Guest guest Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 Hi , can only offer my thoughts. I think some is OCD. But also depending on his history (social life, school, personality - shyness, esteem, not an outgoing personality/social...) it could be some things are things he just takes some comfort from or a way to cope with overwhelming emotions, a bit of depression, etc. The " tics " each night he does in the same order? I'm not a Tourette's expert, so is that possible? makes me think OCD. Words he doesn't want to hear - that's where I think it can be OCD but maybe a little bit of coping ways too. The praying in the bathroom - aww, hate he is asking for his tics to improve, sounds like he has a ritual down for it, but also an area that may be some OCD but a way to cope with everything. He may well just be praying to get better, but OCD " grabbed hold " and is having him do it a certain way, if that makes sense, with that and some of the other things. My 22 year old has the scrupulosity type of OCD, so praying is part of that for him (worries about going to hell, sinning, has bad thoughts, including about God, Jesus, pop into his head, may curse (silently) and he knows he shouldn't...). Hopefully at 's they will be able to " pick " this stuff out of him, what is what. I do think OCD is in there, just might not be (or it may be) connected to all that is going on. Just some quick thoughts. Had some depression, down on myself, years myself growing up. And a bit of OCD but nothing ever got/stayed out of control for me as it does with our kids. > > Hi all, > > My son (15.5) has fairly severe Tourette's, which came into " full bloom " about a year and a half ago. Prior to that time, he had a mild eye-blinking tic, which was easily misdiagnosed as allergies, eye issues, etc. He never really exhibited the " typical " OCD rituals (i.e. hand-washing, counting, etc.). > > About 5 years ago (age 10) he went through a period of about 6 months or so where he thought he had every disease in the book and would freak out about it. He'd see a commercial on TV for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 Hi , can only offer my thoughts. I think some is OCD. But also depending on his history (social life, school, personality - shyness, esteem, not an outgoing personality/social...) it could be some things are things he just takes some comfort from or a way to cope with overwhelming emotions, a bit of depression, etc. The " tics " each night he does in the same order? I'm not a Tourette's expert, so is that possible? makes me think OCD. Words he doesn't want to hear - that's where I think it can be OCD but maybe a little bit of coping ways too. The praying in the bathroom - aww, hate he is asking for his tics to improve, sounds like he has a ritual down for it, but also an area that may be some OCD but a way to cope with everything. He may well just be praying to get better, but OCD " grabbed hold " and is having him do it a certain way, if that makes sense, with that and some of the other things. My 22 year old has the scrupulosity type of OCD, so praying is part of that for him (worries about going to hell, sinning, has bad thoughts, including about God, Jesus, pop into his head, may curse (silently) and he knows he shouldn't...). Hopefully at 's they will be able to " pick " this stuff out of him, what is what. I do think OCD is in there, just might not be (or it may be) connected to all that is going on. Just some quick thoughts. Had some depression, down on myself, years myself growing up. And a bit of OCD but nothing ever got/stayed out of control for me as it does with our kids. > > Hi all, > > My son (15.5) has fairly severe Tourette's, which came into " full bloom " about a year and a half ago. Prior to that time, he had a mild eye-blinking tic, which was easily misdiagnosed as allergies, eye issues, etc. He never really exhibited the " typical " OCD rituals (i.e. hand-washing, counting, etc.). > > About 5 years ago (age 10) he went through a period of about 6 months or so where he thought he had every disease in the book and would freak out about it. He'd see a commercial on TV for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 This article on Tourettic OCD helped me yesterday. Sounds like it's not an official diagnosis, but it made sense to me: http://focus.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=52419 > > Hi all, > > My son (15.5) has fairly severe Tourette's, which came into " full bloom " about a year and a half ago. Prior to that time, he had a mild eye-blinking tic, which was easily misdiagnosed as allergies, eye issues, etc. He never really exhibited the " typical " OCD rituals (i.e. hand-washing, counting, etc.). > > About 5 years ago (age 10) he went through a period of about 6 months or so where he thought he had every disease in the book and would freak out about it. He'd see a commercial on TV for Mesothelioma (or whatever) and be convinced he had it. Starting at age 2 he used to be obsessed by thinking that when anyone laughed they were laughing at him and would go into hysterics over it. That lasted for several years, and faded as time went on. > > Presently, this is the list of things that are going on that I'm not sure would technically be classified as OCD?? > > • Bedtime - every night he will tic a lot (screeching and motor tic), then slap his butt several times, knock on wooden bed frame, laugh, then make muted sounds for about an hour or more before falling a sleep. He does seem to do it in a specific order, but not necessarily the same # of times each night. > > • Goes to the bathroom, brushes his teeth, and eats meals in the dark, refuses to do so with lights on. > > • Doesn't want you to say certain words (positive or negative) and will put his fingers in his ears - " NY, CA, LA " (too exciting); " Whole Foods Market " (too exciting) " school " (stressful). We're supposed to say " the place " instead of school. He explained that his school (small private school) reminds him more of camp, which is less stressful, so he doesn't want to hear " school " because it causes him stress and tics. > > • Will sometimes sit in the bathroom (on the toilet) for an hour or more in the dark, with the door open. Says he's just " resting " because of his tics. > > • Recently (past week) started a new possible " tic, " however I think it's a combo tic/OCD. Kisses back of hand, looks up to sky, mouths something, then taps his chest twice, repeats this over and over several times, however not a specific number of times. I asked him if it's a tic or OCD and he says he thinks it's both. I finally pulled it out of him that he's " saying a prayer " for his tics to improve. Sometimes he'll do this " routine " 10-15 times in a row, and he does it throughout the day and night, usually in conjunction with his tic outbursts. > > • Doesn't want to take showers/baths or brush teeth because it causes him to tic. > > • This was the scariest thing......this week he told me that he was out side looking at the sun a few times and it made his vision blurry. He knows you're not supposed to look directly at the sun. He then told me he thinks it's a tic!!!! I told him he has to stop that immediately. > > At school, and in public, he presents himself as a perfectly " normal " functioning kid and even has the ability to suppress his tics, however doing so is extremely stressful and debilitating for him. He has gotten to the point where he has zero social life, doesn't want to go anywhere because it causes him stress (and tic outbursts), and is perfectly happy to just sit in his little cocoon at home watching Ellen clips on YouTube on his iPad. The worst part is he doesn't see anything wrong with living like this and really has no motivation or desire to get rid of his tics (which are horrible!!) or to become a normally functioning teenager. > > There's no question he has major anxiety disorder, but I wonder about the OCD part and just how much it does or doesn't have a hold on him. From what I understand, a lot of OCD can be obsessing about things that may not materialize in outwardly obvious behaviors or rituals. > > Would love your feedback. He's currently on the wait list for 's memorial, recommended by his current psychiatrist and also a partial hospitalization program he was in for 3 weeks, however it was not an OCD/anxiety program. > > Thanks! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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