try to NOT re-read; say, she reads and then

resists for as long as she can, whether that's seconds or a few

minutes, before re-reading; work on building up the time she can hold

out. Same type thing to try for writing. Also she could write messy

on purpose. ...hmmm...I'm wondering if making herself re-read when

she doesn't feel the urge would help in some way too...maybe not.

With narcolepsy, I know of others who have had it diagnosed and with

treatment really see a good change! Be nice if that carried over a

little bit to her OCD issues and schoolwork!

Well, just some quick thoughts. Hang in there and this is a great

place to not feel so alone and to vent frustrations, ask questions,

share ideas....

single mom, 3 sons

, almost 19, with OCD, dysgraphia and Aspergers

>

> My daughter has just recently been diagnosed with OCD and is only

now

> beginning to admit it to herself. (She didn't want us to think she

> was " crazy " .) Does anyone live in our area and know anything about

> therapists and support groups? Currently she is seeing a counselor

> from our church (she formerly worked at a local psych. hospital so

is

[Guest guest]

Thanks to for the encouragement. I have felt so alone. I like the idea

of working to extend the amount of time before rereading. It has been so bad

that it could take two hours to read 2 pages. I could see her getting farther

and farther behind and I'd wake up at 4 in the morning wondering how in the

world I was going to get her through high school, much less college.

<@...> wrote: Hi, have you checked the

OCD Foundation's website to see if any

therapists are located in your area? Of course not all are listed

there, so don't give up if you don't see one, though I'm sure you've

been calling around already. Universities and hospitals can

sometimes direct you or have an area that treats, any around Waco?

With the writing, is she able to type without any problem? Or does

the re-reading cause a problem with typing?

If you can make the time, you might try reading to her for some

schoolwork; my son did okay with that, my reading to him. At a later

point, we took turns and he would read a paragraph, then I'd read,

etc. She may find reading aloud easier (though I don't take as much

info " in " when I read aloud).

Some things to try now would be to set aside some time for " OCD

homework " and for her to try to NOT re-read; say, she reads and then

resists for as long as she can, whether that's seconds or a few

minutes, before re-reading; work on building up the time she can hold

out. Same type thing to try for writing. Also she could write messy

on purpose. ...hmmm...I'm wondering if making herself re-read when

she doesn't feel the urge would help in some way too...maybe not.

With narcolepsy, I know of others who have had it diagnosed and with

treatment really see a good change! Be nice if that carried over a

little bit to her OCD issues and schoolwork!

Well, just some quick thoughts. Hang in there and this is a great

place to not feel so alone and to vent frustrations, ask questions,

share ideas....

single mom, 3 sons

, almost 19, with OCD, dysgraphia and Aspergers

>

> My daughter has just recently been diagnosed with OCD and is only

now

> beginning to admit it to herself. (She didn't want us to think she

> was " crazy " .) Does anyone live in our area and know anything about

> therapists and support groups? Currently she is seeing a counselor

> from our church (she formerly worked at a local psych. hospital so

is

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

,

When (19 this month) was in middle school, that's when OCD

hit, in 6th grade. Yes, a nightmare that year and at times after.

He's a smart guy, wanted those A's too, was still learning in class

but couldn't write or read (reading speed really slowed, like

your's). So that's when I ended up doing the writing for him at home

and reading aloud to him. He could dictate to me pretty well.

Really emotionally and physically wore me out too some nights; we got

routine about it some but sometimes it all caught up to me

(emotionally/physically).

Anyway, slowly he took things back, did a bit of reading, bit of

writing. OCD being illogical, and maybe his motivation for A's, he

did write for the tests at school. His OCD back then had a " feel

right " part to it so he might pick up a pencil and be stuck for

minutes/hours, handling it in his hand until it felt right or not

being able to begin writing until, etc. So he might avoid having to

pick up a pencil, afraid he'd get " stuck " , that sort of thing. If

teacher prompted him, he could sort of " unstick " himself (thus making

her wonder if it was OCD at all or laziness, sigh).

His motor skills were never average/typical, sort of delayed; he

never got the hang of cursive but his printing was legible until OCD

began, then it became illegible (thus the dysgraphia diagnosis) and

it's never gone back to what it was. Anyway, for him at the time

occupational therapy (OT) helped with legibility and speed. (His

erasing/rewriting had stopped by then on its own luckily.)

And later even though he said he no longer re-read or had to re-say

words in his head (until it sounded right), his speed was still much

slower reading than previous to OCD.

One thing he still seems to do is he hates to skip questions and go

back; so will spend way too much time on a question because he

doesn't want to skip it for later. I don't know if that's an OCD

thing or some other stubborness (the Aspergers part maybe).

