Guest guest Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Hi Charlie, ! Welcome! I actually thought of the TV show Monk when I read your son touches lamp posts. You ever watch that show there? Monk is walking down the street touching the posts and other things. Since you seem to have some waiting time before your first appointment with a therapist for Dan, I would advise reading about OCD and its treatment - the therapy and medications. Therapy can be done without medication, but often children do better with medication too. In case they suggest medication, at least you will have an idea about it if you read prior to beginning treatment. Here's one link I found (tho you may have already been reading up on all this), and this site also covers therapy and a lot of info about OCD: http://www.ocduk.org/medication Books - for you and for Dan. There are some great books for parents and many for children of different ages too. At this OCD website that I occasionally read at in their forum, they have a list. One book title caught my eye: Touch and Go Joe. http://www.stuckinadoorway.org/index.php?page=ukbooks (I always liked their name - my son would get stuck in our bathroom doorway!) Some other titles that many suggest: Talking Back to OCD, by March Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, by Tamar Chansky What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck, by Dawn Huebner And this article " A Touching Story " was also the closest information I could find to what my son was doing. His OCD had him doing things because he said he felt something bad would happen to him if he didn't, and he also needed a " just right " feeling. He had a problem with touching things, only he would get stuck touching and not be able to stop until " whatever " was completed, which I guess was a " just right " feeling: http://www.wsps.info/index.php?option=com_content & view=article & id=83:a-touching-\ story-touching-and-movement-compulsions & catid=36:ocd-and-related-subjects-by-fre\ derick-penzel-phd & Itemid=64 You can use the above article where they talk about picking some easier behaviors on the " hierarchy " to work on. We did all this on our own (couldn't find a therapist) and so would pick 1 or 2 things to try working on. My suggestion is to skip the bedtime one, as we do like our children to finally go to bed! Actually, bedtime issues just seem to generally be one of the stronger needs, harder to work on. Just some quick thoughts. Do let us know how things are going and will be interested when you finally get that appointment! (North Carolina) single mom, 3 sons 22, OCD, dysgraphia, Aspergers graduated college August 2011 OCD started age 11.5 > > Hello all, > > We're new to this group and live in Nottingham in the UK. > > We have a 12 year old son who has just been diagnosed with OCD. On the spectrum of the condition and what some of you seem to be enduring it sounds relatively mild although it has become quite debilitating and upsetting for Dan and us. > > Dan feels compelled to touch random objects in the house and on his walk to school (doors, lamp-posts etc) and also feels compelled to pick up litter/random items he finds on the floor. He has also become obsessive about arranging things in an orderly manner before he goes to bed. > > This all came on very suddenly over Xmas although Dan has always been quite anxious. He's been referred to a specialist to begin some CBT therapy although we're told this could take a few weeks to set-up. > > Does anyone have a child that has displayed similar behaviours and can anyone recommend any coping strategies for Dan while we're waiting for his CBT sessions to be arranged? > > Thanks and regards > > Charlie & > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Hi Charlie, ! Welcome! I actually thought of the TV show Monk when I read your son touches lamp posts. You ever watch that show there? Monk is walking down the street touching the posts and other things. Since you seem to have some waiting time before your first appointment with a therapist for Dan, I would advise reading about OCD and its treatment - the therapy and medications. Therapy can be done without medication, but often children do better with medication too. In case they suggest medication, at least you will have an idea about it if you read prior to beginning treatment. Here's one link I found (tho you may have already been reading up on all this), and this site also covers therapy and a lot of info about OCD: http://www.ocduk.org/medication Books - for you and for Dan. There are some great books for parents and many for children of different ages too. At this OCD website that I occasionally read at in their forum, they have a list. One book title caught my eye: Touch and Go Joe. http://www.stuckinadoorway.org/index.php?page=ukbooks (I always liked their name - my son would get stuck in our bathroom doorway!) Some other titles that many suggest: Talking Back to OCD, by March Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, by Tamar Chansky