New to group

[Guest guest]

welcome to the group. i hope you find it as helpful as we have. please

feel free to ask for any help you need.

eric abbys dad

**************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car

listings at AOL Autos.

(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)

[Guest guest]

welcome to the group. i hope you find it as helpful as we have. please

feel free to ask for any help you need.

eric abbys dad

**************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car

listings at AOL Autos.

(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)

[Guest guest]

HI

I am Tony, married to Dan live in the south east of England and have two

daughters the eldest of which Grace has just been diagnosed with autism.

Hope to get to know others form the list

Tony

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/22/08 8:55:43 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

micohen@... writes:

I am a mother of a 16 year old girl with the

diagnosis of Autism, Bipolar, Anxiety Disorder and Seizures.

our 11 year old also has issues with anxiety disorder and seizures. we have

her on a suplement called de stress it helps a lot. takes the edge off.

hope you find the help you need. hang in there. how verbal is she? can she

read well. there are some books to help. we got one called 'stress can

really get on your nerves' this one helped our abby.

eric abbys dad

ps we are in michigan

**************Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for

fuel-efficient used cars.

(http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)

[Guest guest]

Hi all!

I wanted to introduce myself. I am a mother of a 16 year old girl with the

diagnosis of Autism, Bipolar, Anxiety Disorder and Seizures.

I am striving for her to be as independent as possible and I want her to

learn forever and get a job one day.

I home school my daughter and have done so for the last 6 years. She is

doing great but her monthly homones changes are a real challenge. I am

looking for anyone that has had great success in teaching how to cope

through the changes since she refuses to work and and she sleeps so much

the week before.

I can't believe it took me this long to find a girl group! I am so glad to

find others that may have lived it and is living it.

[Guest guest]

Thanks ! Whew, I wasn't sure he would finish in time, what with some

of the close calls on a couple class grades! Sigh, now it's job time, not

looking forward to this but excited that maybe he'll find something that fits

him well. He hasn't started looking yet, but has to SOON, starts paying student

loan back in November.

> >

> >

> >

> > single mom, 3 sons

> > , 22, OCD, dysgraphia, Aspergers

> > just finished up at UNC-Chapel Hill!!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks ! Whew, I wasn't sure he would finish in time, what with some

of the close calls on a couple class grades! Sigh, now it's job time, not

looking forward to this but excited that maybe he'll find something that fits

him well. He hasn't started looking yet, but has to SOON, starts paying student

loan back in November.

> >

> >

> >

> > single mom, 3 sons

> > , 22, OCD, dysgraphia, Aspergers

> > just finished up at UNC-Chapel Hill!!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks ! Whew, I wasn't sure he would finish in time, what with some

of the close calls on a couple class grades! Sigh, now it's job time, not

looking forward to this but excited that maybe he'll find something that fits

him well. He hasn't started looking yet, but has to SOON, starts paying student

loan back in November.

> >

> >

> >

> > single mom, 3 sons

> > , 22, OCD, dysgraphia, Aspergers

> > just finished up at UNC-Chapel Hill!!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My daughter has no side effects of note, except a bit of constipation that

doesn't trouble her and her pulse is quickened but that doesn't trouble her

either. I had weight gain from it. I consider it a miracle drug because I had

really severe, debilitating OCD, and it gave me my life back. Then when my

daughter was in 4th grade, it was clear that she wasn't getting much help from

the SSRI's so the psychiatrist and I decided it was worth it for her to try

Anafranil since it was so helpful for me, and it was a miracle for her.

new to group

Hi,

I have a 12yr old daughter diagnosed 1yr ago with OCD. We did ERT/CBT

for 7 months which worked for handwashing and other things like repeating

and checking but her anxiety while she was in school (worried I wouldn't get

her from school) continued so we decided to try meds. Prozac was used for 3

1/2 months which caused her to cry and be depressed so we are now doing

Zoloft. We aren't really seeing any improvement yet. She is still worried

about hair dye getting on her and continues to ask if silverware/dishes are

clean. She now doesn't believe she has OCD and will not use anything to do

with technology. She won't use phones,computers,watch TV,doesn't want to go

in car,won't eat food from fridge now because that is technology. Is this

OCD? Our therapist pretty much tells us she can't do much for us anymore and

psychiatrist doesn't know what this delusion is. I feel like we are not

getting much help or guidance. I'm sorry to make this so long but felt I

needed to give the jist of what's going on. I would appreciate ANY kind of

input as we feel so lost as to what we do.

