New to all this and looking for support and encouragement.

[Guest guest]

Our daughter is about to start getting therapy. She hasn't been " officially "

diagnosed with OCD but we are about 100% sure that's what it is.

She has the classic symptoms like constant hand washing and the inability to

give direct answers to questions without " taking stuff back " or just looking at

you like she has no answer.

Today I saw a glass of water sitting beside her on a table without a coaster

under it. I asked her if it was her glass of water and it turned into a minute

long discussion. She couldn't tell me it was her glass of water. She told me

that she got a glass and put ice and water in it but she could not say, " Yes,

that's my water " .

We are just beginning our journey with this. Obviously it can be so frustrating

as a parent because it makes no sense to us and it's not supposed to. Only

someone with OCD can truly understand what it's like. I know that and that

certainly helps me. I have become more patient in recent weeks but sometimes

it's just tough.

What do some of you do in situations like the example I just gave? I am so

worried about my girl and her ability to just hold a normal conversation. She

also can't hardly say anything without saying " I take that back " right away,

even if she repeats the same phrase she just took back. She has trouble giving

her opinion on stuff too. For instance, she can say that a movie she watched was

good but she can't tell you if she liked it or not.

I know some of these things probably aren't new to anyone here but I really

would just love to know there are others who have dealt with or are dealing with

the exact same type of thing. I know that therapy is going to help all of us but

I just really want another form of support for this. I feel so helpless and it

hurts my heart so much when I actually have to fight the urge to ask her a

simple question because I know it may not be so simple for her. I'm feeling very

sad today.

Our daughter is 14 now. To be honest we saw signs of this years ago. Even when

she was about 6 years old she would often wash her hands throughout a day. That

time it didn't go on very long. We even mentioned back then, " Our daughter might

be borderline OCD " . The hand washing went away for years and she spent some time

obsessing over her room. She wouldn't even let friends in her room because she

didn't want it messed up.

That didn't last a long time either and from about 9-13 things were normal from

what we could tell. I then retired from the military after 20 years of service

and we moved from MD to SC. Since we moved to SC her symptoms have ramped up

incredibly. Constant hand washing. So much it's affecting her skin and making it

dry and cracked sometimes. And what used to be a simple question a few years ago

is no longer that. Sometimes she can barely hold a conversation. She likes to

" take that back " and she says " for right now " constantly.

Ex. " Can I have a snack for right now? " ; " Can I take a shower for right now? " ;

" I love you.....I take that back....I love you. "

She also has to say " Goodnight, love you, sweet dreams " to us multiple times

every night. Then sometimes she will come back in the room after and say

something like " Does sweet dreams mean sweet dreams or something else? "

She was sad that I was leaving the Navy since it's all she knew up to that time.

I'm wondering if that wasn't a huge trigger for her? I know we will probably

learn more about this as we go. Things are just so confusing right now.

The one great thing that my wife and I understand though is that our daughter

ALWAYS has communicated with us. She has never tried to hide her rituals or

anything so that is a good thing and we are constantly reassuring her that this

is a common thing and she's not alone. She also knows she's about to start

treatment but I think she's struggling with if she wants to get better or not.

Is this a common thing with some in the beginning? It's almost like she's scared

of the potential of NOT having to wash her hands constantly. Thanks for your

reply!