Guest guest Posted July 16, 2011 Report Share Posted July 16, 2011 Hi Larry, welcome! I've got a son with OCD, his began in 6th grade; he's 22 now. What your son said makes perfect sense to me (in OCD language). used to raise an arm in the air, straight up. He'd start to bring it down, then up it went again. He said it was to keep something bad from happening to him. He also did some finger/hand things, nothing that I noticed in a specific pattern (except the fingers were like piano playing), just I would see them move. Even had some facial contortions/stretching sometimes. At that time he said all his OCD was over the thought (or feeling) that something bad would happen to him if he didn't do these things, and that he also had to get a " just right " feeling (so he did repeat some things until he got that feeling). A lot of what did I couldn't find in any book. So it was like, " okay, we have OCD consuming him, nightmare! and I get the kid who has mostly things that aren't in any books, the kid with the weird OCD.... " But once I understood the treatment for OCD, how therapy works, etc., it was still the " same thing " so far as how to work on everything. I'm glad he's starting medication and therapy, sounds like you've found help from someone experienced in treating OCD. That can be one of the most difficult problems! single mom, 3 sons , 22, with OCD, dsygraphia, Aspergers finishing up at UNC-CH this month! > > Hi everyone - > > I am a new member...my name is Larry and my son Leo is 12 years old and his OCD (mostly obsessive) has really become strong. So he is about to start 5mg Lexapro and CBT. He has been given Seroquel to keep him calm until the SSRI kicks in, but it hasn't been working Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Hi Larry and welcome! Your son's behavior, and his explanation, make perfect sense to me, from the perspective of a mom with a kid with OCD. It's not that much different from acting out compulsions -- it's a way of alleviating the anxiety from his obsessions. My daughter's OCD is comprised almost entirely of intrusive thoughts, but she sometimes has little rituals like repetitive tapping and blinking. I assume they take the edge off her anxiety. Steph (in Virginia) 17 y/o dd with OCD, anxiety/depression, Asperger's & NVLD > > Hi everyone - > > I am a new member...my name is Larry and my son Leo is 12 years old and his OCD (mostly obsessive) has really become strong. So he is about to start 5mg Lexapro and CBT. He has been given Seroquel to keep him calm until the SSRI kicks in, but it hasn't been working well. I have a question for the group: he will make patterns in the air that he says are an attempt to block the consuming thought...do any of your kids do this? It would help us be less scared and concerned to know that it isn't so rare. > > Thank you! Larry > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 I am impressed that he acknowledges that he is trying to block his thoughts. That is good insight and a first step in therapy. Kids and adults do all kinds of things to reduce anxiety and obsessive thoughts, hair tugging, picking, hand washing, redoing, checking, spinning ..... and many people can surpress these behaviors until they get home. My daughter bites my hands sometimes to block something I have done that triggers her thoughts. But she won't acknowledge that she is upset. Pam > > Hi everyone - > > I am a new member...my name is Larry and my son Leo is 12 years old and his OCD (mostly obsessive) has really become strong. So he is about to start 5mg Lexapro and CBT. He has been given Seroquel to keep him calm until the SSRI kicks in, but it hasn't been working well. I have a question for the group: he will make patterns in the air that he says are an attempt to block the consuming thought...do any of your kids do this? It would help us be less scared and concerned to know that it isn't so rare. > > Thank you! Larry > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Welcome to the group, Larry. Our son used to make hand movements when he was younger (now 19). When I would ask him why, he would act as if they weren't happening. I think he was embarrassed. As he's gotten older, it has stopped. I've always wondered what part OCD played in it. I hope your son starts feeling better with the meds and CBT/ERP. Glad you found our group. BJ > > Hi everyone - > > I am a new member...my name is Larry and my son Leo is 12 years old and his OCD (mostly obsessive) has really become strong. So he is about to start 5mg Lexapro and CBT. He has been given Seroquel to keep him calm until the SSRI kicks in, but it hasn't been working well. I have a question for the group: he will make patterns in the air that he says are an attempt to block the consuming thought...do any of your kids do this? It would help us be less scared and concerned to know that it isn't so rare. > > Thank you! Larry > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Welcome to the group, Larry. Our son used to make hand movements when he was younger (now 19). When I would ask him why, he would act as if they weren't happening. I think he was embarrassed. As he's gotten older, it has stopped. I've always wondered what part OCD played in it. I hope your son starts feeling better with the meds and CBT/ERP. Glad you found our group. BJ > > Hi everyone - > > I am a new member...my name is Larry and my son Leo is 12 years old and his OCD (mostly obsessive) has really become strong. So he is about to start 5mg Lexapro and CBT. He has been given Seroquel to keep him calm until the SSRI kicks in, but it hasn't been working well. I have a question for the group: he will make patterns in the air that he says are an attempt to block the consuming thought...do any of your kids do this? It would help us be less scared and concerned to know that it isn't so rare. > > Thank you! Larry > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I actually think something like that might help my dd10! If she had some way to help block the intrusive thoughts, it just might work! Sharon To: Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2011 4:04 PM Subject: hand motions  Hi everyone - I am a new member...my name is Larry and my son Leo is 12 years old and his OCD (mostly obsessive) has really become strong. So he is about to start 5mg Lexapro and CBT. He has been given Seroquel to keep him calm until the SSRI kicks in, but it hasn't been working well. I have a question for the group: he will make patterns in the air that he says are an attempt to block the consuming thought...do any of your kids do this? It would help us be less scared and concerned to know that it isn't so rare. Thank you! Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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