Re: OCD and Autism Connected?-diet success? Jordana

[Guest guest]

Ther are many times in life when we have to go on trial and error. After you

have exhausted all other means, you reach a point of desperation and will try

anything.Apparantly you never reached that point with your child. I have. This

is why I am experimenting with a diet. I personally don't see any more harm in

that , than in the meds.

How do you know what that anafranil is doing to your body? They come out with

all kinds of scientific evidence about drugs, new and old, every day ,that can

have adverse affects on your body.

________________________________

To:

Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 2:49:46 AM

Subject: Re: Re: OCD and Autism Connected?-diet success?

I hear what you are saying.  I think it's great to talk about our theories of

what might cause OCD

or not or what might help or not.  I just get a little nuts when theories are

stated as " truths " .  I would LOVE to 

learn about new treatments for OCD, but it's treatments that are based on good

scientific reasoning that I am after.  

Life is really hard for my daughter, and the last thing I want to do is put her

through a restrictive diet or " medical 

tests " unless there is hard evidence that it will make a difference.

Re: OCD and Autism Connected?-diet success?

OK, have to jump in with my thoughts.

This topic started out about possible OCD, autism connection. Well -

autism does include obsessive behaviors and ritual type. Now OCD

falls under anxiety disorders (last I read; also read somewhere about

getting that changed). The behaviors that occur in autism aren't

anxiety related (unless you try to stop them), they are more a

calming behavior. Oh, you can work on the autism type if parent

feels it's something that needs changed, probably similar to CBT, but

also could vary with child (based on functioning level).

Still to me, it's very interesting that=2

0two separate " disorders " can

have such similar behaviors.

And lots of the diagnoses are all neurological.

Serotonin isn't the only brain chemical involved with OCD. It's just

the neurotransmitter that the medications focus on since it's obvious

it helps the OCD.

I find it hard to believe that everyone with OCD would have the

same...cause? chemical imbalance? reason? for OCD. Plus with the

different behaviors OCD causes (from checking things to repeating

things to confessing or just bad thoughts) it just doesn't seem, to

me, there would be one " trigger " for it all (thus the different

neurotransmitters) .

OK, LOL, so I'm getting to the diets, even supplements. What works

for one person may work for them because that is what their body

needs. Perhaps it's balancing out those " brain chemicals " ; or maybe

the allergic type reaction to some food/ingredient or that the body

can't handle processing the food/ingredient and is messing up the

body some way, by withdrawing that food/ingred the OC behavior

stops. Hey, my sons seem fine with foods with red or yellow dye,

other kids it causes problem behavior.

I've tried lots of supplements/ alternatives with . And one

SSRI. The SSRI worked well. The alternative (inositol powder)

worked well at one time, didn't help a bit years later when re-tried

it. But inositol has helped others, and some it hasn't.

Just sayi

ng that there is not one solution for all, there is no *one*

cause/trigger for OCD in everyone, and I like to read what others are

theorizing about and also trying, and especially the successes. And

it's good to ask questions and " where did you read that " but

sometimes it's just sort of " parent theory. " (like my reading about

glucose and trying to tie it to OC behavior at one time)

[Guest guest]

If there was a " natural " remedy that could help my OCD, I'd go off the Anafranil

in a second.

I just can't afford to become that disabled again from the OCD and depression,

especially while I'm raising

two kids on my own, so I have to take the risks that might be associated with

long term use of this med.

By the way, I can't begin to tell you just how desperately ill I get when I am

off it.

Re: OCD and Autism Connected?-diet success?

OK, have to jump in with my thoughts.

This topic started out about possible OCD, autism connection. Well -

autism does include obsessive behaviors and ritual type. Now OCD

falls under anxiety disorders (last I read; also read somewhere about

getting that changed). The behaviors that occur in autism aren't

anxiety related (unless you try to stop them), they are more a

calming behavior. Oh, you can work on the autism type if parent

feels it's something that needs changed, probably similar to CBT, but

also could vary with child (based on functioning level).

Still to me, it's very interesting that=2

0two separate " disorders " can

have such similar behaviors.

And lots of the diagnoses are all neurological.

Serotonin isn't the only brain chemical involved with OCD. It's just

the neurotransmitter that the medications focus on since it's obvious

it helps the OCD.

I find it hard to believe that everyone with OCD would have the

same...cause? chemical imbalance? reason? for OCD. Plus with the

different behaviors OCD causes (from checking things to repeating

things to confessing or just bad thoughts) it just doesn't seem, to

me, there would be one " trigger " for it all (thus the different

neurotransmitters) .

