Re: Compulsive ripping and picking

[Guest guest]

Jillian, this does sound difficult. My daughter(not OCD) used to do this when

she was 2-3. She had sensory issues and went to an OT (didn't walk til 20 mo.,

tactile/vest. sensitivity, auditoy processing). We did the brushing program,did

lots of weightbearing (prorpioceptive) activities,vestib.(swings), oral motor

(crunchy,sucking). She is now Ok other than ADHD and some anxiety (23 yrs). If

your son gets OT at school, the OT can try out dif. fidgets to see which ones

work so you don't break the bank trying to find the right one. Getting community

OT is an option. Don't know about your insurance but ours won't cover Sensory

Integrative therapy but you may be able to get therapy through another means,

developmental delay if your son is delayed in some area. I know what you mean

about not being aware. It is like they are in a trance. That part is similar to

my son with the OCD. If you can't get the OT, try to have him do alot of

weightbearing through his hands and activities like playdough,clay modeling. My

daughter didn't like sports but did like swimming and climbing walls and still

loves ceramics. You may enlist his help for jobs like tearing up mail and

encourage him to keep his tearing for this functional job. Just some ideas..

> >

> > Anyone have a fidget toy or therapy that can alleviate this destructive

compulsion in an 8-yr-old?

> >

> > His lip is bleeding, but he won't stop.

> > Napkins turn into confetti, and the tips of any paper he gets his hands on

get picked off.

> > Today he ripped and picked of pieces of my mouse pad.

> > He seems unaware he is even doing these things.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

This is not totally new. The lip picking was most extreme whem he was 4.

Almost every picture and video at that age shows him doing it.

What IS new is that he is doing it to everything his hand touch. The napkins I

don't mind him destroying, but school papers that need to be turned in and other

people's property are an issue.

As far as diagnosis, he is a tricky one. He's gotten OCD, SPD, and Dyspraxia so

far. We are trying to get to the bottom of his troubles, but it seems like a

diagnosis is going to change depending on who I take him to. Almost like I have

to pick one. Very frustrating because it is difficult to get insurance to cover

his therapies.

I like the idea of having him rip mail, and I have been giving him bubble wrap

to pop with his fingers. Thanks guys.

> >

> > Anyone have a fidget toy or therapy that can alleviate this destructive

compulsion in an 8-yr-old?

> >

> > His lip is bleeding, but he won't stop.

> > Napkins turn into confetti, and the tips of any paper he gets his hands on

get picked off.

> > Today he ripped and picked of pieces of my mouse pad.

> > He seems unaware he is even doing these things.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

The skin picking is referred to as a " Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs)

.. " You can read more about this at http://trich.org/about/skin-picking.html

Probably most often, this is done when anxious or stressed. My 16 yo da

sometimes does this. A question is what is purpose of all the tearing?

You can find providers trained and experienced w. BFRBs at

trich.org/treatment/treatment-provider.html

Dawn Huebner has a good book on changing bad habits, that might be helpful.

Keeping his hands busy with things like fiddlers can be helpful. Moving his

hands down away from face & papers for about a minute (habit reversal).

The diagnosis if BFRBs is Impulse Control Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified DSM

IV 312.30 This should be covered for qualified mental help providers.

There is a study underway studying the use of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) with kids.

It has been shown to be helpful to many adults w. BRFBs. I've seen adults

report a decreased urge to pull. I've worked with kids who compulsively pull

their hair (trichotillomania), but none have used NAC.

Hope this helps, some.

Best wishes,

Mike , PhD

> > >

> > > Anyone have a fidget toy or therapy that can alleviate this destructive

compulsion in an 8-yr-old?

> > >

> > > His lip is bleeding, but he won't stop.

> > > Napkins turn into confetti, and the tips of any paper he gets his hands on

get picked off.

> > > Today he ripped and picked of pieces of my mouse pad.

> > > He seems unaware he is even doing these things.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

You can try other sensory things too like chewing gum or doing heavy work such

as helping you carry bags, laundry, vaccuuming, ect....The sensory input he gets

from picking and riping can be satisfied with other sensory input ideas...

Bonnie

> > >

> > > Anyone have a fidget toy or therapy that can alleviate this destructive

compulsion in an 8-yr-old?

> > >

> > > His lip is bleeding, but he won't stop.

> > > Napkins turn into confetti, and the tips of any paper he gets his hands on

get picked off.

> > > Today he ripped and picked of pieces of my mouse pad.

> > > He seems unaware he is even doing these things.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

This is a good site

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processing-disorder-checklist\

..html

Bonnie

> > > >

> > > > Anyone have a fidget toy or therapy that can alleviate this destructive

compulsion in an 8-yr-old?

> > > >

> > > > His lip is bleeding, but he won't stop.

> > > > Napkins turn into confetti, and the tips of any paper he gets his hands

on get picked off.

> > > > Today he ripped and picked of pieces of my mouse pad.

> > > > He seems unaware he is even doing these things.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My 10 year old son has similar issues except instead of picking at his lip, he

chews everything. Especially if it's wood or metal. Picture the bottom of his

pencil box filled with wads of what looked like used chewing gum only to find

out that it was the metal that holds the erasure to the pencil!

Anyway, we found that in addition to taking Luvox, he does much better when

chewing gum. For the other fidgets he has an Irish worry stone in his pocket and

a beaded friendship bracelet where he can safely twist the beads. Just make sure

that the rope on the bracelet is sturdy.

Good luck!

Sent from my NOOK

[Guest guest]

I have not found one thing that helps.  My dd is 10 yo and always has something

she is doing,a long those lines.  It comes and goes what she is doing, but she

is always doing something.

Sharon

________________________________

To:

Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 8:26 PM

Subject: Compulsive ripping and picking

 

Anyone have a fidget toy or therapy that can alleviate this destructive

compulsion in an 8-yr-old?

His lip is bleeding, but he won't stop.

Napkins turn into confetti, and the tips of any paper he gets his hands on get

picked off.

Today he ripped and picked of pieces of my mouse pad.

He seems unaware he is even doing these things.

[Guest guest]

I have not found one thing that helps.  My dd is 10 yo and always has something

she is doing,a long those lines.  It comes and goes what she is doing, but she

is always doing something.

Sharon

________________________________

To:

Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 8:26 PM

Subject: Compulsive ripping and picking

 

Anyone have a fidget toy or therapy that can alleviate this destructive

compulsion in an 8-yr-old?

His lip is bleeding, but he won't stop.

Napkins turn into confetti, and the tips of any paper he gets his hands on get

picked off.

Today he ripped and picked of pieces of my mouse pad.

He seems unaware he is even doing these things.

[Guest guest]

My dd is destructive when her anxiety is high. She shreds paper, will pick a

stress ball to pieces, dig nails into the wood furniture you name it. She was

given a " bendeez sticks " from her doctor at . It is stiff but bendable. It

takes a lot to break the inside wire. She has broken much of one stick so it is

becoming a little floppy. The second stick she, well, her OCD wants her to keep

" perfect " so I just ordered half a dozen off of Amazon. They are cheap and might

be something to try. Best Wishes.