Re: Re: Another Little Victory; and Telling Friends about OCD

December 21, 2008

Wow, Debbie! It sounds like you did a great job of presenting and explaining

's odd behaviors to her friends! Fourteen is such a difficult age

emotionally and physically . . . at least it was for me and I remember being

anxious all the time although I didn't suffer from any " anxiety disorder. " Must

be so hard on !

Good for you for bringing it out into the open without embarassing her! I hope

her friends take it in the way it was intended and that they'll begin to see the

person that is behind the outward faces of OCD!

Beth

Re: Another Little Victory; and Telling Friends

about OCD

Congrats to Kate, Beth! I'm sure it gives kids such a feeling of confidence to

do that. We have the opposite problem. My DD loves going on sleepovers; in fact,

I think she'd rather be anywhere but our house because of where we live (in the

country, gravel driveway, etc.). Only problem is, she rarely gets asked. Even

before the OCD, she's always been on the fringes of her group of friends.

Last night, we had a " girl gathering " . We got together with 4 of 's

friends (all 14 yrs) from her school and let them in on her " secret " . They all

knew what OCD was. We told them what her biggest fear is (dying in her sleep)

and how her past and current issues tied into that. I picked specific instances

from school, like when they wondered why she wouldn't eat with her hands early

on or got out of shop class. I explained it from the serotonin point of view,

that her " worry factory " was stuck open, making too much of it, and causing her

to worry too much about regular things

I also said she takes medicine to clear away the excess, kind of like a

diabetic takes insulin for extra glucose. By saying it this way, I hoped to

present it as a physical, not mental condition. Then we asked them to keep it

confidential, or as one girl said, on the " down-low " . Then we went to dinner and

a movie, and all the girls seemed to have a great time.

So I think it went well; at least Jess won't have to feel she needs to keep it

such a secret anymore.

Debbie Cavender

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