OK, LOL, so I'm getting to the diets, even supplements. What works

for one person may work for them because that is what their body

needs. Perhaps it's balancing out those " brain chemicals " ; or maybe

the allergic type reaction to some food/ingredient or that the body

can't handle processing the food/ingredient and is messing up the

body some way, by withdrawing that food/ingred the OC behavior

stops. Hey, my sons seem fine with foods with red or yellow dye,

other kids it causes problem behavior.

I've tried lots of supplements/ alternatives with . And one

SSRI. The SSRI worked well. The alternative (inositol powder)

worked well at one time, didn't help a bit years later when re-tried

it. But inositol has helped others, and some it hasn't.

Just sayi

ng that the

re is not one solution for all, there is no *one*

cause/trigger for OCD in everyone, and I like to read what others are

theorizing about and also trying, and especially the successes. And

it's good to ask questions and " where did you read that " but

sometimes it's just sort of " parent theory. " (like my reading about

glucose and trying to tie it to OC behavior at one time)

[Guest guest]

Now see, this is my thinking too. When we went through all the med

trials we never had hard evidence that anything would work, just had

to try. Yes we knew ssri's worked for some people, but not all, and

so had to go through trial and error.

In fact, although they have an understanding with how these

medications work, they have no hard evidence what exactly they are

doing, as in " how " they affect an individual person's brain

specifically, and this is part of the challenge with brain based

disorders,I do understand about neurotransmitters etc, but there is

no way of testing what exactly is being affected. Just have to wait

and see the effects, postive/negative. When multiple meds are in play

it's just a nightmare to try and juggle the cause and effect....

Oh, for the day when we might have some better way to understand all

this, but from what I have been told by a research based

psychiatrist, this can't really ever happen because of the complexity

and interrelatedness of the brain and systems. Only way to know if

something will work is to try it.

Barb

>

> Ther are many times in life when we have to go on trial and error.

After you have exhausted all other means, you reach a point of

desperation and will try anything.Apparantly you never reached that

point with your child. I have. This is why I am experimenting with a

diet. I personally don't see any more harm in that , than in the

meds.

>

>

> How do you know what that anafranil is doing to your body? They

come out with all kinds of scientific evidence about drugs, new and

old, every day ,that can have adverse affects on your body.

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To:

> Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 2:49:46 AM

> Subject: Re: Re: OCD and Autism Connected?-diet

success?

>

>

> I hear what you are saying.  I think it's great to talk about our

theories of what might cause OCD

> or not or what might help or not.  I just get a little nuts when

theories are stated as " truths " .  I would LOVE to 

>

> learn about new treatments for OCD, but it's treatments that are

based on good scientific reasoning that I am after.  

>

> Life is really hard for my daughter, and the last thing I want to

do is put her through a restrictive diet or " medical 

>

> tests " unless there is hard evidence that it will make a difference.

>

> Re: OCD and Autism Connected?-diet

success?

>

> OK, have to jump in with my thoughts.

>

> This topic started out about possible OCD, autism connection. Well -

>

> autism does include obsessive behaviors and ritual type. Now OCD

>

> falls under anxiety disorders (last I read; also read somewhere

about

>

> getting that changed). The behaviors that occur in autism aren't

>

> anxiety related (unless you try to stop them), they are more a

>

> calming behavior. Oh, you can work on the autism type if parent

>

> feels it's something that needs changed, probably similar to CBT,

but

>

> also could vary with child (based on functioning level).

>

> Still to me, it's very interesting that=2

> 0two separate " disorders " can

>

> have such similar behaviors.

>

> And lots of the diagnoses are all neurological.

>

> Serotonin isn't the only brain chemical involved with OCD. It's

just

>

> the neurotransmitter that the medications focus on since it's

obvious

>

> it helps the OCD.

>

> I find it hard to believe that everyone with OCD would have the

>

> same...cause? chemical imbalance? reason? for OCD. Plus with the

>

> different behaviors OCD causes (from checking things to repeating

>

> things to confessing or just bad thoughts) it just doesn't seem, to

>

> me, there would be one " trigger " for it all (thus the different

>

> neurotransmitters) .

>

> OK, LOL, so I'm getting to the diets, even supplements. What works

>

> for one person may work for them because that is what their body

>

> needs. Perhaps it's balancing out those " brain chemicals " ; or maybe

>

> the allergic type reaction to some food/ingredient or that the body

>

> can't handle processing the food/ingredient and is messing up the

>

> body some way, by withdrawing that food/ingred the OC behavior

>

> stops. Hey, my sons seem fine with foods with red or yellow dye,

>

> other kids it causes problem behavior.

