Guest guest Posted March 11, 2012 Report Share Posted March 11, 2012 Hello friends & parents, On a positive note, I just wanted to share our story about our daughter. She is 8 years old and the youngest of 5 children. When she was 7 years old just starting 2nd grade during mid November she was diagnosed with having OCD. It started with issues surrounding using the bathroom and lots and lots of toilet paper. It was when these issues started interfering with our daily routines that we sought treatment. Wiping sessions that used up plenty of toilet paper, showers that took way too long, excessive and very methodical shampooing, etc. that would make for a very stressful morning, running late, and often ending in tantrums & tears. Admittedly a fair share of those tears were mine. We were fortunate to find a very sweet LCSW who kept us very involved in the process and kept the process very positive. Our daughter saw her for once a week for about 12 weeks at which point she was able to skip a week before her last appointment. The CBT seems to have worked on a child whom I was starting not to recognize a few months ago. Heartbreaking is one of the words that aptly described exactly how I felt in the beginning. There is a sense of fear, plenty of anxiety, and loneliness. I think someone told me that if i was feeling all of these things, then just imagine how my 7 year old felt. Completely exhausted and just too much to take. Today we are so proud of our little girl. OCD does not rule her life. She has learned to sometimes accept things as " good enough. " They no longer have to be the old standard of " just right " . She was given an arsenal of tools to use when her OCD would rear its unwelcome head. Here is a little bit of what we learned during those 12 weeks: 1. Externalize the OCD & give it a name recognizing that it was not my daughter choosing to demonstrate these behaviors, but a " hiccup " in her brain 2. Learn new tools to cope: Breathing, awareness, & deep relaxation to help with anxiety. A script to use when OCD did show up: " hi OCD (or whatever name you've chosen.) i know you are just trying to _________________. I am going to ____________________instead until you go away. " 3. She also had my daughter illustrate a story. Just six boxes on a paper really. It depicted a beginning of when OCD showed up in box number one large and in charge. She then had her fill out the last box where my daughter drew herself confident and the OCD being small enough to fit into the palm of her hand. Through a few more weeks of CBT she was able to fill in the rest of the story. I think this really helped us all visualize the whole picture & helped our daughter set her sights on a goal of how she wanted things to be. I am well aware that this may be something she struggles with her whole life, but I am so, so thankful that she is back to being just a kid again without all of the stress & worries. We may have one the battle and not the war, but I just wanted to let you guys who may feeling the same way I felt back in November that there is a light at the end of what can sometimes feel like a very endless tunnel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2012 Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 Thank you so much for the hope. I am in the midst of this OCD bully with my 10 year old son. It is comforting to know that we are not alone.  Warm regards, JJ  ________________________________ To: Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2012 1:56 PM Subject: There is a light  Hello friends & parents, On a positive note, I just wanted to share our story about our daughter. She is 8 years old and the youngest of 5 children. When she was 7 years old just starting 2nd grade during mid November she was diagnosed with having OCD. It started with issues surrounding using the bathroom and lots and lots of toilet paper. It was when these issues started interfering with our daily routines that we sought treatment. Wiping sessions that used up plenty of toilet paper, showers that took way too long, excessive and very methodical shampooing, etc. that would make for a very stressful morning, running late, and often ending in tantrums & tears. Admittedly a fair share of those tears were mine. We were fortunate to find a very sweet LCSW who kept us very involved in the process and kept the process very positive. Our daughter saw her for once a week for about 12 weeks at which point she was able to skip a week before her last appointment. The CBT seems to have worked on a child whom I was starting not to recognize a few months ago. Heartbreaking is one of the words that aptly described exactly how I felt in the beginning. There is a sense of fear, plenty of anxiety, and loneliness. I think someone told me that if i was feeling all of these things, then just imagine how my 7 year old felt. Completely exhausted and just too much to take. Today we are so proud of our little girl. OCD does not rule her life. She has learned to sometimes accept things as " good enough. " They no longer have to be the old standard of " just right " . She was given an arsenal of tools to use when her OCD would rear its unwelcome head. Here is a little bit of what we learned during those 12 weeks: 1. Externalize the OCD & give it a name recognizing that it was not my daughter choosing to demonstrate these behaviors, but a " hiccup " in her brain 2. Learn new tools to cope: Breathing, awareness, & deep relaxation to help with anxiety. A script to use when OCD did show up: " hi OCD (or whatever name you've chosen.) i know you are just trying to _________________. I am going to ____________________instead until you go away. " 3. She also had my daughter illustrate a story. Just six boxes on a paper really. It depicted a beginning of when OCD showed up in box number one large and in charge. She then had her fill out the last box where my daughter drew herself confident and the OCD being small enough to fit into the palm of her hand. Through a few more weeks of CBT she was able to fill in the rest of the story. I think this really helped us all visualize the whole picture & helped our daughter set her sights on a goal of how she wanted things to be. I am well aware that this may be something she struggles with her whole life, but I am so, so thankful that she is back to being just a kid again without all of the stress & worries. We may have one the battle and not the war, but I just wanted to let you guys who may feeling the same way I felt back in November that there is a light at the end of what can sometimes feel like a very endless tunnel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2012 Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 Thank you so much for the hope. I am in the midst of this OCD bully with my 10 year old son. It is comforting to know that we are not alone.  Warm regards, JJ  ________________________________ To: Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2012 1:56 PM Subject: There is a light  Hello friends & parents, On a positive note, I just wanted to share our story about our daughter. She is 8 years old and the youngest of 5 children. When she was 7 years old just starting 2nd grade during mid November she was diagnosed with having OCD. It started with issues surrounding using the bathroom and lots and lots of toilet paper. It was when these issues started interfering with our daily routines that we sought treatment. Wiping sessions that used up plenty of toilet paper, showers that took way too long, excessive and very methodical shampooing, etc. that would make for a very stressful morning, running late, and often ending in tantrums & tears. Admittedly a fair share of those tears were mine. We were fortunate to find a very sweet LCSW who kept us very involved in the process and kept the process very positive. Our daughter saw her for once a week for about 12 weeks at which point she was able to skip a week before her last appointment. The CBT seems to have worked on a child whom I was starting not to recognize a few months ago. Heartbreaking is one of the words that aptly described exactly how I felt in the beginning. There is a sense of fear, plenty of anxiety, and loneliness. I think someone told me that if i was feeling all of these things, then just imagine how my 7 year old felt. Completely exhausted and just too much to take. Today we are so proud of our little girl. OCD does not rule her life. She has learned to sometimes accept things as " good enough. " They no longer have to be the old standard of " just right " . She was given an arsenal of tools to use when her OCD would rear its unwelcome head. Here is a little bit of what we learned during those 12 weeks: 1. Externalize the OCD & give it a name recognizing that it was not my daughter choosing to demonstrate these behaviors, but a " hiccup " in her brain 2. Learn new tools to cope: Breathing, awareness, & deep relaxation to help with anxiety. A script to use when OCD did show up: " hi OCD (or whatever name you've chosen.) i know you are just trying to _________________. I am going to ____________________instead until you go away. " 3. She also had my daughter illustrate a story. Just six boxes on a paper really. It depicted a beginning of when OCD showed up in box number one large and in charge. She then had her fill out the last box where my daughter drew herself confident and the OCD being small enough to fit into the palm of her hand. Through a few more weeks of CBT she was able to fill in the rest of the story. I think this really helped us all visualize the whole picture & helped our daughter set her sights on a goal of how she wanted things to be. I am well aware that this may be something she struggles with her whole life, but I am so, so thankful that she is back to being just a kid again without all of the stress & worries. We may have one the battle and not the war, but I just wanted to let you guys who may feeling the same way I felt back in November that there is a light at the end of what can sometimes feel like a very endless tunnel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2012 Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 Thank you so much for the hope. I am in the midst of this OCD bully with my 10 year old son. It is comforting to know that we are not alone.  