Guest guest Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 The OCD waxes and wanes. There will be times where it is especially bad, and times where it isn't so bad, but it will always be there. For some, who have it mildly, I think it can become so insignificant, that it pretty much is gone. I have a niece that way. But, for people, like our son Josh, who is much more affected by it, so would be considered more severe, I think it will always be an issue. Even on meds, he has stuff going on inside of his mind that he can't shut completely off. But, with the correct treatment, and medication for some, they can learn to live with it, without letting it disrupt their lives as much. The correct treatment has been shown to make positive permanent changes to the brain, which is really encouraging, since it is neurobiological. Still, there will always be flare ups. That's my understanding from what I've read, and from our experience, . It's a matter of managing it, for life, for many. The best help for many, at this time, is CBT/ERP, if they respond well to it, and most do. Then medication, to supplement it, if needed. BJ > > Hi BJ, > Micah's getting better, he doesn't use a night light, as they don't put out > enough light, we put 3 in his room, and it was still too dark for him. > > But he uses his lamp, which has a dimmer, and I've noticed he's turning it > down more and more. 6 months ago it was full 60 watts. > > Gong to the kitchen to get a glass of water, is another story. he turns > every light on, on the way, and runs back. I've suggested maybe he shouldn't > watch the scary movies, but he doesn't want to give them up, he loves the > thrill. He just wants you to go everywhere with him afterwards for a day. > > We start therapy the 8, Micah doesn't start until the 10, hopefully it will > go quickly, as we have no insurance coverage. She's joining our network, but > it will take months, unless employer approves in process appts...that would be > great....but not likely. > > Does OCD every go away if left untreated? Or at least improve? I told Dr. we > may have to start out twice a month until insurance kicks in. > > > > > > In a message dated 12/2/2008 11:30:33 P.M. Central Standard Time, > BJClosner@... writes: > > , Josh was afraid of the dark up until about 2 years ago. He was > going on 15 before he gave up his light at night time. I think that > is not that unusual for kids with anxiety disorders. I just let him > figure out when he was ready to give it up. I figured he had so many > other things to cope with, that that just wasn't worth bothering with. > Micah has a lot going on, so I wouldn't worry about that one. He > will get there. ) They all do, it seems, eventually. . Just takes > longer for some. > > Concerning therapy. . . We had two appointments together where we > talked and the doctor evaluated everything. By the third appointment, > Josh was working on making his list. By the 4th, he started his > CBT/ERP, choosing the easiest to start with. He started getting > things under control, one ritual at a time, starting with that 4th > appointment. It took a few months to get into his list a ways, going > once a week. But, it can be different for everyone. It depends on > how much it bothers them, as to how fast they can move forward. Some > " get " it right away, others struggle more. It takes patience, that's > for sure! > > We reached a point where we were out of money and could only afford to > go once a month. He's been on that schedule ever since. At this > point, he is done with his list, but the therapist is coaching him > through coming up with ERP for anything new that pops up. He is > encouraging Josh to do it more himself, but being there to help him if > he isn't sure how to approach the ritual to get in under control. > > On the way home, I was explaining to Josh that the CBT/ERP is training > for his lifetime. And how this is training for Josh to figure out how > to confront things as they come up in his life. Eventually it will be > up to him to recognize, and start exposures for anything new that OCD > comes up with. Along with applying any old exposures if the old stuff > tries to flare back up. He asked me if I had been talking to his > therapist, because apparently that is what he told Josh today too. > > We've been going for quite a while, but when you only go once a month, > it can drag out. Still, Josh's OCD has been mostly under control, for > a long time now. I expect he will be done soon, with only occasional > trips for fine tuning, or flare ups. > > BJ > > > > **************Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and > favorite sites in one place. Try it now. > (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp & icid=aolcom40vanity & ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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