Good news is we got beyond all that, it's behind us! His grades did

suffer some at the time but mainly A's, B's (hey, I learned a lot my

second time through middle school, all that help/reading he got from

me; it was HARD and at times I was at a loss with homework

answers/what to do, and I'd be thinking " you won't need to know this "

LOL).

just finished his first semester at our community college and

GPA is 4.0, all A's. He plans to go into medical research (of some

kind). He made all A's through high school too. So it is a struggle

now, but she can get past this! (you too!)

>

> Thanks to for the encouragement. I have felt so alone. I

like the idea of working to extend the amount of time before

rereading. It has been so bad that it could take two hours to read 2

pages. I could see her getting farther and farther behind and I'd

wake up at 4 in the morning wondering how in the world I was going to

get her through high school, much less college.

[Guest guest]

Chris:

That's so wonderful that he's doing well at community college. Lacey wants to

go to Bellhaven in Mississippi. I don't know how in the world we could afford

it because it's private but they have a dance major and that's what she wants to

do. Dance she seems to be able to do without all the extra hoopla. If only she

could just dance (ballet) life would be so easy. We got back her PSAT scores

over Christmas and the scores were dismal -- not because she got things wrong

(she only missed one on the whole test) but because she reread and rechecked so

many times that she only finished half of each section. That made me concerned

about how we would even get her into college.

<@...> wrote:

,

When (19 this month) was in middle school, that's when OCD

hit, in 6th grade. Yes, a nightmare that year and at times after.

He's a smart guy, wanted those A's too, was still learning in class

but couldn't write or read (reading speed really slowed, like

your's). So that's when I ended up doing the writing for him at home

and reading aloud to him. He could dictate to me pretty well.

Really emotionally and physically wore me out too some nights; we got

routine about it some but sometimes it all caught up to me

(emotionally/physically).

Anyway, slowly he took things back, did a bit of reading, bit of

writing. OCD being illogical, and maybe his motivation for A's, he

did write for the tests at school. His OCD back then had a " feel

right " part to it so he might pick up a pencil and be stuck for

minutes/hours, handling it in his hand until it felt right or not

being able to begin writing until, etc. So he might avoid having to

pick up a pencil, afraid he'd get " stuck " , that sort of thing. If

teacher prompted him, he could sort of " unstick " himself (thus making

her wonder if it was OCD at all or laziness, sigh).

His motor skills were never average/typical, sort of delayed; he

never got the hang of cursive but his printing was legible until OCD

began, then it became illegible (thus the dysgraphia diagnosis) and

it's never gone back to what it was. Anyway, for him at the time

occupational therapy (OT) helped with legibility and speed. (His

erasing/rewriting had stopped by then on its own luckily.)

And later even though he said he no longer re-read or had to re-say

words in his head (until it sounded right), his speed was still much

slower reading than previous to OCD.

One thing he still seems to do is he hates to skip questions and go

back; so will spend way too much time on a question because he

doesn't want to skip it for later. I don't know if that's an OCD

thing or some other stubborness (the Aspergers part maybe).

Good news is we got beyond all that, it's behind us! His grades did

suffer some at the time but mainly A's, B's (hey, I learned a lot my

second time through middle school, all that help/reading he got from

me; it was HARD and at times I was at a loss with homework

answers/what to do, and I'd be thinking " you won't need to know this "

LOL).

just finished his first semester at our community college and

GPA is 4.0, all A's. He plans to go into medical research (of some

kind). He made all A's through high school too. So it is a struggle

now, but she can get past this! (you too!)

>

> Thanks to for the encouragement. I have felt so alone. I

like the idea of working to extend the amount of time before

rereading. It has been so bad that it could take two hours to read 2

pages. I could see her getting farther and farther behind and I'd

wake up at 4 in the morning wondering how in the world I was going to

get her through high school, much less college.

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Chris:

What an uplifting story. You must be so proud of your son. I, too, feel I'm

" relearning " middle school and it is exhausting. But if my son responds

positively like your son did, it will make it all worth it.

angela

<@...> wrote:

,

When (19 this month) was in middle school, that's when OCD

hit, in 6th grade. Yes, a nightmare that year and at times after.

He's a smart guy, wanted those A's too, was still learning in class

but couldn't write or read (reading speed really slowed, like

your's). So that's when I ended up doing the writing for him at home

and reading aloud to him. He could dictate to me pretty well.

Really emotionally and physically wore me out too some nights; we got

routine about it some but sometimes it all caught up to me

(emotionally/physically).