[Guest guest]

My daughter has no side effects of note, except a bit of constipation that

doesn't trouble her and her pulse is quickened but that doesn't trouble her

either. I had weight gain from it. I consider it a miracle drug because I had

really severe, debilitating OCD, and it gave me my life back. Then when my

daughter was in 4th grade, it was clear that she wasn't getting much help from

the SSRI's so the psychiatrist and I decided it was worth it for her to try

Anafranil since it was so helpful for me, and it was a miracle for her.

new to group

Hi,

I have a 12yr old daughter diagnosed 1yr ago with OCD. We did ERT/CBT

for 7 months which worked for handwashing and other things like repeating

and checking but her anxiety while she was in school (worried I wouldn't get

her from school) continued so we decided to try meds. Prozac was used for 3

1/2 months which caused her to cry and be depressed so we are now doing

Zoloft. We aren't really seeing any improvement yet. She is still worried

about hair dye getting on her and continues to ask if silverware/dishes are

clean. She now doesn't believe she has OCD and will not use anything to do

with technology. She won't use phones,computers,watch TV,doesn't want to go

in car,won't eat food from fridge now because that is technology. Is this

OCD? Our therapist pretty much tells us she can't do much for us anymore and

psychiatrist doesn't know what this delusion is. I feel like we are not

getting much help or guidance. I'm sorry to make this so long but felt I

needed to give the jist of what's going on. I would appreciate ANY kind of

input as we feel so lost as to what we do.

[Guest guest]

My son is now 15 but was dx at age 3. We have had about 5 years of his life that

were impossible, heartbreaking and exhausting. However he is doing well now so

there is light somewhere in the tunnel. I don't have a young child with it now,

but I do know exactly what you are going through and wish you strength

throughout the tough times. Keep on going with the CBT/ ERP. Keep an open mind

about meds if the CBT is too hard to engage with without them ( our son was

recommended to start at age 3 but we held out until age 8 when he stopped eating

due to his rituals/ fears)

[Guest guest]

My son is now 15 but was dx at age 3. We have had about 5 years of his life that

were impossible, heartbreaking and exhausting. However he is doing well now so

there is light somewhere in the tunnel. I don't have a young child with it now,

but I do know exactly what you are going through and wish you strength

throughout the tough times. Keep on going with the CBT/ ERP. Keep an open mind

about meds if the CBT is too hard to engage with without them ( our son was

recommended to start at age 3 but we held out until age 8 when he stopped eating

due to his rituals/ fears)

[Guest guest]

My son is now 15 but was dx at age 3. We have had about 5 years of his life that

were impossible, heartbreaking and exhausting. However he is doing well now so

there is light somewhere in the tunnel. I don't have a young child with it now,

but I do know exactly what you are going through and wish you strength

throughout the tough times. Keep on going with the CBT/ ERP. Keep an open mind

about meds if the CBT is too hard to engage with without them ( our son was

recommended to start at age 3 but we held out until age 8 when he stopped eating

due to his rituals/ fears)

[Guest guest]

Oh yes.  My dd is 10 and was dx at 4.  We have done CBT/ERP only, never any

meds.  She has had times where her OCD/anxiety were almost non-existant and

times where it was so bad she was in the ER.  But no meds.  I do realize one

day she will probably need meds, but we would prefer not to use them if we can

control it without meds.  She has done biofeedback and loves it and that has

helped, as well.  We do a lot of visual imagiry and that works well for her,

too.  Right now she is doing very well.  If her mind can be focused on

something else, that helps - such as right now she is on crutches and has a full

leg knee brace from a knee injury while ice skating.  Not that I want her to be

hurt, but right now the OCD is under control because she is so focused on this.

