Re: 14 year old by with OCD

[Guest guest]

You may to need to up the Prozac. It may be too low of a dose to control the

anxiety and OCD.

>

> Our son was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago with OCD. It seems like his OCD

increases in severity whenever he moves on to something new. Such as, the start

of school, the start of a new sport season, etc. Usually he improves once he

gains confidence in himself and is comfortable with the new activity. We are in

wrestling now and he is really struggling with OCD and his anxiety.

>

> Under my observation, it seems like his obsessions have to do with constant

reassurance and perfection. His compulsions are being able to have me and his

teachers reassure him. I'm worried that I may be enabling him by always trying

to be there for him. My motherly instinct is to be there to listen and

understand him. But, is this enabling when that is his compulsion? He went to

a summer camp this last summer and was not allowed to call me. His anxiety

peaked to high that he had the obtrusive thoughts of hurting himself again.

>

> He is currently on 10mg of prozac. Where do I start? Am I enabling? Should

we get him treatment in ERP or minimize his exposure to anxiety producing

events?

>

> I'm struggling too - as when his anxiety increases, so does mine.

>

[Guest guest]

I'd recommend therapy. Inbetween the increase (once it settles), how is he

daily with his OCD?

My son (now 22) was on liquid Celexa in high school. I know we changed his

dosing around the first few months, or it may have just been that it was liquid,

but we generally had extra. And I'd increase his dose before things like the

start of school, or even Christmas coming up, etc. Those times I was concerned

his OCD might increase (even happy excitement, e.g., Christmas, could increase

it). Then we'd go back to his regular dose after that (like a couple week after

school had begun).

So even if he's played the sport previous years, he will get all anxious each

season?

Wow, I can imagine his anxiety at camp and not being able to call! Probably if

he knew he *could* call, he may have called some but could have tried not to,

just saying anxiety may have been less knowing he could but shouldn't. Or do

you think he'd have called way too much if given that option?

Anyway, if you have a good therapist for him, I'd vote for some therapy and

exposures. Else you could try some on your own, wouldn't go for the " cold

turkey " type, but maybe letting him know you will only answer 1 or 2

reassurances in XX hours or a day, etc. With , I was more lenient at

times I needed him to be more functional (e.g., in morning before school or in

your case perhaps at sport events) but worked on things at other times.

New activities can make anyone anxious, has he always been that way? Could it

be more social anxiety than OCD?

>

> Our son was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago with OCD. It seems like his OCD

increases in severity whenever he moves on to something new. Such as, the start

of school, the start of a new sport season, etc. Usually he improves once he

gains confidence in himself and is comfortable with the new activity. We are in

wrestling now and he is really struggling with OCD and his anxiety.

>

> Under my observation, it seems like his obsessions have to do with constant

reassurance and perfection. His compulsions are being able to have me and his

teachers reassure him. I'm worried that I may be enabling him by always trying

to be there for him. My motherly instinct is to be there to listen and

understand him. But, is this enabling when that is his compulsion? He went to

a summer camp this last summer and was not allowed to call me. His anxiety

peaked to high that he had the obtrusive thoughts of hurting himself again.

>

> He is currently on 10mg of prozac. Where do I start? Am I enabling? Should

we get him treatment in ERP or minimize his exposure to anxiety producing

events?

>

> I'm struggling too - as when his anxiety increases, so does mine.

>

[Guest guest]

My dd is 10 and her most common obsession is the need for reassurance.  When

she is having a tough time (asking me questions 100+ times a day for

reassurance), I do not answer.  I agree with you, my motherly instincts want to

answer her.  But, that just makes the OCD worse.  When she asks me things, I

tell her she knows the answer - as she usually does.  Sometimes I will answer

ONCE, but no more than that.  It depends on the situation and questions.  My

dd is much like yours, OCD is bad at the start of something new, once she is

comfortable it calms down. 

Sharon

________________________________

To:

Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2011 1:52 PM

Subject: 14 year old by with OCD

 

Our son was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago with OCD. It seems like his OCD increases

in severity whenever he moves on to something new. Such as, the start of

school, the start of a new sport season, etc. Usually he improves once he gains

confidence in himself and is comfortable with the new activity. We are in

wrestling now and he is really struggling with OCD and his anxiety.

Under my observation, it seems like his obsessions have to do with constant

reassurance and perfection. His compulsions are being able to have me and his

teachers reassure him. I'm worried that I may be enabling him by always trying

to be there for him. My motherly instinct is to be there to listen and

understand him. But, is this enabling when that is his compulsion? He went to

a summer camp this last summer and was not allowed to call me. His anxiety

peaked to high that he had the obtrusive thoughts of hurting himself again.

He is currently on 10mg of prozac. Where do I start? Am I enabling? Should we

get him treatment in ERP or minimize his exposure to anxiety producing events?

