Guest guest Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Hmm, Steph. I understand about everything you wrote, however you mention that 80% will have significant improvement. I think I would want to know if my child might be one of the 80% which you will only know if she tries it, especially since she has suffered so long. I think if she entered an inpatient treatment facility like we had talked about before for OCD/anxiety they would push her to do ERP, along with many other therapies they are doing at the same time. They would start first with the things which cause her the least anxiety and build from there. I hope whatever she tries brings her improvement. Stormy ________________________________ To: Sent: Mon, July 11, 2011 12:26:38 PM Subject: Re: A Short Update BJ and Dot, Thanks for your responses! My daughter has suffered really ugly intrusive thoughts for most of her life (few compulsions). I think the therapist feels that making her focus on these thoughts for a long period of time, without relief, would be much too difficult. And she has said some clients just can't do ERP -- it's too hard. Anyway, I'll talk to her about it further in a few weeks, once she gets to know dd a little better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Hmm, Steph. I understand about everything you wrote, however you mention that 80% will have significant improvement. I think I would want to know if my child might be one of the 80% which you will only know if she tries it, especially since she has suffered so long. I think if she entered an inpatient treatment facility like we had talked about before for OCD/anxiety they would push her to do ERP, along with many other therapies they are doing at the same time. They would start first with the things which cause her the least anxiety and build from there. I hope whatever she tries brings her improvement. Stormy ________________________________ To: Sent: Mon, July 11, 2011 12:26:38 PM Subject: Re: A Short Update BJ and Dot, Thanks for your responses! My daughter has suffered really ugly intrusive thoughts for most of her life (few compulsions). I think the therapist feels that making her focus on these thoughts for a long period of time, without relief, would be much too difficult. And she has said some clients just can't do ERP -- it's too hard. Anyway, I'll talk to her about it further in a few weeks, once she gets to know dd a little better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Thank you for this, Steph. My son is going tomorrow for his sixth session with his new psychologist, who is definitely focusing on the OCD and using CBT, but no ERP yet, because my son " is such a complicated case. His OCD is far from straightforward, he thinks in such multidimensional layers that it is going to take a long time to parcel it all out. " (sigh) I know it is so frustrating--I have been trying to encourage my son to begin simple, low hierarchy exposures on his own, but he is resistant. He says, " Mom, just because I know it is OCD making me want to do this (say a mental mantra, make lists, bounce a basketball for hours, just to name a few), that doesn't do anything to allay my anxiety--knowing it's OCD doesn't mean I can just stop. "  I am trying to be patient with the therapist, with him. His depression is better, but his OCD seems worse. He says it's because it is at the forefront of his mind, with doctor visits and books about OCD and (I think) too much free time. He is being tutored in Algebra, going to the Y and Scouts and some visits with friends, and I am teaching him household chores,  but he finds lots of time for his compulsions. He was at Scout camp for a week, no access to a computer or basketball, and he just exploded with pent-up compulsions after his return home. Got up in the middle of the night to spend 7 hours of listing time on the computer (and going to his forums and things, too--he sounds much like your daughter in his interest in writing fiction, among other things). My husband and I were just sick about it, that the OCD could have him in its grip so long. This info is encouraging that just CBT alone can be helpful, but I do believe the ERP has to be the most helpful. Trying to imagine my son's anxiety when asked not to do his mental mantra of reassurance ( " I won't die today, no one I love will die today " , and on and on), I imagined myself needing to do ERP to get over my fear of centipedes. When I first thought of it, imagining holding a centipede for an hour as my highest exposure, it completely made me recoil--but I found myself thinking about it occasionally. Then, last wk, I came home from a friend's, my house empty because all away at camp, and a huge centipede is on my kitchen wall! I didn't like it, but I killed it, and I know it was much easier because of the " exposure " I had inadvertently given myself. It was really remarkable, because centipedes just freak me out. Or apparently, they used to.  