Guest guest Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 My son is 10 and he had a habit of picking things up to take home. He stopped doing it when I repeatedly told him that I did not need it and he does not need it. However he still picks up rocks. I just tell him to put it in the garden. He also scratches himself till his legs were fill with bumps. When he was in public school, he was checked out for possible abuse. I think my son scratch and pick because he finds a bump. The more he scratch and pick, the more bumps he gets, and that will cause him to do it more. When he was 8, he felt a bump on my arm and tried to pick it off. I mean he really dug his nails into me. He still scratch himself, but the leg does not look too bad. I just put Hydrocortisone cream over it, and tell him 'Not to touch'. > >> > > >> > --- > >> > This is EXACTLY what is happening with my 10 yr. old son. He is a > >> > straight A student, diagnosed with OCD last spring, put on 20 mg > >> > Paxil (before I knew about other therapies like CBT) Counselor > >> never > >> > mentioned other courses of therapy. I just discovered other avenues > >> > since reading Dr. Tamar Chansky's book, " Freeing Your Child from > >> OCD. " > >> > Since beginning 4th grade, he is now exhibiting ADD symptoms, > >> tested > >> > and " labeled " ADD. I am so confused and dumbfounded on what to do. > >> > His grades go from A's to F's, and can't pay attention in class. I > >> > have an appointment with a new counselor next week. I would like > >> to > >> > take him off the Paxil and try to help him deal with the anxious > >> > thoughts. I am glad to find a " buddy " to dicuss things with. How > >> > old is your daughter. Like you, the " ADD " symptoms just came on > >> > overnight. > >> > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Our list archives,links, and files features may be accessed at: > > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group// . > > Our list advisors are Gail B. , Ed.D. (http://www.ocdawareness.com ), > > Tamar Chansky, Ph.D.( http://www.worrywisekids.org ), Dan Geller, M.D. > > (http://massgeneral.org/pediatricpsych/staff/geller.html ),Aureen Pinto > > Wagner, Ph.D., ( http://www.lighthouse-press.com ). You may ask a question > > of any of these mental health professionals by inserting the words " Ask > > Dr.(insert name) " in the subject line of a post to the list. Our list > > moderators are Castle, Judy Chabot, and BJ Closner. Subscription > > issues or suggestions may be addressed to Louis Harkins, list > > administrator, at louisharkins@... . Our group and related groups > > are listed at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ocdsupportgroups/links > > . > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 First of all. . . (((((Alana)))))) I just want to give you a big hug, because I can relate to what you are going through. Oh, boy, I've been there, Alana. . . On the verge of tears, every day, trying to cope and get through it. Some days, I would go have my daily nervous breakdown in the shower. Then I would paste back on my " everything's going to be fine " face, and push through the rest of the day. Is there a reason the therapist isn't doing ERP too, at this time? The ERP, helped our son move forward, much quicker than the CBT. The ERP gave him confidence to move forward with the CBT, even. What approach is he having your son take with the CBT? I had read a lot about " naming " the OCD something, then bossing it back. But, our son found that to feel silly to him. So, his therapist had him think of it more like junk email. You see it and recognize it as junk, something that isn't important, and doesn't need your attention. . So, you delete it. He was told to apply that to his OCD thoughts by recognizing and understanding they were OCD, then give them no serious attention. . Don't buy into it, next disregard them as unimportant, and try to move on. That seemed to work for him a lot better. A lot of what you described is how our son was too. Very imaginative. Very focused on things. They would occupy his thoughts all the time. He would draw pictures of them (whatever his newest thing was). When he was 3, he was so focused on vacuums, that he would go around spelling the names of them. It would freak people out. lol We had no idea that he had OCD then, but knew he did these quirky things and wondered why. Later, I even wondered if some of it could even be Aspergers, but he didn't fit a lot of the criteria, so I don't think that's it. Our son tends to be a brainiac, but went through a time where his OCD interfered so much with his mind, that he couldn't shut it up enough to focus on his schoolwork. It sounds like, from what you described, that is possibly what is going on with your son. We homeschooled, so it was easy to be flexible for him, until he was doing