Re: Presentation for school

[Guest guest]

Awesome Anne....

I think educating the staff is the BEST thing you can do....

OCD is so many faces I didn't know... my son can't handle noises... or

the lack of structure when the teacher must leave the room....

I had a meeting with his school today and they asked me if it was okay

if they have sensitivity training for the students in his class.... I

can't wait to see your presentation you come up with... if you don't

mind... would you open it up to us to look at as well?????

Bravo!

Vicki

>

> Hi all,

>

> You all have been here for me through so much and I wanted to share

> some positive news.

>

> First off, DD is doing very well this year. She had an initial

flare

> up at the beginning of the year - and has been much better after

> going back on the Prozac. She most likely has ADHD as well - we

> tried Focalin for this last weekend - it seemed to increase her

> anxiety - so, not sure how we will wind up treating the ADHD. Her

> grades are good - but homework is a continuous struggle.

>

> Anyway, we had a meeting with the principal as our younger DD is

> starting kindergarten next year and we were inquiring about some

> programs (she's been in a Montessori school and is doing some

> advanced work - so, we're trying to make sure she remains challenged

> next year). Anyway, we started talking about our older DD and OCD.

> I mentioned how difficult it's been to educate the teachers each

year

> and all the " stigmas " (school counselor's word to me) and

stereotypes

> about OCD. I mentioned that my DH and I would be happy to come in

on

> an " early release day " (kids are released early and the teachers

> spend the afternoons in educational seminars) to do a power

> point/educational seminar for OCD for the teachers. The principal

> was super excited about this and referred me to the teacher who

> schedules these conferences. She is also very excited and feels

that

> this is a much needed topic of education.

>

> We most likely won't speak until Feb or March. I would welcome any

> ideas that you all have as I begin to put my power point together.

I

> remember that there is an excellent handout in the files section on

> the " role of school with OCD " . One thing I've heard over and over

> again through the years is " wow, we didn't know that fear of

throwing

> up is OCD - I always thought it's washing your hands over and over " .

> While we all know that the germ contamination/hand washing is one

> fear with OCD - there are so many. In my presentation - I wanted to

> try to present some different case scenarios of real OCD fears - so,

> if any of you are willing to share your stories with me (of course,

> I'd never use names or any identifying info) that you'd be willing

> for me to share - please let me know.

>

> I'm so excited about this opportunity and feel grateful at the

chance

> to further educate the teachers about OCD.

>

> Happy Holidays to all,

> Anne

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Anne,

What a great opportunity, educating others and educators especially

is so important!

Our son has to check things while he is in school, could be anything,

an answer, that he understands what he is to do(also a legitimate LD

thing) but can take the form of reassurance seeking too, reads and

rereads and thinks he is not understanding until it becomes a

complete jumble, marks on a desk, if there is something under the

desk can keep distracted.

Also, " just right " OCD, again could be anything, a conversation needs

to end a certain way, or to not end, can't get going until it feels

right etc.

The hardest is the bad thought stuff that no one can see, but that

bombard him, so that he cannot focus or think. He used to do mental

rituals and would appear to be in a daze, not listening, but he was

focused on the thought. Kids would tease on this one because he

would look quite strange. Hardest one to explain to others -

repetitive violent images, thoughts, with accompanying compulsions to

act on them. Probably the one many keep secret because of fear and

shame and thinking they are a bad person, or that something is really

wrong with them.

Our son, when at his most ill, seemed to fuse with the OCD and really

could not see it as separate from him. So if you tried to address

and OCD issue he would take it very personally. He formed multiple

identities around it in an attemp to cope and even " protect " the OCD

which he saw as him, very bizarre and disturbing at times. Not sure

if this would be apparent to a teacher, maybe if they said something

that triggered a thought and then he would respond in one of

his " alter egos " . Just the idea that some will do very odd things to

try and combat the OCD. Also, angry outbursts when rituals are

thwarted, interupted etc.

Ok, I could go on....but think that is enough, sure many others will

have lots of stuff to offer. Good luck with this Anne.

Barb

[Guest guest]

Hi, Anne. That is awesome! What a great opportunity.

BJ

>

> Hi all,

>

> You all have been here for me through so much and I wanted to share

> some positive news.

>

> First off, DD is doing very well this year. She had an initial flare

> up at the beginning of the year - and has been much better after

> going back on the Prozac. She most likely has ADHD as well - we

> tried Focalin for this last weekend - it seemed to increase her

> anxiety - so, not sure how we will wind up treating the ADHD. Her

> grades are good - but homework is a continuous struggle.

>

> Anyway, we had a meeting with the principal as our younger DD is

> starting kindergarten next year and we were inquiring about some

> programs (she's been in a Montessori school and is doing some

> advanced work - so, we're trying to make sure she remains challenged

> next year). Anyway, we started talking about our older DD and OCD.

> I mentioned how difficult it's been to educate the teachers each year

> and all the " stigmas " (school counselor's word to me) and stereotypes

> about OCD. I mentioned that my DH and I would be happy to come in on

> an " early release day " (kids are released early and the teachers

> spend the afternoons in educational seminars) to do a power

> point/educational seminar for OCD for the teachers. The principal

> was super excited about this and referred me to the teacher who

> schedules these conferences. She is also very excited and feels that

> this is a much needed topic of education.

>

> We most likely won't speak until Feb or March. I would welcome any

> ideas that you all have as I begin to put my power point together. I

> remember that there is an excellent handout in the files section on

> the " role of school with OCD " . One thing I've heard over and over

> again through the years is " wow, we didn't know that fear of throwing

> up is OCD - I always thought it's washing your hands over and over " .

> While we all know that the germ contamination/hand washing is one

> fear with OCD - there are so many. In my presentation - I wanted to

> try to present some different case scenarios of real OCD fears - so,

> if any of you are willing to share your stories with me (of course,

> I'd never use names or any identifying info) that you'd be willing

> for me to share - please let me know.

>

> I'm so excited about this opportunity and feel grateful at the chance

> to further educate the teachers about OCD.

>

> Happy Holidays to all,

> Anne

>