I'm struggling too - as when his anxiety increases, so does mine.

[Guest guest]

My dd is 10 and her most common obsession is the need for reassurance.  When

she is having a tough time (asking me questions 100+ times a day for

reassurance), I do not answer.  I agree with you, my motherly instincts want to

answer her.  But, that just makes the OCD worse.  When she asks me things, I

tell her she knows the answer - as she usually does.  Sometimes I will answer

ONCE, but no more than that.  It depends on the situation and questions.  My

dd is much like yours, OCD is bad at the start of something new, once she is

comfortable it calms down. 

Sharon

________________________________

To:

Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2011 1:52 PM

Subject: 14 year old by with OCD

 

Our son was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago with OCD. It seems like his OCD increases

in severity whenever he moves on to something new. Such as, the start of

school, the start of a new sport season, etc. Usually he improves once he gains

confidence in himself and is comfortable with the new activity. We are in

wrestling now and he is really struggling with OCD and his anxiety.

Under my observation, it seems like his obsessions have to do with constant

reassurance and perfection. His compulsions are being able to have me and his

teachers reassure him. I'm worried that I may be enabling him by always trying

to be there for him. My motherly instinct is to be there to listen and

understand him. But, is this enabling when that is his compulsion? He went to

a summer camp this last summer and was not allowed to call me. His anxiety

peaked to high that he had the obtrusive thoughts of hurting himself again.

He is currently on 10mg of prozac. Where do I start? Am I enabling? Should we

get him treatment in ERP or minimize his exposure to anxiety producing events?

I'm struggling too - as when his anxiety increases, so does mine.

[Guest guest]

My dd is 10 and her most common obsession is the need for reassurance.  When

she is having a tough time (asking me questions 100+ times a day for

reassurance), I do not answer.  I agree with you, my motherly instincts want to

answer her.  But, that just makes the OCD worse.  When she asks me things, I

tell her she knows the answer - as she usually does.  Sometimes I will answer

ONCE, but no more than that.  It depends on the situation and questions.  My

dd is much like yours, OCD is bad at the start of something new, once she is

comfortable it calms down. 

Sharon

________________________________

To:

Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2011 1:52 PM

Subject: 14 year old by with OCD

 

Our son was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago with OCD. It seems like his OCD increases

in severity whenever he moves on to something new. Such as, the start of

school, the start of a new sport season, etc. Usually he improves once he gains

confidence in himself and is comfortable with the new activity. We are in

wrestling now and he is really struggling with OCD and his anxiety.

Under my observation, it seems like his obsessions have to do with constant

reassurance and perfection. His compulsions are being able to have me and his

teachers reassure him. I'm worried that I may be enabling him by always trying

to be there for him. My motherly instinct is to be there to listen and

understand him. But, is this enabling when that is his compulsion? He went to

a summer camp this last summer and was not allowed to call me. His anxiety

peaked to high that he had the obtrusive thoughts of hurting himself again.

He is currently on 10mg of prozac. Where do I start? Am I enabling? Should we

get him treatment in ERP or minimize his exposure to anxiety producing events?

I'm struggling too - as when his anxiety increases, so does mine.

[Guest guest]

I would recommend CBT - they can guide you both...It makes all the difference. I

also thought the med dosage sounds a bit low...

>

> My dd is 10 and her most common obsession is the need for reassurance.  When

she is having a tough time (asking me questions 100+ times a day for

reassurance), I do not answer.  I agree with you, my motherly instincts want to

answer her.  But, that just makes the OCD worse.  When she asks me things, I

tell her she knows the answer - as she usually does.  Sometimes I will answer

ONCE, but no more than that.  It depends on the situation and questions.  My

dd is much like yours, OCD is bad at the start of something new, once she is

comfortable it calms down. 

>

> Sharon

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To:

> Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2011 1:52 PM

> Subject: 14 year old by with OCD

>

>

>  

> Our son was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago with OCD. It seems like his OCD

increases in severity whenever he moves on to something new. Such as, the start

of school, the start of a new sport season, etc. Usually he improves once he

gains confidence in himself and is comfortable with the new activity. We are in

wrestling now and he is really struggling with OCD and his anxiety.

>

> Under my observation, it seems like his obsessions have to do with constant

reassurance and perfection. His compulsions are being able to have me and his

teachers reassure him. I'm worried that I may be enabling him by always trying

to be there for him. My motherly instinct is to be there to listen and

understand him. But, is this enabling when that is his compulsion? He went to

a summer camp this last summer and was not allowed to call me. His anxiety

peaked to high that he had the obtrusive thoughts of hurting himself again.

>

> He is currently on 10mg of prozac. Where do I start? Am I enabling? Should

we get him treatment in ERP or minimize his exposure to anxiety producing

events?

>

> I'm struggling too - as when his anxiety increases, so does mine.

>

>

>

>

>