Re: Introduction - 3 Year Old with Just So OCD

[Guest guest]

Wonderful news!

Introduction - 3 Year Old with " Just So " OCD

Hello all -

I am have been reading posts for the past several months. Wow - what an amazing

groups of parents!

My daughter is 3.10 years old and has " just so " OCD. It started at about 18

months with rigid clothing requirements. By November of last year, she couldn't

tolerate any clothing at all. Most of her symptoms have been sensory related

(extremely discomfort in car seat, refusal to wipe after peeing because she

couldn't make herself feel dry enough, etc). More recently, she started

exhibiting other symptoms of OCD that are non-sensory related (needing blankets

to be wrinkle free, needing her dolls' arms to be down, and needing things to be

the same as they were - " make it like is was " ). We tried OT last summer --

under the theory that she has " sensory integration disorder " -- and it wasn't

helpful.

As many of you with younger children have experienced, I had a very difficult

time finding a psychologist to work with her (despite living in a major

metropolitan area with a ton of psychologists). So, I contacted Dr.

Storch at USF, and one of his team members - Dr. Rahman - agreed to work

with her. We did a two-week intensive earlier this month. She is now SO much

better. She's wearing dresses consistently (no issues) and underwear a great

deal of the time (though it can still be quite challenging). She is no longer

in agony in the car seat (but still naked ) and she can wipe once after she

pees and walk out of the bathroom with no issues. We still have a lot of work

to do; but she is definitely on the right course.

Dr. Rahman and the postdoc who worked with her (Dr. Sulkowski - he'll be

starting at the University of Arizona in August) were OUTSTANDING. I can't say

enough good things about them - very smart, patient, calm, and supportive.

Despite the lack of an existing road map for addressing these issues in very

young children, they were willing to work with us.

The work that we are continuing to do -- modified ERP (because of her age) with

behavior management -- can be VERY challenging. But, I am so grateful to be on

the right path.

I look forward to posting here.

[Guest guest]

Wonderful news!

Introduction - 3 Year Old with " Just So " OCD

Hello all -

I am have been reading posts for the past several months. Wow - what an amazing

groups of parents!

My daughter is 3.10 years old and has " just so " OCD. It started at about 18

months with rigid clothing requirements. By November of last year, she couldn't

tolerate any clothing at all. Most of her symptoms have been sensory related

(extremely discomfort in car seat, refusal to wipe after peeing because she

couldn't make herself feel dry enough, etc). More recently, she started

exhibiting other symptoms of OCD that are non-sensory related (needing blankets

to be wrinkle free, needing her dolls' arms to be down, and needing things to be

the same as they were - " make it like is was " ). We tried OT last summer --

under the theory that she has " sensory integration disorder " -- and it wasn't

helpful.

As many of you with younger children have experienced, I had a very difficult

time finding a psychologist to work with her (despite living in a major

metropolitan area with a ton of psychologists). So, I contacted Dr.

Storch at USF, and one of his team members - Dr. Rahman - agreed to work

with her. We did a two-week intensive earlier this month. She is now SO much

better. She's wearing dresses consistently (no issues) and underwear a great

deal of the time (though it can still be quite challenging). She is no longer

in agony in the car seat (but still naked ) and she can wipe once after she

pees and walk out of the bathroom with no issues. We still have a lot of work

to do; but she is definitely on the right course.

Dr. Rahman and the postdoc who worked with her (Dr. Sulkowski - he'll be

starting at the University of Arizona in August) were OUTSTANDING. I can't say

enough good things about them - very smart, patient, calm, and supportive.

Despite the lack of an existing road map for addressing these issues in very

young children, they were willing to work with us.

The work that we are continuing to do -- modified ERP (because of her age) with

behavior management -- can be VERY challenging. But, I am so grateful to be on

the right path.

I look forward to posting here.

[Guest guest]

YAY! I am pretty sure I am the person who recommended to you going to intensive

outpatient with super specialists ( I consider Dr Storch one) and again, it

sounds like it is SO worth it. My son was als 3 at the age of dx and we worked

but did not have expert help and it is the ONE THING I regret not doing sooner

in all our years of working with this. There are SO many reasons to do

intensive outpatient to start but I think the most important one is that you

then KNOW what real CBT/ERP looks like and how to do it right. You will NEVER

wast your child's time (not to mention yours) going to suboptimal therapists,

and if you ever cant find help again, you will pick yourself up, fly to wherever

( South Florida for me to see Dr Storch and gang) and enroll in intensive

outpatient. It is a big step to uproot your life, but in the long run so much

less suffering all around. I cant encourage people strongly enough that if you

are having trouble finding a good therapist ( especially with the very young

child- but really ever) go to a specialty center for intensive outpatient.. USF

even has ultrashort (1 and 2 week) studies going on that the therapy is FREE-

but you have to fly there and stay in ronald mcdonald or something ( not to

mention miss work).

Good for you for committing and doing it and good for your daughter too!

[Guest guest]

Oh, wrinkle-free blankets! Takes me back to (not my present OCD son) at

around that age. He and used to each spread out a baby blanket or other

to lie on and watch TV, and would be in hysterics trying to get that

blanket perfectly smooth, no wrinkles; then put a knee on it and " wrinkle " and

cry and smooth again...!

Also went thru a period where I had to do as he would say, in that he would call

me into a room and want me to walk in/where/how he said; like take a few steps

in, turn and take 2 steps to left, etc. And if I messed up (did it " wrong " ) he

wanted me to start all over, crying.... He also had sensory issues.

Luckily for him/me, he got thru the OCD stuff, it passed (yay!). If only it'd

do that for all our kids!

>

> Hello all -

>

> I am have been reading posts for the past several months. Wow - what an

amazing groups of parents!

>

> My daughter is 3.10 years old and has " just so " OCD. It started at about 18

months with rigid clothing requirements. By November of last year, she couldn't

tolerate any clothing at all. Most of her symptoms have been sensory related

(extremely discomfort in car seat, refusal to wipe after peeing because she

couldn't make herself feel