Re: New here

[Guest guest]

HI . Just wanted to let you know that I am right there with you. My 11

year old daughter was just diagnosed and it has come on quickly and without

mercy.

wrote: Thanks to both of you for replying,

I feel pretty alone with this.

She was acting like this at her Dad's house. He just didn't tell me.

I will never understand that. I think its about dying in a tornado.

She is always up looking at the clouds. She wouldn't go outside today

because it was raining. She was afraid a tornado would come out of

the rain. She wants all of the curtains closed so she cant see the

clouds. It just makes me so sad. I will be calling for help tomorrow.

I just can't believe how fast and how much this has changed her. I am

scared to death for her.

> >

> > Hello everyone. I am not even sure if this is the right place for

> me

> > to be. I have a 10 year old daughter who is going through some

> rough

> > stuff. I assumed it was OCD because I had suffered with that

most

> of

> > my life before I sought treament. Now I am wondering if its more

of

> a

> > anxiety thing. So please give advice or opinions.

> >

>

~~Kathy

gkathy40@...

http://www.myspace.com/clearingachannel

Courage is not living without fear.

Courage is being scared to death and doing the right thing anyway.

-Chae

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Our son's OCD came on overnight and was very severe and really scared

me too. Suddenly your child has changed and nothing you do helps.

From your comment about the tornado and your daughter thinking she

might die it does sound like OCD. I am not a doctor, just giving my

gut feeling from what you have described.

It sounds like BJ and have given good advice and the best thing

is to get some professional help to start figuring this out. There

is lots of anxiety with OCD (I know you are not sure yet, just wanted

to let you know). Ours was jumping out of his skin 24/7 over germs,

touching anything, feeling contaminated, couldn't sit, couldn't leave

the house, couldn't fall asleep. It was shocking and very upsetting

to watch.

Can you talk with your daughter about what is happening in her head?

It will reassure her if she understands what is going on and can put

a name to it. Even if you are not certain, you might mention the

possibility and what OCD is like. It might help as often they think

they are going crazy and are very scared.

As shocking as it all is there is help. There are medications that

work, usually ssri's, if this is indicated. They can really help to

lower the intensity of anxiey/OCD. There are specific treatments

called ERP/CBT that also work. So there are answers, your daughter

can be helped. It just takes time and understanding and learning how

to cope with this.

Not sure if you have visited the OC foundations website. It has lots

of info on OCD and you can read about symptoms to see if this is a

fit. Also sites on anxiety, sorry can't think of but just google.

You are not alone with this. Many on this list are dealing with this

and have ideas to offer to help cope, and can reassure you about

things. Keep writing your concerns as you figure this out, we are

here to support you. Whether you know whether this is the right

place or not yet doesn't matter!

Also, you might not want to read all the posts here, it can be

overwhelming if this is all new to you. I found this at the outset.

When it is new it can be pretty raw and it's good to not take in

everything, just stay focused on your situation. At least that is

what I needed to do at the time.

Do get some books, or google for information to help yourself

understand this. Information is definitely power on this one! The

OC foundation has recommendations, and Tamar Chansky's book is a good

starting point.

Hang in there! You are not alone!!! I am headed out of town, but

there are many here to talk with.

I send you hugs through cyberspace.

Barb

Canada

Son OCD, LD, 17

> > >

> > > Hello everyone. I am not even sure if this is the right place

for

> > me

> > > to be. I have a 10 year old daughter who is going through some

> > rough

> > > stuff. I assumed it was OCD because I had suffered with that

> most

> > of

> > > my life before I sought treament. Now I am wondering if its

more

> of

> > a

> > > anxiety thing. So please give advice or opinions.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Awwww, . . You've found people who totally understand being

scared and stressed for their children, and feeling alone as they try

to cope. Anxiety is a disabling thing. Let us know what you find out.

Just a suggestion,. . If you aren't sure where to look for help for

your daughter. . .Try anxiety clinics. They treat every form of

anxiety, including OCD.

You said you have OCD. Have you witnessed your daughter showing any

typical OCD symptoms? Or is it mostly this worry about tornadoes?

Just curious.

BJ

> > >

> > > Hello everyone. I am not even sure if this is the right place for

> > me

> > > to be. I have a 10 year old daughter who is going through some

> > rough

> > > stuff. I assumed it was OCD because I had suffered with that

> most

> > of

> > > my life before I sought treament. Now I am wondering if its more

> of

> > a

> > > anxiety thing. So please give advice or opinions.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Jacquie. We are homeschoolers too.

Sure sounds like OCD.

Here are some books that helped us tremendously, when we were first

learning about OCD. . .

What to do when your Child has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by Aureen

Pinto Wagner Ph.D.

Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by Tamar E. Chansky

Helping Your Child With Ocd: A Workbook for Parents of Children With

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by Lee Fitzgibbons and Cherry Pedrick

Talking Back to OCD by March

The last two are workbooks that walk you through CBT and ERP

Just learning about OCD, helped to calm a lot of my fears. Having our

son learn how to take control of his OCD, rather than it controlling

him, gave him his life back. He is seeing a therapist that uses

CBT/ERP, and also is on a SSRI. His OCD was so out of control, and

his anxiety was so high, he was unable to do the therapy, or anything

for that matter (wasn't functioning at all), until we got the anxiety

levels down. Therapy is the recommended line of treatment first, but

for some (like our son), meds are needed too, to bring the OCD and

anxiety under control, so they can do the therapy.

I would absolutely reassure Jonah know that NOBODY will take him away

from you. That is a terrifying thought for a kid to have. Poor kid.