>

> I've tried lots of supplements/ alternatives with . And one

>

> SSRI. The SSRI worked well. The alternative (inositol powder)

>

> worked well at one time, didn't help a bit years later when re-

tried

>

> it. But inositol has helped others, and some it hasn't.

>

> Just sayi

> ng that there is not one solution for all, there is no *one*

>

> cause/trigger for OCD in everyone, and I like to read what others

are

>

> theorizing about and also trying, and especially the successes. And

>

> it's good to ask questions and " where did you read that " but

>

> sometimes it's just sort of " parent theory. " (like my reading about

>

> glucose and trying to tie it to OC behavior at one time)

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am someone who would be called having " overvalued ideation " meaning that my

OCD fears seem realistic to me.  When I am

not on medication, these fears then cripple me because I become to fearful to be

able to fight against them.  It is only when I am

on medication that I find that many of my issues/concerns/fears/obsessions

(whatever you want to call them) just fall away and

I feel no need to even have to stop doing the compulsions, they just stop.  The

issues/fears that remain and that pop up are much less

paralyzing when I am on medication and I am then able to fight against them. 

I am have never heard that OCD can be " beaten. "   I have never met anyone who

feels " cured " of it.  I think that most of us need

medication to do the CBT to beat back the OCD, and those who are lucky enough

not to need it to do the CBT, must make sure to

keep applying it or it can take over again.

Re: OCD and Autism Connected?-diet

success?

>

>

>

> OK, have to jump in with my thoughts.

>

>

>

> This topic started out about possible OCD, autism connection. Well -

>

>

>

> autism does include obsessive behaviors and ritual type. Now OCD

>

>

>

> falls under anxiety disorders (last I read; also read somewhere

about

>

>

>

> getting that changed). The behaviors that occur in autism aren't

>

>

>

> anxiety related (unless you try to stop the

m), they are more a

>

>

>

> calming behavior. Oh, you can work on the autism type if parent

>

>

>

> feels it's something that needs changed, probably similar to CBT,

but

>

>

>

> also could vary with child (based on functioning level).

>

>

>

> Still to me, it's very interesting that=2

>

> 0two separate " disorders " can

>

>

>

> have such similar behaviors.

>

>

>

>

> And lots of the diagnoses are all neurological.

>

>

>

> Serotonin isn't the only brain chemical involved with OCD. It's

just

>

>

>

> the neurotransmitter that the medications focus on since it's

obvious

>

>

>

> it helps the OCD.

>

>

>

> I find it hard to believe that everyone with OCD would have the

>

>

>

> same...cause? chemical imbalance? reason? for OCD. Plus with the

>

>

>

> different behaviors OCD causes (from checking things to repeating

>

>

>

> things to confessing or just bad thoughts) it just doesn't seem, to

>

>

>

> me, there would be one " trigger " for it all (thus the different

>

>

>

> neurotransmitters) .

>

>

>

> OK, LOL, so I'm getting to the diets, even supplements. What works

>

>

>

> for one person may work for them because that is what thei

r body

>

>

>

> needs. Perhaps it's balancing out those " brain chemicals " ; or maybe

>

>

>

> the allergic type reaction to some food/ingredient or that the body

>

>

>

> can't handle processing the food/ingredient and is messing up the

>

>

>

> body some way, by withdrawing that food/ingred the OC behavior

>

>

>

> stops. Hey, my sons seem fine with foods with red or yellow dye,

>

>

>

> other kids it causes problem behavior.

>

>

>

> I've tried lots of supplements/ alternatives with . And one

>

>

>

> SSRI. The SSRI worked well. The alternative (inositol powder)

>

>

>

> worked well at one time, didn't help a bit years later when re-

tried

>

>

>

> it. But inositol has helped others, and some it hasn't.

>

>

>

> Just sayi

>

> ng that the

> re is not one solution for all, there is no *one*

>

>

>

> cause/trigger for OCD in everyone, and I like to read what others

are

>

>

>

> theorizing about and also trying, and especially the successes. And

>

>

>

> it's good to ask questions and " where did you read that " but

>

>

>

> sometimes it's just sort of " parent theory. " (like my reading about

>

>

>

> glucose and trying to tie it to OC behavior at one

time)

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yep, here's to them coming true. )

There is a proverb that says, " Hope deferred makes the heart sick " .

So true!