What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck, by Dawn Huebner And this article " A Touching Story " was also the closest information I could find to what my son was doing. His OCD had him doing things because he said he felt something bad would happen to him if he didn't, and he also needed a " just right " feeling. He had a problem with touching things, only he would get stuck touching and not be able to stop until " whatever " was completed, which I guess was a " just right " feeling: http://www.wsps.info/index.php?option=com_content & view=article & id=83:a-touching-\ story-touching-and-movement-compulsions & catid=36:ocd-and-related-subjects-by-fre\ derick-penzel-phd & Itemid=64 You can use the above article where they talk about picking some easier behaviors on the " hierarchy " to work on. We did all this on our own (couldn't find a therapist) and so would pick 1 or 2 things to try working on. My suggestion is to skip the bedtime one, as we do like our children to finally go to bed! Actually, bedtime issues just seem to generally be one of the stronger needs, harder to work on. Just some quick thoughts. Do let us know how things are going and will be interested when you finally get that appointment! (North Carolina) single mom, 3 sons 22, OCD, dysgraphia, Aspergers graduated college August 2011 OCD started age 11.5 > > Hello all, > > We're new to this group and live in Nottingham in the UK. > > We have a 12 year old son who has just been diagnosed with OCD. On the spectrum of the condition and what some of you seem to be enduring it sounds relatively mild although it has become quite debilitating and upsetting for Dan and us. > > Dan feels compelled to touch random objects in the house and on his walk to school (doors, lamp-posts etc) and also feels compelled to pick up litter/random items he finds on the floor. He has also become obsessive about arranging things in an orderly manner before he goes to bed. > > This all came on very suddenly over Xmas although Dan has always been quite anxious. He's been referred to a specialist to begin some CBT therapy although we're told this could take a few weeks to set-up. > > Does anyone have a child that has displayed similar behaviours and can anyone recommend any coping strategies for Dan while we're waiting for his CBT sessions to be arranged? > > Thanks and regards > > Charlie & > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Oh, one more thought. If he has been sick recently before all this OCD began - or even has a history of illnesses - there is information in our FILES section and on the internet about PANDAS OCD. It is when OCD is triggered by the strep virus, BUT actually can be triggered after other illnesses too. Keep that in mind as you do your research. We have some PANDAS parents in our group. The therapy is still the same, but the " prescription " side of treatment would begin with different medication. > > Hello all, > > We're new to this group and live in Nottingham in the UK. > > We have a 12 year old son who has just been diagnosed with OCD. On the spectrum of the condition and what some of you seem to be enduring it sounds relatively mild although it has become quite debilitating and upsetting for Dan and us. > > Dan feels compelled to touch random objects in the house and on his walk to school (doors, lamp-posts etc) and also feels compelled to pick up litter/random items he finds on the floor. He has also become obsessive about arranging things in an orderly manner before he goes to bed. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 Hello Charlie & ,  I'm , and I'm also new to this group. (We live in Chicago, however my husband is English--we met in London, so your UK location caught my eye.) I wanted to let you know that my 12-year-old daughter Maddie has similiar touching compulsions. She touches objects or taps things with her foot " otherwise something bad will happen " . Though the severity of her OCD ebbs and flows, right now she's int he throes of a very bad flare-up. Homework takes hours, as she feels the compulsion to keep getting up and checking all over her room again and again for " bombs " or " intruders " . Put plainly, irrational fears gets trapped inside her head, and the only way for her to feel relief is to perform her touching/checking rituals.  She was diagnosed one year ago, and has been recieving weekly CBT for almost a year now. We were fortunate to find an amazing therapist who not only specializes in OCD and anxiety disorders, she is so compassionate and accessible my daughter can call/email/text her anytime she needs to talk. Maddie also has a 504 plan which provides accomodations in school, such as being able to take exams separately and in an untimed format. Right now we're holding off on medication, however I have a feeling we'll need to consider this at some point.  Charlie & , when will you know when when your son can begin CBT? Will it be weekly sessions? I strongly hope so. Also, we found the books mentioned by a great resource--particulary the one by Tamar Chansky. It will really help you understand the condition.  