New member

Posted November 13, 2004 · November 13, 2004

Thank you for the welcome and the advice. My son was diagnosed with

Aspergers at age 9 and that is what I always thought caused the anxiety, so I

was surprised when she diagnosed OCD. But after I researched it a light bulb

went off. Actually I was relieved because I was really scared that he might have

something even more serious that we could not treat. I am glad to hear things do

get better and treatment does help. Thanks again.

Krista

Re: New Member

Hi Krista, welcome to the group!

I have a 15 yr old son (10th grade) who began battling OCD at around

age 11.5; he'd just started 6th grade.

He began having all sorts of compulsions, some pretty weird and not

the typical OCD I'd read about. Anyway, I found this group not long

after, and it's been my very best support through all this!

There was no one near enough experienced in treating OCD, so like you

I read & read and joined this group! Between the research and

suggestions from this group, we somehow managed to live through it

all.

As to your question about therapy and medication - Sometimes if a

child is really suffering, medication is given to help them reach a

reduced point of anxiety/OCD to where they can receive some benefits

from the CBT/ERP therapy. Medication isn't a *must* for OCD, you

just have to decide what's best for your situation. However, many

find a mix of therapy & meds offers the best solution if in the " OCD

is making us all insane!!! can't go about our daily lives!!! "

stage.

Sounds like you are off to a really good start with therapy, etc.

With my son, we first tried inositol powder (in the B vitamin family)

and it luckily worked well for . We used it for the first 2+

years and then started on Celexa; he's been on the Celexa a

little over a year.

The thing, as you will read, with medication and even inositol is

that no *one* medication works for everyone, it's an individual

thing, and you need to give each a few weeks trial (8-12) to see how

it'll work and to build up to a good dosage level; so it can be trial

and error for some people until you find the one that works best;

some meds might cause a bit of insomnia or hyperness or

moodiness...or nothing at all except some relief! We were very lucky

in that the inositol worked; and then with Celexa, it's worked well,

no real side effects for except that he gets pretty tired

each p.m. and naps now.

After began having compulsions 24/7 in 6th grade and I began

learning more about OCD, I realized that all those reassurance

questions he'd ask me when younger could be considered part of OCD.

He seemed to grow out of that. But used to ask things many times,

some repeatedly, " will this give me cancer? " or " how long will it

take this -cut/scratch- to heal? " and so on, seemed to be too tuned

into every cut/scratch/blemish and every feeling in his body. Very

tiring!

I began to limit how many times I would answer or ask him " what did I

say the last time " or just ask him a question back or tell him I had

already answered that (2 or 3x!). Sometimes I would switch answers,

like in " how long will this take to heal? " I might say 7 days, then

next 10 days, then " a month " .... However - didn't have any

huge meltdowns as some kids will over this, he might just get a bit

whiny but would go on his way; then come back later to ask again!

What do you think would happen if you said " yes I am " when he asks if

you're mad at him? or quickly said " no, are you mad at me? " or " no,

now go do... " and tried to redirect him?

Well, it's getting late, long day! Hope something above made a bit

of sense. By the way, is doing very well now. For him, OCD

is still there but manageable, not interfering at least to any extent

that bothers him (or anyone else!).

Glad you've joined us!

single mom, 3 sons

, 15, with OCD, dysgraphia and Aspergers(autism)

, 15, nonidentical twin

Randall, 19

A link for inositol/OCD to read if never heard of it:

http://www.homestead.com/westsuffolkpsych/Inositol_and_OCD.html

>

> Hi everyone. I just joined your group tonight. I've been reading

> your posts and I am already feeling better. I have a 10 yr old son

> who was diagnosed this yr with OCD. He started worrying more and

> more and saying things that were worrying me so I needed to get him

> help. He worries constantly about getting germs or giving germs, or

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Posted February 22, 2005 · February 22, 2005

Hi Diane and welcome to the group!!

So sorry to hear about your daughter. But you are doing the right thing and that

is being a good and sweet Mom. She will join a group when she feels ready hun.

If you want to you can print some of our information to send to her, and let her

know that she,you and the whole family is welcome here.

We are a varied group but our main point of being here is to offer support and

education.

Love

Janet

dpetersmayer2 wrote:

Hello,

I do not have hep C but my daughter does and I am in need of support

for myself and am looking for information that might be of help to

her. She was diagnosed in the 1980's and we believe that she

contracted it during the numerous blood transfusions she had at

birth. Though she is still stage 0, she chose to begin Pegasys about

six weeks ago. She is an athlete so physically she is fit and strong--

mentally she is very strong too, and she decided now was the perfect

time to try the cure. It has been a difficult time for her and our

family because two years ago she left the east, where we live and

moved to southern california--it's not a 2 hour drive to her house

anymore, but we do our best to support her by phone when the side

effects hit. I've given her information about coping with

chemotherapy that I read on curezone.com, and some of the techniques

have helped her with the fatigue.

I struggle daily with wanting to call her throughout the day to ask

how she feels, but know that my anxiety has to be kept in check and I

follow her lead in conversations. She is single but has set up a nice

group of people from work and friends who she can call on for help--

but no one in her circle really understands what it means to be

fighting this disease--and it worries me that she feels isolated to a

large degree because of this. I have talked with her about joining a

support group in her area or at least one online but she hasn't yet.

I think talking with other people who know exactly how she feels is

terribly important, but I realize she will have to come to this

herself.

I've read a number of posts and it has been helpful to do so. Sorry

for the long email but it feels good to get this off my chest to a

group of people who will understand.

Best to all of you,

Diane

It's a pleasure having you join in our conversations. We hope you have found the

support you need with us.

If you are using email for your posts, for easy access to our group, just click

the link-- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hepatitis_C_Central/

Happy Posting

---------------------------------

Posted February 23, 2005 · February 23, 2005

I am so sorry about your daughter having hepatitis c , she is doing the right

thing by getting the treatment now instead of waiting . And you are doing a

wonderful job just by being there for her . Having family support is especially

important , although you cant understand what it is to go through she

appreciates you being there for her.And welcome to hep central

new member