You seem like you are working so hard on helping your daughter in every imaginable way you can. You ROCK, Steph--as does every loving, worrying, exhausted parent on here.... To: Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 1:26 PM Subject: Re: A Short Update  BJ and Dot, Thanks for your responses! My daughter has suffered really ugly intrusive thoughts for most of her life (few compulsions). I think the therapist feels that making her focus on these thoughts for a long period of time, without relief, would be much too difficult. And she has said some clients just can't do ERP -- it's too hard. Anyway, I'll talk to her about it further in a few weeks, once she gets to know dd a little better. I googled " Exposure Response Prevention isn't for everybody " :-D to see what I'd get. Again, I confirmed that ERP is the only proven psychological treatment for OCD (one of the few proven psychological treatments, period). On the other hand, I also found this: Approximately 80% of individuals with OCD will experience significant symptom improvement with exposure/response prevention treatment and treatment gains can be maintained over many years ... > > That sounds reasonable. I would probably go ahead and ask the dr. why she wasn't planning to use ERP, 'cause it would bug me too much not to ask. As you say, that's the recommended treatment. > > Good luck and I hope this therapist does turn out to be a good one for you. > Dot > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > However, the counselor told me that after meeting my daughter she's pretty sure she won't go the ERP route, though there are other cognitive therapies that can help. We didn't delve deeply into this, as we didn't have much time. > > > > > Steph (17 y/o dd with OCD, anxiety/depression, Asperger's & NVLD) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Thank you for this, Steph. My son is going tomorrow for his sixth session with his new psychologist, who is definitely focusing on the OCD and using CBT, but no ERP yet, because my son " is such a complicated case. His OCD is far from straightforward, he thinks in such multidimensional layers that it is going to take a long time to parcel it all out. " (sigh) I know it is so frustrating--I have been trying to encourage my son to begin simple, low hierarchy exposures on his own, but he is resistant. He says, " Mom, just because I know it is OCD making me want to do this (say a mental mantra, make lists, bounce a basketball for hours, just to name a few), that doesn't do anything to allay my anxiety--knowing it's OCD doesn't mean I can just stop. "  I am trying to be patient with the therapist, with him. His depression is better, but his OCD seems worse. He says it's because it is at the forefront of his mind, with doctor visits and books about OCD and (I think) too much free time. He is being tutored in Algebra, going to the Y and Scouts and some visits with friends, and I am teaching him household chores,  but he finds lots of time for his compulsions. He was at Scout camp for a week, no access to a computer or basketball, and he just exploded with pent-up compulsions after his return home. Got up in the middle of the night to spend 7 hours of listing time on the computer (and going to his forums and things, too--he sounds much like your daughter in his interest in writing fiction, among other things). My husband and I were just sick about it, that the OCD could have him in its grip so long. This info is encouraging that just CBT alone can be helpful, but I do believe the ERP has to be the most helpful. Trying to imagine my son's anxiety when asked not to do his mental mantra of reassurance ( " I won't die today, no one I love will die today " , and on and on), I imagined myself needing to do ERP to get over my fear of centipedes. When I first thought of it, imagining holding a centipede for an hour as my highest exposure, it completely made me recoil--but I found myself thinking about it occasionally. Then, last wk, I came home from a friend's, my house empty because all away at camp, and a huge centipede is on my kitchen wall! I didn't like it, but I killed it, and I know it was much easier because of the " exposure " I had inadvertently given myself. It was really remarkable, because centipedes just freak me out. Or apparently, they used to.  You seem like you are working so hard on helping your daughter in every imaginable way you can. You ROCK, Steph--as does every loving, worrying, exhausted parent on here.... To: Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 1:26 PM Subject: Re: A Short Update  BJ and Dot, Thanks for your responses! My daughter has suffered really ugly intrusive thoughts for most of her life (few compulsions). I think the therapist feels that making her focus on these thoughts for a long period of time, without relief, would be much too difficult. And she has said some clients just can't do ERP -- it's too hard. Anyway, I'll talk to her about it further in a few weeks, once she gets to know dd a little better. I googled " Exposure Response Prevention isn't for everybody " :-D to see what I'd get. Again, I confirmed that ERP is the only proven psychological treatment for OCD (one of the few proven psychological treatments, period). On the other hand, I also found this: Approximately 80% of individuals with OCD will experience significant symptom improvement with exposure/response prevention treatment and treatment gains can be maintained over many years ... > > That sounds reasonable. I would probably go ahead and ask the dr. why she wasn't planning to use ERP, 'cause it would bug me too much not to ask. As you say, that's the recommended treatment. > > Good luck and I hope this therapist does turn out to be a good one for you. > Dot > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > However, the counselor told me that after meeting my daughter she's pretty sure she won't go the ERP route, though there are other cognitive therapies that can help. We didn't delve deeply into this, as we didn't have much time. > > > > > Steph (17 y/o dd with OCD, anxiety/depression, Asperger's & NVLD) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 My dd is 10, just finished 3rd grade. She has anxiety and OCD. It is usually MUCH better in the summer, being home and not having school. But this summer has been the most difficult and I have been wondering why. Reading your comment about too much free time makes sense. I think that is her problem right now. Her mind doesn't have school to focus on, so it is able to let the OCD thoughts in. Hmmmm, guess I need to get her more busy and see if that helps!  