Our son thought he was crazy, because of what the OCD was doing to

him. He never told me that, but lived with that fear for years, until

we learned it was OCD, and he realized it was something a lot of

people have. so he was able to give that fear up.

If Jonah is unable to accept that, despite reassuring him, then it is

being driven by his OCD, which is most often unreasonable. So, if no

matter what you say, he is still very worried about that, you could

try explaining that it is the OCD making him think that. That it is a

thought that is not real, despite how scary and real it feels.

Often the thoughts will repeat, explained like a brain hiccup, and

they cannot turn it off, so it reinforces the fear they feel.

There are different ways that thoughts can be dealt with. One is to

name the OCD with a name, then talk back to it when the thought, or

thoughts (since many have more than one thought they are dealing with)

comes. Bossing it back, helps them feel they have control, rather

than the OCD.. . .Treating it like the bully it can be.

Our son is older (16) so found that to feel silly to him. What worked

for him, was to think of it like " junk email " in his head. It was

shouting sensational " headlines/stuff " to him, yet he recognized it

had no " REAL " importance, so chose to ignore it, rather than giving it

his full attention and allowing it to grow. Just like you would

delete " junk email " , recognizing it as unimportant.

Of course, I'm paraphrasing it quickly, it is much more complex, so

the books explain it much better.

Hope something I said was helpful. You are not alone. Glad you are

here. )

BJ

-- In , Jacquie Krauskopf

wrote:

>

> Oh THANKS o very much for the response! I have been so scared! I

will look into the files and also the CBT/ERB therapy. I keep thinking

i have done something wrong. Jonah is scared that he will be taken

away from us, his parents. How do you handle it when he tells you such

horrible thoughts? I don't know how and i panic which i know is not

the right way. Again, thanks and i could use any help i can get.

> Jacquie

>

>

>

>

>

>

> >

> > Subject: Re: New here

> > To:

> > Date: Thursday, December 25, 2008, 4:50 PM

> > Hi Jacquie,

> > Just a quick note to say, " Welcome "

> > I'm glad you joined this group. Lots of support and

> > caring people here!!

> > I have two kids with OCD, 12yr old dd, and 7 yr old ds. My

> > son has the " bad thoughts " which include harming

> > me. Have you brought him for any CBT/ERP therapy? That is

> > the first step. Depending on his severity, the doctor may

> > also prescribe a med. There are many books on childhood OCD

> > at the bookstore and/or Library.

> > You can start by looking in the " files " section

> > of the group here also.

> >

> > We are here if you need us!

> >

> > A little tip to start is to tell him that his mind is

> > giving him these bad thoughts because it is like a hiccup.

> > It keeps coming and won't go away.This will help him to

> > realize he is not going crazy. Is he feeling a lot of

> > anxiety with the thoughts? You can also have him name the

> > thoughts, like the OCD Monster or something and tell him to

> > boss him away.

> >

> > Hugs

> > Judy

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ________________________________

> >

> > To:

> > Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2008 3:16:13 PM

> > Subject: New here

> >

> >

> >

> > I am Jacquie a homeschooling SAHM to one 8 year old son

> > whom seems to have thoughts he can't control. These

> > thoughts are of harming me. I researched on the net and

> > discovered OCD. Does anyone else have a child who has these

> > thoughts? I really need to learn how to help him and deal

> > with these thoughts. Any help would be appriciated.

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Jacquie

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Jacquie and welcome. You will find reassurance and information

here! It looks like others have covered the main things and BJ has

given good book suggestions and ideas to reassure your son. Not sure

what else I could add, other than to keep posting your questions and

concerns and there will be someone here with ideas.

We are all in the same boat here, learning as we go. OCD is the most

bizarre disorder I have ever had experience with. The beginning

stage of it, where you are IS really scary, and particularily the

thoughts your son is reporting, so I understand your fears. Our son

had harming thoughts too and he is a teen, so at times we didn't know

what to think.

One of the things they say about OCD is people do not carry out there

thoughts, and usually feel guilt or anxious about them which

indicates it is not something they want to do or will do. But the

OCD keeps repeating the idea, so they start to think it's because

it's something they want to or will do. It is called the doubting

disease for this reason, it keeps them fearing and wondering what is

real.

Not sure if someone mentioned the website-

www.westsuffolkpsych.homestead, they have some good articles written

by an expert who treats OCD. A good resource until you get some

books. Just gooling OCD brings up a lot, I found the Wikepedia had

up to date info on explanations and treatments.

Hang in there. Knowledge is power and as you and your son come to

understand the OCD it will get easier to know how to manage.

I am sending you a cyber HUG!!!

Barb

>

> Oh THANKS o very much for the response! I have been so scared! I

will look into the files and also the CBT/ERB therapy. I keep

thinking i have done something wrong. Jonah is scared that he will be

taken away from us, his parents. How do you handle it when he tells

you such horrible thoughts? I don't know how and i panic which i know

is not the right way. Again, thanks and i could use any help i can

get.

> Jacquie

>

[Guest guest]

Something that really helps my daughter is that it is okay to have any type of

thought, and she need not feel guilty about any thought she has. 

New here

> >

> >

> >

> > I am Jacquie a homeschooling SAHM to one 8 year old son

> > whom seems to have thoughts he can't control. These

> > thoughts are of harming me. I researched on the net and

> > discovered OCD

.. Does anyone else have a child who has these

> > thoughts? I really need to learn how to help him and deal

> > with these thoughts. Any help would be appriciated.

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Jacquie

> >

> >

> >

> >