Sharon

________________________________

To: " " < >

Cc: " " < >

Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 10:22 AM

Subject: Re: Re: New to Group

 

Has anyone found success with just cbt and no medication ?any positive thoughts

or breakthroughs to share that can give us all hope?

Sent from my iPhone

> Welcome!! I'm glad you joined. You have many years of experience in dealing

with OCD.

>

> Sent from my iPad

>

> On Dec 17, 2011, at 11:12 AM, " Trabulsy, "

wrote:

>

> > My son is now 15 but was dx at age 3. We have had about 5 years of his life

that were impossible, heartbreaking and exhausting. However he is doing well now

so there is light somewhere in the tunnel. I don't have a young child with it

now, but I do know exactly what you are going through and wish you strength

throughout the tough times. Keep on going with the CBT/ ERP. Keep an open mind

about meds if the CBT is too hard to engage with without them ( our son was

recommended to start at age 3 but we held out until age 8 when he stopped eating

due to his rituals/ fears)

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

My son is six and is high functioning autistic with

Anxiety disorder and OCD. His OCD has worsened

Because he also has p.a.nd.a.s. we r seeing

So many different specialists for this but my question is

OCD meds normally given actually make the pandas

Worse. Does anybody on this list have children

With pandas and if so what kind of meds if any

Seem to help? Thank you, debbie

[Guest guest]

Hi and welcome- My understanding is that normal OCD meds do not make PANDAS

worse, but don't treat the underlying problem which is usually treated with

antibiotics long term or IV IG (a blood product antibody given intravenously).

 There are many people on the list with kids with PANDAS and a lot more

expertise on this than me, and I am sure they will chime in.  There is also a

whole section in the FILES about PANDAS, and I would also recommend the

" lattitudes "  group which I think is all about PANDAS. You can do all the same

stuff for regular OCD( meds, CBT/ERP) but may not actually need to if the

underlying cause is removed.  I hope that clarifies

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbie, so do you mean he is on an SSRI and getting worse? With PANDAS (or

even non-PANDAS), you start with the lowest dose that is effective with an SSRI.

Although if this is the only SSRI he has tried, another one may work better;

many times a child has to trial the different OCD meds to find the *one* that

works best for them, first one, second one, may not work well.

We only have tried Celexa with my son (23, OCD, dysgraphia, HFA/Aspergers) and

it worked well for him. Even PANDAS kids can take an SSRI, but generally you

try to treat the PANDAS too, if not first.

If he is also on some meds to treat PANDAS? Some children on long-term

antibiotics can have reactions (including behavior) to them...can't recall a

term for it, but due to the digestive changes. ...OK, googled and found an

article on what I mean:

http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/what-is-yeast-overgrowth/

And I'm curious -- is the autism worse too or just the OCD? What type OCD

behaviors does he have, more the obsessive and/or ritual kind that can go along

with autism?

single mom, 3 sons

>

> My son is six and is high functioning autistic with

> Anxiety disorder and OCD. His OCD has worsened

> Because he also has p.a.nd.a.s. we r seeing

> So many different specialists for this but my question is

> OCD meds normally given actually make the pandas

> Worse. Does anybody on this list have children

> With pandas and if so what kind of meds if any

> Seem to help? Thank you, debbie

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbie, so do you mean he is on an SSRI and getting worse? With PANDAS (or

even non-PANDAS), you start with the lowest dose that is effective with an SSRI.

Although if this is the only SSRI he has tried, another one may work better;

many times a child has to trial the different OCD meds to find the *one* that

works best for them, first one, second one, may not work well.

