update on our family

[Guest guest]

Rhonda- I haven't given an update.  This summer almost the day school let out

our 8 year old had a huge resurgence of OCD rituals.  I was really blindsided

because usually coming home for the summer is a relief for him.  So we can give

loads of credit to the school and his teachers that he was so happy and

successful. 

 

In hindsight, I think I way underscheduled him for the summer.  Every special

needs kid his age we know is participating in some sort of summer camp.  I am

learning that the schedule, routine, and engagment in interesting activities can

absorb tons of energy in a helpful way.  Never true before for my son, but this

is now a real need.  It is a little hard to add this stuff in now since we

didn't plan ahead for it but we have been finding half day programs one week at

a time.  That is helpful beyond belief for family balance, for me and for his

younger brother.  And he seems much more in control of himself as well.

 

We were advised to consider meds and made the appointment.  My husband was

really uncomfortable but the struggle was obvious.  After a helpful counseling

session, we decided to put my son in several weeks of camp and hold off of meds

until the fall.  (reasoning: he fell apart without a schedule, add in a schedule

to see what happens).  So we canceled the drs appt.  I will say that the half

day of morning activity has helped us tip back far enough into stability that I

am not feeling so overwhelmed.  His last lie down on the floor tantrum/tears was

a week ago and until then the tantrums were about once a day. 

 

I think we have hit the bottom of the valley and are trending back up (I

hope!!!).  This round of OCD chaos was over 4 weeks. If it went on for 8 weeks I

am fairly certain both my son and I would be on medication.  That is just not

survivable long term.

 

Here is a question for the group if you have any thoughts:  the social worker he

has had for 2 years is great.  But he claimed he could not do any ERP without

meds, since my son would not cooperate.  We are finding that we CAN do the ERP,

it just takes load of effort and convincing and rewarding.  Do I try to make a

case to bring him into our plan to fight without meds, or look for a new guy? 

(I think he would go along with us and hate restarting, but it feels

uncomfortable to not follow his advise...)

 

Tara