Re: Another Little Victory; and Telling Friends about OCD

[Guest guest]

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

http://twochinadolls.blogspot.com

____________________________________________________________

Learn about VA loan programs and benefits. Click now.

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[Guest guest]

That is awesome. I love how you did that. Great job.

Tracey

>

> 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

> http://twochinadolls.blogspot.com

>

> __________________________________________________________

> Learn about VA loan programs and benefits. Click now.

>

http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/PnY6rx9LkMyi7E3hQtlf4Df70f9laiSAy\

haNJbe5Q2m1D1HuUj1GZ/

>

>

[Guest guest]

That's great that she was able to get that out to those girls.  I know Joei gets

relief when she finally tells someone important in her life

 

~~Kathy

 Courage is not living without fear.

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

-Chae

________________________________

To:

Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2008 6:39:30 AM

Subject: 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

http://twochinadoll s.blogspot. com

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _

Learn about VA loan programs and benefits. Click now.

http://thirdpartyof fers.netzero. net/TGL2241/ fc/PnY6rx9LkMyi7 E3hQtlf4Df70f9la

iSAyhaNJbe5Q2m1D 1HuUj1GZ/

[Guest guest]

That is so impressive to me that your daughter has the self-confidence

to share her situation with all her friends. I know that 14 is a

tough social age, and peer pressure is intense. I have a 14 year old

boy, and I think we have so far only told one of his friends about it.

The friend reacted very supportively, but there hasn't been another

friend that he'd be willing to share his 'secret' with. I hope it all

works out for your daughter and that she no longer feels on the

'fringe'.

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbie,

I missed you post earlier. How wonderful for you daughter that she

has such supportive friends. Always tricky to know what and how much

to share. Sounds like you explained it in a way that makes clear it

is a neurobiological condition, I find this helpful to do also. Can

be so hard with mental illness and stigma, people so often are

uncomfortable talking about it at all. Good for you for helping

educate and supporting your daughter in this way.

Barb

>

>

> 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

> http://twochinadolls.blogspot.com

>

>

>

> ____________________________________________________________

> Learn about VA loan programs and benefits. Click now.

>

http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/PnY6rx9LkMyi7E3hQtlf4Df

70f9laiSAyhaNJbe5Q2m1D1HuUj1GZ/

>

>