Anyway, slowly he took things back, did a bit of reading, bit of

writing. OCD being illogical, and maybe his motivation for A's, he

did write for the tests at school. His OCD back then had a " feel

right " part to it so he might pick up a pencil and be stuck for

minutes/hours, handling it in his hand until it felt right or not

being able to begin writing until, etc. So he might avoid having to

pick up a pencil, afraid he'd get " stuck " , that sort of thing. If

teacher prompted him, he could sort of " unstick " himself (thus making

her wonder if it was OCD at all or laziness, sigh).

His motor skills were never average/typical, sort of delayed; he

never got the hang of cursive but his printing was legible until OCD

began, then it became illegible (thus the dysgraphia diagnosis) and

it's never gone back to what it was. Anyway, for him at the time

occupational therapy (OT) helped with legibility and speed. (His

erasing/rewriting had stopped by then on its own luckily.)

And later even though he said he no longer re-read or had to re-say

words in his head (until it sounded right), his speed was still much

slower reading than previous to OCD.

One thing he still seems to do is he hates to skip questions and go

back; so will spend way too much time on a question because he

doesn't want to skip it for later. I don't know if that's an OCD

thing or some other stubborness (the Aspergers part maybe).

Good news is we got beyond all that, it's behind us! His grades did

suffer some at the time but mainly A's, B's (hey, I learned a lot my

second time through middle school, all that help/reading he got from

me; it was HARD and at times I was at a loss with homework

answers/what to do, and I'd be thinking " you won't need to know this "

LOL).

just finished his first semester at our community college and

GPA is 4.0, all A's. He plans to go into medical research (of some

kind). He made all A's through high school too. So it is a struggle

now, but she can get past this! (you too!)

>

> Thanks to for the encouragement. I have felt so alone. I

like the idea of working to extend the amount of time before

rereading. It has been so bad that it could take two hours to read 2

pages. I could see her getting farther and farther behind and I'd

wake up at 4 in the morning wondering how in the world I was going to

get her through high school, much less college.

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

, we didn't try for accommodations for the SAT but you might

begin looking at the paperwork involved to apply for it. Looking at

their webpage, it even mentions extended time or multiple days. Would

she do better orally (having it read to her and verbally responding)?

I'm one who has to read to grasp, I wouldn't do well that way but

others can.

http://www.collegeboard.com/ssd/student/accom.html

We got back her PSAT scores over Christmas and the scores were dismal --

not because she got things wrong (she only missed one on the whole

test) but because she reread and rechecked so many times that she only

finished half of each section. That made me concerned about how we

would even get her into college.

[Guest guest]

, we didn't try for accommodations for the SAT but you might

begin looking at the paperwork involved to apply for it. Looking at

their webpage, it even mentions extended time or multiple days. Would

she do better orally (having it read to her and verbally responding)?

I'm one who has to read to grasp, I wouldn't do well that way but

others can.

http://www.collegeboard.com/ssd/student/accom.html

We got back her PSAT scores over Christmas and the scores were dismal --

not because she got things wrong (she only missed one on the whole

test) but because she reread and rechecked so many times that she only

finished half of each section. That made me concerned about how we

would even get her into college.

[Guest guest]

Thanks , it was exhausting! Hang in there. It also helped me

understand better, his strengths and weaknesses. He really

impressed me in some subjects.

>

> Chris:

> What an uplifting story. You must be so proud of your son. I,

too, feel I'm " relearning " middle school and it is exhausting. But if

my son responds positively like your son did, it will make it all worth

it.

> angela

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks , it was exhausting! Hang in there. It also helped me

understand better, his strengths and weaknesses. He really

impressed me in some subjects.

>

> Chris:

> What an uplifting story. You must be so proud of your son. I,

too, feel I'm " relearning " middle school and it is exhausting. But if

my son responds positively like your son did, it will make it all worth

it.

> angela

>

[Guest guest]

No, I didn't even know that was possible. I will look in to that. Thanks so

much for the suggestion

<@...> wrote: , we didn't try for

accommodations for the SAT but you might

begin looking at the paperwork involved to apply for it. Looking at

their webpage, it even mentions extended time or multiple days. Would

she do better orally (having it read to her and verbally responding)?

I'm one who has to read to grasp, I wouldn't do well that way but

others can.

http://www.collegeboard.com/ssd/student/accom.html

We got back her PSAT scores over Christmas and the scores were dismal --

not because she got things wrong (she only missed one on the whole

test) but because she reread and rechecked so many times that she only

finished half of each section. That made me concerned about how we

would even get her into college.

---------------------------------

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