BJ

>

> > >

>

> > > If there was a " natural " remedy that could help my OCD, I'd go off

>

> > the Anafranil in a second.

>

> > > I just can't afford to become that disabled again from the OCD and

>

> > depression, especially while I'm raising

>

> > >

>

> > > two kids on my own, so I have to take the risks that might be

>

> > associated with long term use of this med.

>

> > >

>

> > > By the way, I can't begin to tell you just how desperately ill I

>

> > get when I am off it.

>

> > >20

>

> > >

>

> > > Re: OCD and Autism Connected?-diet

>

> > success?

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > OK, have to jump in with my thoughts.

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > This topic started out about possible OCD, autism connection. Well -

>

> >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > autism does include obsessive behaviors and ritual type. Now OCD

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > falls under anxiety disorders (last I re

> ad; also read somewhere

>

> > about

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > getting that changed). The behaviors that occur in autism aren't

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > anxiety related (unless you try to stop them), they are more a

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > calming behavior. Oh, you can work on the autism type if parent

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > feels it's something that needs changed, probably similar to CBT,

>

> > but

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > also could vary with child (based on functioning level).

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > Still to me, it's very interesting that=2

>

> > >

>

> > > 0two separate " disorders " can

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > have such similar behaviors.

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > And lots of the diagnoses are all neurological.

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > Serotonin isn't the only brain chemical involved with OCD. It's

>

> > just

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > the neurotransmitter that the medications focus on since it's

>

> > obvious

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > it helps the OCD.

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > I find it hard to believe that everyone with OCD would have the

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > same...cause? chemical imbalance? reason? for OCD. Plus with the

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > different behaviors OCD causes (from checking things to repeating

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

> things to confessing or just bad thoughts) it just doesn't seem, to

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > me, there would be one " trigger " for it all (thus the different

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > neurotransmitters) .

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > OK, LOL, so I'm getting to the diets, even supplements. What works

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > for one person may work for them because that is what their body

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > needs. Perhaps it's balancing out those " brain chemicals " ; or maybe

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > the allergic type reaction to some food/ingredient or that the body

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > can't handle processing the food/ingredient and is messing up the

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > body some way, by withdrawing that food/ingred the OC behavior

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > stops. Hey, my sons seem fine with foods with red or yellow dye,

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > other kids it causes problem behavior.

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > I've tried lots of supplements/ alternatives with . And one

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > SSRI. The SSRI worked well. The alternative (inositol powder)

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > worked well at one time, didn't help a bit years later when re-

>

> > tried

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > it. But inositol has helped others, and some it hasn't.

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

>

> > > Just sayi

>

> > >

>

> > > ng that the

>

> > > re is not one solution for all, there is no *one*

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > cause/trigger for OCD in everyone, and I like to read what others

>

> > are

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > theorizing about and also trying, and especially the successes. And

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > it's good to ask questions and " where did you read that " but

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > sometimes it's just sort of " parent theory. " (like my reading about

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > > glucose and trying to tie it to OC behavior at one time)

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

[Guest guest]

> >

> > You know, Barb, in all my reading, it seems some did imply it could

> go

> > away, others said it was a lifelong chronic disorder. I'm very

> > curious to see what your reply from the docs is.

> >

> > In my own " trying to " understand, while reading, I reasoned that it

> > could be because some are more mild than others, it seems, and maybe

> > the mild sufferers are the ones who have the potential to move into

> > that category where they no longer meet the criteria to be diagnosed

> > as actual OCD anymore. I could be way off here, just saying that

> was

> > the conclusion I came to while reading and trying to sort it out in

> my

> > own head.

> >

> > It would be nice if it could go away, wouldn't it. Watching Josh

> over

> > the years, and seeing my own husband and his family, I have to say,

> it

> > hasn't for them. Yet, none of them have tried therapy, or meds,

> other

> > than Josh (meds and therapy) and his Dad, (meds only). As I watch

> it

> > morph into new things with Josh, I wonder if he will ever be one

> that

> > it is not a struggle for.

> >

> > On the other hand, I have a nephew (one side of the family) and

> niece

> > (on the other side of the family) who seem to not suffer at all

> > anymore. But, you never know what is really going on inside

> someone's

> > head, unless they tell you. So. . . <shrug>, who knows.

> >

> > Here's to hoping. With no hope, you often have depression, so I'm

> > going to continue to hope. Hoping for continued improvement or even

> > continued stability, hoping it doesn't get worse again, and hoping

> > that someday there may even be a cure.

> >

> > Hugs to you, Barb.

> >

> > BJ

> >

> >

>