I also wanted to comment on your centipede experience.   I used to be EXTREMELY terrified of mice. Horribly. I cannot convey how scared I was. During the fall and winter a few years ago, we had mice. I was ready to move! One day I was home and saw a mouse. I knew if I didn't do something about it right then, the mouse would still be loose in the house and cause even more distress to me later. So I killed it. I had been walking around the house carrying a broom at all times (yes, really, for this very reason, in case I saw a mouse). I hit it over and over with the broom. I immediately called dh at work and told him what I had done. I was out of breath and shaking, but felt SO POWERFUL. *I* took the power from my fear. After that, I have gotten a couple more, on my own (I still cannot remove them, though). I no longer dread fall and winter because of the chance of mice. I KNOW that, if we have them (luckily we havent), I will be ok and I can handle it. The feeling is amazing.  Sharon   To: " " < > Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 12:22 AM Subject: Re: Re: A Short Update  Thank you for this, Steph. My son is going tomorrow for his sixth session with his new psychologist, who is definitely focusing on the OCD and using CBT, but no ERP yet, because my son " is such a complicated case. His OCD is far from straightforward, he thinks in such multidimensional layers that it is going to take a long time to parcel it all out. " (sigh) I know it is so frustrating--I have been trying to encourage my son to begin simple, low hierarchy exposures on his own, but he is resistant. He says, " Mom, just because I know it is OCD making me want to do this (say a mental mantra, make lists, bounce a basketball for hours, just to name a few), that doesn't do anything to allay my anxiety--knowing it's OCD doesn't mean I can just stop. "  I am trying to be patient with the therapist, with him. His depression is better, but his OCD seems worse. He says it's because it is at the forefront of his mind, with doctor visits and books about OCD and (I think) too much free time. He is being tutored in Algebra, going to the Y and Scouts and some visits with friends, and I am teaching him household chores,  but he finds lots of time for his compulsions. He was at Scout camp for a week, no access to a computer or basketball, and he just exploded with pent-up compulsions after his return home. Got up in the middle of the night to spend 7 hours of listing time on the computer (and going to his forums and things, too--he sounds much like your daughter in his interest in writing fiction, among other things). My husband and I were just sick about it, that the OCD could have him in its grip so long. This info is encouraging that just CBT alone can be helpful, but I do believe the ERP has to be the most helpful. Trying to imagine my son's anxiety when asked not to do his mental mantra of reassurance ( " I won't die today, no one I love will die today " , and on and on), I imagined myself needing to do ERP to get over my fear of centipedes. When I first thought of it, imagining holding a centipede for an hour as my highest exposure, it completely made me recoil--but I found myself thinking about it occasionally. Then, last wk, I came home from a friend's, my house empty because all away at camp, and a huge centipede is on my kitchen wall! I didn't like it, but I killed it, and I know it was much easier because of the " exposure " I had inadvertently given myself. It was really remarkable, because centipedes just freak me out. Or apparently, they used to.  You seem like you are working so hard on helping your daughter in every imaginable way you can. You ROCK, Steph--as does every loving, worrying, exhausted parent on here.... To: Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 1:26 PM Subject: Re: A Short Update  BJ and Dot, Thanks for your responses! My daughter has suffered really ugly intrusive thoughts for most of her life (few compulsions). I think the therapist feels that making her focus on these thoughts for a long period of time, without relief, would be much too difficult. And she has said some clients just can't do ERP -- it's too hard. Anyway, I'll talk to her about it further in a few weeks, once she gets to know dd a little better. I googled " Exposure Response Prevention isn't for everybody " :-D to see what I'd get. Again, I confirmed that ERP is the only proven psychological treatment for OCD (one of the few proven psychological treatments, period). On the other hand, I also found this: Approximately 80% of individuals with OCD will experience significant symptom improvement with exposure/response prevention treatment and treatment gains can be maintained over many years ... > > That sounds reasonable. I would probably go ahead and ask the dr. why she wasn't planning to use ERP, 'cause it would bug me too much not to ask. As you say, that's the recommended treatment. > > Good luck and I hope this therapist does turn out to be a good one for you. > Dot > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > However, the counselor told me that after meeting my daughter she's pretty sure she won't go the ERP route, though there are other cognitive therapies that can help. We didn't delve deeply into this, as we didn't have much time. > > > > > Steph (17 y/o dd with OCD, anxiety/depression, Asperger's & NVLD) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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