Re: OCD and PMS

October 21, 2011

Just want to say thAt there is something called premenstrual dysphoria and it

can wreck havoc on a family. I know because I have suffered from this most of

my life. it is more a mood thing than purely OCD although anxiety (and however

you cope with it) is part of the dysphoria. Hormones can absolutely help

....especially when you're younger and lack coping skills. From personal

experience I have the cleaning urge at that time of month. I cope by kind of

staying away from most of the family and occupying myself with some kind of

organizing or cleaning project. It's not a perfect fit, but I accomplish

something good at home (cleaning and sorting) while I wait to feel calmer.

Another helpful thing might be to increase the dose of SSRI's during that time.

Hormones in general are difficult for both boys and girls....it kind of

proscribes a waiting period or at least some consideration. Adulthood should

make it better.

Best wishes,

Bonnie

>

> This is a question for parents with daughters with OCD. My daughter's OCD

seems cyclical and we seem to end up in a locked psych ward a few days before

she is in her period because she gets dangerously depressed and anxious, and her

intrusive thoughts take control of her mind. Has anyone else experienced this?

I have talked to her pediatrician (she's 14) about putting her on birth control

pills to normalize her hormones. If you have any experience with this, please

let me know!

>

> Judy Hawkinson

> judyhawkinson@...

>

> cell:

>

October 22, 2011

Gosh Karmalita, I would wonder if it's the medication. If she just started it

last month, probably not on a high dose yet, but do you think you can cut back a

little on it, see if there is a positive change? Any new behaviors that start

after medication begun, I would first suspect the med. Not all meds would

affect her the same, so you might ask the doctor about switching.

Whew, you've had your hands full in so short a time! Hang in there,

>

>>

> I am not sure if it is the sertraline that is making her do reckless things or

the hormones or the OCD itself. She lied to us about going to the movies on

Saturday. 2 hours later we got a call from the cops of her being in a park with

a guy having sex(her first time) and more so when she got home she told us she

smoked a joint (her first time). You can imagine our shock of learning all of

this. She did not cry, showed no remorse, nor offered any apologies.

>

> When I went to say goodnight to her later on Saturday, I found her in her

closet cutting her wrist...she said she was upset with herself because she could

not feel anything despite knowing what she did was wrong. How do one deal with

this? I have a 13 year old son and a 15 year old daughter who is witnessing all

of this and trying to figure out what is wrong with their sissy!!!

October 22, 2011

Karmalita,

I'm probably jumping to too many conclusions by connecting these dots, but...

Bipolar disorder often has a big anxiety component. OCD is a form of anxiety.

SSRI medications (such as sertraline), if given without a mood-stabilizing

medication, can cause a person with bipolar disorder to shift into manic

behavior. Manic behavior often involves risk-taking and sexual activity. The

person can feel both depressed and agitated at the same time. They are not

themselves. Bipolar is not a wonderful condition to have, but if she has it,

then it's best to know because it will allow more helpful medication

combinations to be tried (and help to avoid the unhelpful ones).

My son has bipolar with anxiety and OCD. The bipolar is, thankfully,

well-controlled now. He takes sertraline along with mood-stabilizing

medication. There is still OCD remaining, but he continues to make good

progress with a psychologist who specializes in CBT/ERP.

I would definitely recommend getting hold of the doctor who prescribed the

sertraline ASAP and tell him/her about your daughter's drastic and dangerous

behavior changes. You might even need to take her to an emergency room for her

safety.

I hope this episode resolves quickly, without any further danger. I'm worried

for her. Hang in there.

> Gosh Karmalita, I would wonder if it's the medication. If she just started it

last month, probably not on a high dose yet, but do you think you can cut back a

little on it, see if there is a positive change? Any new behaviors that start

after medication begun, I would first suspect the med. Not all meds would affect

her the same, so you might ask the doctor about switching.

>

> Whew, you've had your hands full in so short a time! Hang in there,

>

> >

> >>

> > I am not sure if it is the sertraline that is making her do reckless things

or the hormones or the OCD itself. She lied to us about going to the movies on

Saturday. 2 hours later we got a call from the cops of her being in a park with

a guy having sex(her first time) and more so when she got home she told us she

smoked a joint (her first time). You can imagine our shock of learning all of

this. She did not cry, showed no remorse, nor offered any apologies.

> >

> > When I went to say goodnight to her later on Saturday, I found her in her

closet cutting her wrist...she said she was upset with herself because she could

not feel anything despite knowing what she did was wrong. How do one deal with

this? I have a 13 year old son and a 15 year old daughter who is witnessing all

of this and trying to figure out what is wrong with their sissy!!!

>

October 22, 2011

, thanks for pointing out that bipolar possibility and meds/mood

stabilizer, so true! And there are the occasions that bipolar is triggered by

starting an SSRI if there's a history in the family (and maybe even when not).

Glad your son is doing well overall and well on his medications!

>

> Karmalita,

>

> I'm probably jumping to too many conclusions by connecting these dots, but...

>

> Bipolar disorder often has a big anxiety component. OCD is a form of anxiety.

SSRI medications (such as sertraline), if given without a mood-stabilizing

medication, can cause a person with bipolar disorder to shift into manic

behavior. Manic behavior often involves risk-taking and sexual activity. The

person can feel both depressed

October 24, 2011

It seems to me there is way more going on here than OCD and PMS imo. I am sorry,

but do you really think this is her " first time? " I remember being that age and

what I would tell my parents...and what I was actually doing...I would get

together with her psychiatrist to come up with a game plan.

Is this the first time she cut her wrist? Does she normally cut? Has she been

behaving odd since being on the medicine? Is there a family history of bi-polar

disorder?

This sounds serious enough to get her re-evaluated and make sure she's on the

right medicine, etc... Her behavior is a whole other deal. She should also know

that since she has OCD, she should refrain from street drugs or she can make her

OCD worse! My daughter and I both have OCD and it is definitely more symptomatic

closer to our monthly cycles. Hormones do seem to affect it in our case anyway.

If she was my daughter, I'd want to pick apart and find out what was going on

and if your psychiatrist doesn't address the situation to your satisfaction,

find one who will.

I wish you and your family the best as you get through this difficult time.

~~

To:

From: karmalitasingh@...

Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2011 09:41:11 -0700

Subject: OCD and PMS

Judy, I have a 16 year old who was diagnosed with OCD last month and started on

sertraline. She is up and down with the meds and it got worse close to her

period. I saw our pediatrician and we got a script for birth control pills to

help with the regulation of her period and hormones.

I am not sure if it is the sertraline that is making her do reckless things or

the hormones or the OCD itself. She lied to us about going to the movies on

Saturday. 2 hours later we got a call from the cops of her being in a park with

a guy having sex(her first time) and more so when she got home she told us she

smoked a joint (her first time). You can imagine our shock of learning all of

this. She did not cry, showed no remorse, nor offered any apologies.

When I went to say goodnight to her later on Saturday, I found her in her closet

cutting her wrist...she said she was upset with herself because she could not

feel anything despite knowing what she did was wrong. How do one deal with this?

I have a 13 year old son and a 15 year old daughter who is witnessing all of

this and trying to figure out what is wrong with their sissy!!!

October 24, 2011

I agree. This definitely sounds like a teen who is crying out for help, and she

sounds like she needs to be evaluated for other issues beyond OCD. How is her

psychiatrist explaining this behavior?

OCD and PMS