Guest guest Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 Nope. Â That's just OCD. Â I would imagine that all kids now and then glance at someone else's paper and sometimes even go so far as writing down an answer that they couldn't remember. Â The only reason you know about it is because he has the OCD need to " confess " . Â Just remind him that he could get into trouble if he does this, and drop it. Cheating on tests Hi Everyone, I want to start by saying that my son is doing much better... probably a 2 on the OCD scale of 10 (he has been a consistent 6 thru 8 for the past 4 years)! I don't want to jinx it though, and am bracing myself for the ebb and flow. His reassurance seeking has gone waaayyy down, but last week he came home from high school where he had just taken a test and confessed (because of his OCD) that he had looked at someone else's test a few times to be 'reassured' that he, himself, had the right answers. Because of his need to tell me the truth about things he has done wrong, I believe him. I believe that he only looked to compare his answers as he needed to be reassured. But, obviously, this is wrong in that he ethically shouldn't be doing this. If he gets caught, I really don't know what he will say to the teacher, and think he will just have to take the heat. It's a scenario that I hadn't envisioned, and I'm not sure how to handle it. He's a smart kid, but there could be more than OCD going on here. This may be yet another gray area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 Hi, I'm just thinking what I'd have done here. is so " scrupulous " about stuff. Though overall, 3 sons beyond high school now. Well - he knows he's done wrong (so he confessed). So - I would have asked what he'd have done if he did see a different answer on other paper - would he have changed his? (answer probably " no " ) Discuss a bit (as you two did).... Include possible consequences if does again and teacher was to see, think cheating.... LOL, But STRONGLY say " don't do again " (just saw I said " IF does again...) Try to find out, in discussion, if he felt OCD was part of it; he may not be sure. And then let it drop. When was in the grades that would have some of the math problem answers in the back of the book to check your answers (like answers to even problems), he wouldn't use them because it was " cheating. " He eventually let me look back there but HE could not, most I could do was tell him if it was wrong (or if helping, see if my own answer was right/wrong). OCD can go lots of ways, never know what it might affect, sigh! > > Hi Everyone, I want to start by saying that my son is doing much > better... probably a 2 on the OCD scale of 10 (he has been a > consistent 6 thru 8 for the past 4 years)! I don't want to jinx it > though, and am bracing myself for the ebb and flow. His reassurance > seeking has gone waaayyy down, but last week he came home from high > school where he had just taken a test and confessed (because of his > OCD) that he had looked at someone else's test a few times to be > 'reassured' that he, himself, had the right answers. Because of his Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 Yeah!!! I'm glad he's doing so much better. Is this because of CBT, or something else? Do share. I think this is pretty common impulse for many, and with the OCD probably a strong urge to be " sure " /reassured. Guess it would be a problem if he was caught though, so best to remind him of this consequence and encourage him to live with the " doubt " of not being sure, as everyone has to until you get the test back. So happy for you that things have improved so much! Warmly, Barb > > Hi Everyone, I want to start by saying that my son is doing much > better... probably a 2 on the OCD scale of 10 (he has been a > consistent 6 thru 8 for the past 4 years)! I don't want to jinx it > though, and am bracing myself for the ebb and flow. His reassurance > seeking has gone waaayyy down, but last week he came home from high > school where he had just taken a test and confessed (because of his > OCD) that he had looked at someone else's test a few times to be > 'reassured' that he, himself, had the right answers. Because of his > need to tell me the truth about things he has done wrong, I believe > him. I believe that he only looked to compare his answers as he > needed to be reassured. But, obviously, this is wrong in that he > ethically shouldn't be doing this. If he gets caught, I really don't > know what he will say to the teacher, and think he will just have to > take the heat. It's a scenario that I hadn't envisioned, and I'm not > sure how to handle it. He's a smart kid, but there could be more than > OCD going on here. This may be yet another gray area. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 I guess you could say it was a combo of CBT with Xanax that made him get better. Besides the intense reassurance seeking, my son had debilitating fears of my husband and I getting in a car accident and so could never be left alone. This fall, we more or less forced him to stay alone more, first with small, short excursions, then with bigger, longer ones. With the bigger ones, we gave him a few Xanax to help him cope. Well, not only did he cope, but he was overcome with joy that he could stay alone without panic and it truly strengthened him. With Xanax, we then left him alone 3 more times, all with no panic attacks (he used to call us 5 times in an hour, when we were just say, at his school open house, 1 mile away). It has been amazing to see the trickle down effect, where this has given him so much more confidence academically and socially. He still has small signs of anxiety/OCD but nowhere near where it was. So, Xanax as needed, NOT every day - and 'tough love' is what helped. Oh, of course, the right dose of the right SSRI (Prozac for him) and Focalin for his ADHD has also helped tremendously. Barb, you experienced your son getting better for a long time, and then, have I read that he is slipping? Forgive me, if I have mixed up stories, but I am so dreading the slippage. It's only been 2 months of being well for my son and it has been beyond wonderful, but I so fear the return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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