better. For us, at that time, it was medication that helped. We relied on doctors to help us, and didn't realize how few there are out there and even understand OCD. I haven't had to deal with a school system as we've maneuvered our way through the chaos of OCD, so I'm not sure the exact steps needed to deal with schools. Many in here have been through it though, and I'm sure they can help. A couple of suggestions. . You can try a number of things. .You can search the files, run a search on past posts with the subject of IEP or 504 plan, or you can send a post with that in the subject line to alert those who know and understand it, who can answer your questions. This is very helpful, understanding bunch. I'm sure you will get those who are in " the know " , who can suggest helpful things. Skin picking is not uncommon. There are many in here who've mentioned it. Hopefully, they will see this and can chime in with suggestions. I know one thing I've read in here, is give them something else to do with their hands when they are inclined to pick. You are not alone, Alana. Many in here know and " get " what you are dealing with. It can get better, so keep your hope. Just a year and a half ago, our son (now 16) was off of medication and had relapsed horribly. He was so bad, he couldn't get off of the sofa. He was out of school for a half of a year. He was in the fetal position, white faced, clenched, and moaning out loud, ever minute of the day. He seldom ate, hardly slept, and was completely overwhelmed by his OCD and GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). (It is not uncommon for kid with OCD to also deal with another anxiety issues.) He was also having occasional panic attacks. We spent months that way, while we waited for medication to help, and I searched, daily, for a someone who understood the treatment of OCD. Well, fast forward a bit. He is doing so much better now. He is driving now, and drives himself to and from and vocational school where he is taking computer programming. He is living the best life he can. So, even though, OCD can be so disabling, it can also be turned around with the correct treatment. It will always wax and wane. . That is the nature of it. But, there is also hope. You are doing the right things. I'm really glad you are here, Alana. This is a good, supportive group. You will find many here who've been there, and/or are there, currently. You can vent here, share your feelings here, and get helpful information here. And if you didn't already know, we also have access to some great doctor's, who know and understand OCD. You can ask them questions anytime. If you go to the home page, you can see who is available for questions. If you want to use that option, just put the doctor's name in the subject line. Louis forward's it to them, then they answer to the group. Another hug, BJ > >> > > >> > --- > >> > This is EXACTLY what is happening with my 10 yr. old son. He is a > >> > straight A student, diagnosed with OCD last spring, put on 20 mg > >> > Paxil (before I knew about other therapies like CBT) Counselor > >> never > >> > mentioned other courses of therapy. I just discovered other avenues > >> > since reading Dr. Tamar Chansky's book, " Freeing Your Child from > >> OCD. " > >> > Since beginning 4th grade, he is now exhibiting ADD symptoms, > >> tested > >> > and " labeled " ADD. I am so confused and dumbfounded on what to do. > >> > His grades go from A's to F's, and can't pay attention in class. I > >> > have an appointment with a new counselor next week. I would like > >> to > >> > take him off the Paxil and try to help him deal with the anxious > >> > thoughts. I am glad to find a " buddy " to dicuss things with. How > >> > old is your daughter. Like you, the " ADD " symptoms just came on > >> > overnight. > >> > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Our list archives,links, and files features may be accessed at: > > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group// . > > Our list advisors are Gail B. , Ed.D.(http://www.ocdawareness.com ), > > Tamar Chansky, Ph.D.( http://www.worrywisekids.org ), Dan Geller, M.D. > > (http://massgeneral.org/pediatricpsych/staff/geller.html ),Aureen Pinto > > Wagner, Ph.D., ( http://www.lighthouse-press.com ). You may ask a question > > of any of these mental health professionals by inserting the words " Ask > > Dr.(insert name) " in the subject line of a post to the list. Our list > > moderators are Castle, Judy Chabot, and BJ Closner. Subscription > > issues or suggestions may be addressed to Louis Harkins, list > > administrator, at louisharkins@... . Our group and related groups > > are listed at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ocdsupportgroups/links > > . > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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