We only have tried Celexa with my son (23, OCD, dysgraphia, HFA/Aspergers) and

it worked well for him. Even PANDAS kids can take an SSRI, but generally you

try to treat the PANDAS too, if not first.

If he is also on some meds to treat PANDAS? Some children on long-term

antibiotics can have reactions (including behavior) to them...can't recall a

term for it, but due to the digestive changes. ...OK, googled and found an

article on what I mean:

http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/what-is-yeast-overgrowth/

And I'm curious -- is the autism worse too or just the OCD? What type OCD

behaviors does he have, more the obsessive and/or ritual kind that can go along

with autism?

single mom, 3 sons

>

> My son is six and is high functioning autistic with

> Anxiety disorder and OCD. His OCD has worsened

> Because he also has p.a.nd.a.s. we r seeing

> So many different specialists for this but my question is

> OCD meds normally given actually make the pandas

> Worse. Does anybody on this list have children

> With pandas and if so what kind of meds if any

> Seem to help? Thank you, debbie

>

[Guest guest]

Trudy, I am sorry you are dealing with this. It can be wearing on everyone. We

have been doing the therapy but it has been a struggle getting Roy to do the

structured CBT stuff. Talked to the pdoc yesterday and he is recommending Roy

follow the manual-OCD in children and adolescent: CBT manual by March.

I looked it up online and looks like geared toward therapist but parents can

read too. Has worksheets to copy off. Doesn't want Roy switching therapist b/c

he said important that there is a rapport developed with the therapist in order

to do the CBT work. Has seen kids go thru intensive programs, come back and try

to do with new therapist. Since rapport is not developed, the kids have

difficult time with trust and doing the CBT work.

Roy won't read books either and neither will my other son with BP. The BP son

will read blogs written by people with BP. Your daughter may be more interested

in that or online teen group (on this site). Also look at triggers that may be

increasing her anxiety and see if you can manage those. Many things come

together to create the perfect OCD storm, I find. Hope this helps.

in WI-55

Roy-17. OCD, anxiety, depression,ADD. Prozac, Busbar, Adderall.

>

> Hi,

>

> I'm new to this list and new to OCD as well. My daughter is 12 and was

diagnosed last summer. Her symptoms don't seem as severe as those I've read on

this list so far, however they continue to impact our

[Guest guest]

Welcome- I would say it is time to search for a new therapist if the one you

have now does not do ERP. And yes, cutting back on the reassurance seeking is a

form of ERP that you can start at home. ( YOu can go back and search my

endless posts on ERP ) but briefly, your daughter needs someone to explain to

her that she has OCD and it is playing tricks on her and creating problems for

her and you. You need to tell her that there will be many rewards for fighting

it and then set up a reward system ( small daily rewards for doing therapy then

bigger ones as she kicls one compulsion after another or at the end of a

successful month of engaging with therapy etc.) She thatne needs to rank the

" need " to get an answer ( ie is it more important to hear an answer to what time

she is being picked up or to agree that the puppy is cute) and pick the one that

is the least important to HER to start working on. You and your daughter could

agree on how many times a day she is allowed to ask the same question and get an

answer and then when she asks the question, say " YOu are only allowed x times…do

you really want this to be one of those x times? " If she says yes, give her the

answer. When you reach the x time, if she asks again, tell her she has exceeded

her number and you are not going to answer. Then over weeks lower how many

times she is allowed to ask. Then move on to the next hardest scenario.