One more thing I'd like to mention: When Maddie first started exhibiting compulsions, I wrongly believed OCD was " merely " her need to keep things in order. Truth was, she was so consumed with secret irrational fears that terrifed her--she feared she was going " crazy " --that her repetitive habits were a way to her mind at ease. But it took a while before she'd admit to having these deeply disturbing thoughts and fears--in other words, your son may have similar fears inside his head that he's afraid to tell you. The good news is, after a year of therapy, Maddie understands that her condition is a neurological one that many others suffer from as well. She is now very open about it with all her friends and would really like to connect with other kids with OCD. So, if at any point Dan would like to speak with a girl his age, please let me know and I'll pass on her email. She also just joined this: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ocdsupportforteens. Hope this helps. Knowing I'm not alone as a parent of a child with OCD certainly has helped me! ________________________________ To: Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 5:15 PM Subject: Re: Our son Dan  Hi Charlie, ! Welcome! I actually thought of the TV show Monk when I read your son touches lamp posts. You ever watch that show there? Monk is walking down the street touching the posts and other things. Since you seem to have some waiting time before your first appointment with a therapist for Dan, I would advise reading about OCD and its treatment - the therapy and medications. Therapy can be done without medication, but often children do better with medication too. In case they suggest medication, at least you will have an idea about it if you read prior to beginning treatment. Here's one link I found (tho you may have already been reading up on all this), and this site also covers therapy and a lot of info about OCD: http://www.ocduk.org/medication Books - for you and for Dan. There are some great books for parents and many for children of different ages too. At this OCD website that I occasionally read at in their forum, they have a list. One book title caught my eye: Touch and Go Joe. http://www.stuckinadoorway.org/index.php?page=ukbooks (I always liked their name - my son would get stuck in our bathroom doorway!) Some other titles that many suggest: Talking Back to OCD, by March Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, by Tamar Chansky What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck, by Dawn Huebner And this article " A Touching Story " was also the closest information I could find to what my son was doing. His OCD had him doing things because he said he felt something bad would happen to him if he didn't, and he also needed a " just right " feeling. He had a problem with touching things, only he would get stuck touching and not be able to stop until " whatever " was completed, which I guess was a " just right " feeling: http://www.wsps.info/index.php?option=com_content & view=article & id=83:a-touching-\ story-touching-and-movement-compulsions & catid=36:ocd-and-related-subjects-by-fre\ derick-penzel-phd & Itemid=64 You can use the above article where they talk about picking some easier behaviors on the " hierarchy " to work on. We did all this on our own (couldn't find a therapist) and so would pick 1 or 2 things to try working on. My suggestion is to skip the bedtime one, as we do like our children to finally go to bed! Actually, bedtime issues just seem to generally be one of the stronger needs, harder to work on. Just some quick thoughts. Do let us know how things are going and will be interested when you finally get that appointment! (North Carolina) single mom, 3 sons 22, OCD, dysgraphia, Aspergers graduated college August 2011 OCD started age 11.5 > > Hello all, >  > We're new to this group and live in Nottingham in the UK. >  > We have a 12 year old son who has just been diagnosed with OCD. On the spectrum of the condition and what some of you seem to be enduring it sounds relatively mild although it has become quite debilitating and upsetting for Dan and us. >  > Dan feels compelled to touch random objects in the house and on his walk to school (doors, lamp-posts etc) and also feels compelled to pick up litter/random items he finds on the floor. He has also become obsessive about arranging things in an orderly manner before he goes to bed. >  > This all came on very suddenly over Xmas although Dan has always been quite anxious. He's been referred to a specialist to begin some CBT therapy although we're told this could take a few weeks to set-up. >  > Does anyone have a child that has displayed similar behaviours and can anyone recommend any coping strategies for Dan while we're waiting for his CBT sessions to be arranged? >  > Thanks and regards >  > Charlie & > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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