Warm regards, JJ  ________________________________ To: Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2012 1:56 PM Subject: There is a light  Hello friends & parents, On a positive note, I just wanted to share our story about our daughter. She is 8 years old and the youngest of 5 children. When she was 7 years old just starting 2nd grade during mid November she was diagnosed with having OCD. It started with issues surrounding using the bathroom and lots and lots of toilet paper. It was when these issues started interfering with our daily routines that we sought treatment. Wiping sessions that used up plenty of toilet paper, showers that took way too long, excessive and very methodical shampooing, etc. that would make for a very stressful morning, running late, and often ending in tantrums & tears. Admittedly a fair share of those tears were mine. We were fortunate to find a very sweet LCSW who kept us very involved in the process and kept the process very positive. Our daughter saw her for once a week for about 12 weeks at which point she was able to skip a week before her last appointment. The CBT seems to have worked on a child whom I was starting not to recognize a few months ago. Heartbreaking is one of the words that aptly described exactly how I felt in the beginning. There is a sense of fear, plenty of anxiety, and loneliness. I think someone told me that if i was feeling all of these things, then just imagine how my 7 year old felt. Completely exhausted and just too much to take. Today we are so proud of our little girl. OCD does not rule her life. She has learned to sometimes accept things as " good enough. " They no longer have to be the old standard of " just right " . She was given an arsenal of tools to use when her OCD would rear its unwelcome head. Here is a little bit of what we learned during those 12 weeks: 1. Externalize the OCD & give it a name recognizing that it was not my daughter choosing to demonstrate these behaviors, but a " hiccup " in her brain 2. Learn new tools to cope: Breathing, awareness, & deep relaxation to help with anxiety. A script to use when OCD did show up: " hi OCD (or whatever name you've chosen.) i know you are just trying to _________________. I am going to ____________________instead until you go away. " 3. She also had my daughter illustrate a story. Just six boxes on a paper really. It depicted a beginning of when OCD showed up in box number one large and in charge. She then had her fill out the last box where my daughter drew herself confident and the OCD being small enough to fit into the palm of her hand. Through a few more weeks of CBT she was able to fill in the rest of the story. I think this really helped us all visualize the whole picture & helped our daughter set her sights on a goal of how she wanted things to be. I am well aware that this may be something she struggles with her whole life, but I am so, so thankful that she is back to being just a kid again without all of the stress & worries. We may have one the battle and not the war, but I just wanted to let you guys who may feeling the same way I felt back in November that there is a light at the end of what can sometimes feel like a very endless tunnel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2012 Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 Wonderful! And thanks for sharing some specifics of the therapy, always helpful to us. So glad she is doing much better (and thus, so are you!). Therapy really CAN work and you found a great therapist. But your daughter still had to work hard, good for her! > > Hello friends & parents, > > On a positive note, I just wanted to share our story about our daughter. She is 8 years old and the youngest of 5 children. When she was 7 years old just starting 2nd grade during mid November she was diagnosed with having OCD. It started with issues surrounding using the bathroom and lots and lots of toilet paper. It was when these issues started interfering with our daily routines that we sought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2012 Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 Wonderful! And thanks for sharing some specifics of the therapy, always helpful to us. So glad she is doing much better (and thus, so are you!). Therapy really CAN work and you found a great therapist. But your daughter still had to work hard, good for her! > > Hello friends & parents, > > On a positive note, I just wanted to share our story about our daughter. She is 8 years old and the youngest of 5 children. When she was 7 years old just starting 2nd grade during mid November she was diagnosed with having OCD. It started with issues surrounding using the bathroom and lots and lots of toilet paper. It was when these issues started interfering with our daily routines that we sought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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