[Guest guest]

Welcome- I would say it is time to search for a new therapist if the one you

have now does not do ERP. And yes, cutting back on the reassurance seeking is a

form of ERP that you can start at home. ( YOu can go back and search my

endless posts on ERP ) but briefly, your daughter needs someone to explain to

her that she has OCD and it is playing tricks on her and creating problems for

her and you. You need to tell her that there will be many rewards for fighting

it and then set up a reward system ( small daily rewards for doing therapy then

bigger ones as she kicls one compulsion after another or at the end of a

successful month of engaging with therapy etc.) She thatne needs to rank the

" need " to get an answer ( ie is it more important to hear an answer to what time

she is being picked up or to agree that the puppy is cute) and pick the one that

is the least important to HER to start working on. You and your daughter could

agree on how many times a day she is allowed to ask the same question and get an

answer and then when she asks the question, say " YOu are only allowed x times…do

you really want this to be one of those x times? " If she says yes, give her the

answer. When you reach the x time, if she asks again, tell her she has exceeded

her number and you are not going to answer. Then over weeks lower how many

times she is allowed to ask. Then move on to the next hardest scenario.

[Guest guest]

Hi Trudy, welcome! It may seem her symptoms, or behaviors, aren't as severe,

but severity is generally based on how much time a day it takes up, how

disruptive they are and so on. And those questions sure can be annoying and

exhausting to others, especially if they have to get the " right " answer to some!

My son, now 23, had his OCD begin in 6th grade. He's never wanted to read about

OCD either. So he had to listen to ME talk about it (explain what it is, talk

about how it is worked on and stuff). Tho he probably tuned me out a lot.

As others may have said, you can work on this in different ways. Limit the

number of questions each day (or hour). Or tell her you will only answer X

times to each one; or only answer to X of them each day. Or you won't answer

any between 4pm and 7pm.... Maybe there's some scenario or hour that you will

purposefully give her the " wrong " answer.... Have her try waiting 1 minute or 5

min before asking (so maybe at some point she doesn't feel the need to ask it!)

If there weren't certain scenarios where she needs to ask " in the moment " , I'd

suggest she could write them down to ask later, but may not work with her need

to have an answer " then. " If she knows that " this " is the Plan, then she will

be expecting the way you will respond.

Just some quick thoughts. When was young, he asked me a lot of

" reassurance " questions repeatedly. Had never heard that term until he got OCD

later. But I know how annoying/exhausting it can be having the same question

asked X times in an hour. He didn't do this all day, or daily, but knowing how

impatient I got then, I can imagine how it must be with OCD having them do this

so frequently daily!

>

> Hi,

>

> I'm new to this list and new to OCD as well. My daughter is 12 and was

diagnosed last summer. Her symptoms don't seem as severe as those I've read on

this list so far, however they continue to impact our family in a big way. We

have tried two different psychiatrists who each did the therapy part as well,

yet I'm not sure at this point the therapy is the appropriate type. No one has

explained OCD to her.

[Guest guest]

Hi Trudy, welcome! It may seem her symptoms, or behaviors, aren't as severe,

but severity is generally based on how much time a day it takes up, how

disruptive they are and so on. And those questions sure can be annoying and

exhausting to others, especially if they have to get the " right " answer to some!

My son, now 23, had his OCD begin in 6th grade. He's never wanted to read about

OCD either. So he had to listen to ME talk about it (explain what it is, talk

about how it is worked on and stuff). Tho he probably tuned me out a lot.

As others may have said, you can work on this in different ways. Limit the

number of questions each day (or hour). Or tell her you will only answer X

times to each one; or only answer to X of them each day. Or you won't answer

any between 4pm and 7pm.... Maybe there's some scenario or hour that you will

purposefully give her the " wrong " answer.... Have her try waiting 1 minute or 5

min before asking (so maybe at some point she doesn't feel the need to ask it!)

If there weren't certain scenarios where she needs to ask " in the moment " , I'd

suggest she could write them down to ask later, but may not work with her need

to have an answer " then. " If she knows that " this " is the Plan, then she will

be expecting the way you will respond.

Just some quick thoughts. When was young, he asked me a lot of

" reassurance " questions repeatedly. Had never heard that term until he got OCD

later. But I know how annoying/exhausting it can be having the same question

asked X times in an hour. He didn't do this all day, or daily, but knowing how

impatient I got then, I can imagine how it must be with OCD having them do this

so frequently daily!

>

> Hi,

>

> I'm new to this list and new to OCD as well. My daughter is 12 and was

diagnosed last summer. Her symptoms don't seem as severe as those I've read on

this list so far, however they continue to impact our family in a big way. We

have tried two different psychiatrists who each did the therapy part as well,

yet I'm not sure at this point the therapy is the appropriate type. No one has

explained OCD to her.

[Guest guest]

I went through the same thing with a therapist with my son. It drove me crazy

that he was playing games with my son when my son was a very verbal intelligent

boy who needed to actively address his anxiety through ERP, not wasting time

with the games. We switched to a therapist who explained OCD to my son and went

about making a list of his fears and started attacking them one by one with him

through ERP. Both my kids have OCD, and they went to different therapists

because therapists felt it wouldn't be right to treat both twins, and each of

their therapists had them name the OCD so they had something to refer to as they

fought against their OCD bully. I know it seems like your daughter is just

trying to control you, which she is, but it isn't because she is enjoying having

you wrapped around her finger, but that if you don't do what she has you do, she

experiences terrible anxiety. Thus, she isn't doing it for the joy of having

you do what she wants you to do, but rather because your not doing it would make

her feel so uncomfortable. That said, it doesn't mean you should give into her.

The most important thing is for her to understand what OCD is and that her

needing to have you answer her questions just so is due to her OCD. Having an

OCD therapist is important because the therapist will know the right way to do

ERP, but also because then she will see that the hard work is coming from her

therapist and her deciding what to work on together, rather than it being

imposed from you and thus may make her angry with you.

Help is out there and your lives can get so much better. Hang in there!

new to group

Hi,

I'm new to this list and new to OCD as well. My daughter is 12 and was

diagnosed last summer. Her symptoms don't seem as severe as those I've read on

this list so far, however they continue to impact our family in a big way. We

have tried two different psychiatrists who each did the therapy part as well,

yet I'm not sure at this point the therapy is the appropriate type. No one has

explained OCD to her. They will ask me and my husband what bothers us most and

try to set guidelines for her to wean off doing that behavior, and it works to a

point but over al, her OCD seems to be getting worse. She may be able to stop a

certain behavior but she adds new ones on too. She has been taking 125 mg

sertraline / day but there is just a very minor difference.

I don't yet know enough about OCD to use proper terminology, but this is what I

see happening. Her compulsion is to ask us questions repeatedly. This usually

happens at times of separation from us, such as school drop off, bed time, when

either she or I leave the house. Even though she knows the answers, she will ask

a series of questions over and over again. (Time of return, etc.) They are

usually in the same order, and we have to answer a certain way-yes/no, or

sometimes " right " , or she gets upset and starts over. There are times when it is

obvious the anxiety about separation might be the trigger, but other times it

really seems like a control thing, where not getting an answer wouldn't be

upsetting, such as " Isn't the expression on our puppy's face cute? " and she will

ask that over repeatedly if she doesn't feel my response was satisfactory for

any reason.

I purchased a few books, they all mention CBT and exposre/RP, and I don't think

our psychiatrist is doing it the way the books describe. He's making us as

parents responsible by having us pick which scenario is too stressful/annoying

for us to answer the questions. He has said he doesn't believe in the exposure

approach but is using it because it seems to be working a bit with her.

I will investigate a new therapist for her.

I have the book, What to do When Your Brain Gets Stuck " My daughter flat out

refuses to read it. And why would she want to anyway?? OCD isn't a problem for

her because the whole family meets her needs by answering her endless

questions. So the doctor plays games (Guess Who...) at each appointment, doesn't

require her to address her OCD, and she won't talk about it with us so I feel a

bit lost in what direction to take next. I've thought about quitting my part in

her rituals, and then maybe she will feel uncomfortable enough to want to

address this on her own. She has to want to do it herself.

I know many of you have it much worse so I won't complain other than to say it

does get very frustrating for us in the moment. And of course we worry about her

and if this will increase in the future.

Any input would be appreciated. I just need to understand this a bit better.

Thanks,

Trudy

[Guest guest]

I went through the same thing with a therapist with my son. It drove me crazy

that he was playing games with my son when my son was a very verbal intelligent

boy who needed to actively address his anxiety through ERP, not wasting time

with the games. We switched to a therapist who explained OCD to my son and went

about making a list of his fears and started attacking them one by one with him

through ERP. Both my kids have OCD, and they went to different therapists

because therapists felt it wouldn't be right to treat both twins, and each of

their therapists had them name the OCD so they had something to refer to as they

fought against their OCD bully. I know it seems like your daughter is just

trying to control you, which she is, but it isn't because she is enjoying having

you wrapped around her finger, but that if you don't do what she has you do, she

experiences terrible anxiety. Thus, she isn't doing it for the joy of having

you do what she wants you to do, but rather because your not doing it would make

her feel so uncomfortable. That said, it doesn't mean you should give into her.

The most important thing is for her to understand what OCD is and that her

needing to have you answer her questions just so is due to her OCD. Having an

OCD therapist is important because the therapist will know the right way to do

ERP, but also because then she will see that the hard work is coming from her

therapist and her deciding what to work on together, rather than it being

imposed from you and thus may make her angry with you.

Help is out there and your lives can get so much better. Hang in there!

new to group

Hi,

I'm new to this list and new to OCD as well. My daughter is 12 and was

diagnosed last summer. Her symptoms don't seem as severe as those I've read on

this list so far, however they continue to impact our family in a big way. We

have tried two different psychiatrists who each did the therapy part as well,

yet I'm not sure at this point the therapy is the appropriate type. No one has

explained OCD to her. They will ask me and my husband what bothers us most and

try to set guidelines for her to wean off doing that behavior, and it works to a

point but over al, her OCD seems to be getting worse. She may be able to stop a

certain behavior but she adds new ones on too. She has been taking 125 mg

sertraline / day but there is just a very minor difference.

I don't yet know enough about OCD to use proper terminology, but this is what I

see happening. Her compulsion is to ask us questions repeatedly. This usually

happens at times of separation from us, such as school drop off, bed time, when

either she or I leave the house. Even though she knows the answers, she will ask

a series of questions over and over again. (Time of return, etc.) They are

usually in the same order, and we have to answer a certain way-yes/no, or

sometimes " right " , or she gets upset and starts over. There are times when it is

obvious the anxiety about separation might be the trigger, but other times it

really seems like a control thing, where not getting an answer wouldn't be

upsetting, such as " Isn't the expression on our puppy's face cute? " and she will

ask that over repeatedly if she doesn't feel my response was satisfactory for

any reason.

I purchased a few books, they all mention CBT and exposre/RP, and I don't think

our psychiatrist is doing it the way the books describe. He's making us as

parents responsible by having us pick which scenario is too stressful/annoying

for us to answer the questions. He has said he doesn't believe in the exposure

approach but is using it because it seems to be working a bit with her.

I will investigate a new therapist for her.

I have the book, What to do When Your Brain Gets Stuck " My daughter flat out

refuses to read it. And why would she want to anyway?? OCD isn't a problem for

her because the whole family meets her needs by answering her endless

questions. So the doctor plays games (Guess Who...) at each appointment, doesn't

require her to address her OCD, and she won't talk about it with us so I feel a

bit lost in what direction to take next. I've thought about quitting my part in

her rituals, and then maybe she will feel uncomfortable enough to want to

address this on her own. She has to want to do it herself.

I know many of you have it much worse so I won't complain other than to say it

does get very frustrating for us in the moment. And of course we worry about her

and if this will increase in the future.

Any input would be appreciated. I just need to understand this a bit better.

Thanks,

Trudy