Re: Re: Obsessive Behavior-long - sorry but I could not shorten...

[Guest guest]

Lindsey also has OCD and tics. its horrible. But so does her brother who

is not RSS. He is 12 years old. 5'5 and 142 pounds! I really believe all

the med's have caused his tic disorder though. He's been on at least 20

different med's for behavior. Lindsey been dx with tourettes syndrome. I have

such

a fear of medicine now,but I do believe she needs to be back on medicine..

Jennie

In a message dated 9/18/2005 2:37:32 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

magicrss@... writes:

I really think we are on to something here regarding behavior and

OCD and anxiety. Max was the same way. It has taken years of

medication, psychologist visits and patience to help him through it

all. His anxiety and OCD-like tendencies caused many

hospitalizations - one even leading to a picc line and TPN for 2

months. He would get so worried and obsess so much about things

that he would not be able to eat or to keep food down. It was just

awful.

I'm sorry to say that this went on for at least 12 years, partly

because in the beginning we tried just meds and not psycho-therapy.

I guess we were in denial, but also faced with so many other medical

complications with Max that we could not stand going to another

professional for help. I was always in NYC with some doctor or

another - and then working and trying to keep my job at some point.

We were fortunate to find an excellent psychologist that Max has

been seeing for about 7 years now. She communicates with the

psychiatrist when necessary and speaks to Max's other doctors if she

feels it is appropriate - especially the GI doctor. There is a big

association between the gut and the mind. Max likes her, we like

her and we've all worked together to help him out.

As I think I have said a few times, so forgive me for repeating

myself, Max is now at the point where he is able to talk about his

fears and anxiety most of the time. For awhile he was able to deal

with them through writing scary stories. He also now watches many

horror movies and reads King novels. The psychologist told

us that the books and movies help Max face his fears and learn to

deal with them in some sort of complicated way that I just can't

repeat to save my soul. He talks to us when he is anxious and has

learned to take charge and responsibility for those times.

A good example is that he started out the school year taking

French. He decided it was not a good fit, went to the guidance

counselor and asked for a change. We did not know that he needed a

note from us that it was okay to drop an academic subject. Max began

to panic and wound up in the nurse's office. She knows how to

handle him, so she had him call me at school to get me to write that

note and fax it over. I did right away. Max went back to the

guidance counselor and the two of them worked it out. He is now

taking a journalism class and LOVING it. He has a call into the

chief of police to set up an interview for the school newspaper.

NEVER would this have happened even a year ago.

Ah, but I stray from my point here.... There are so many of our

RSS/SGA kids who are exhibiting this type of behavior that, again, I

think it is something to bring up and monitor. Our kids seem to be

more at risk for this condition and parents should be aware. I'll

have to remember to ask Jenn Salem about it and see if she can

include something in the guidebook about it.

By the way, it is not unusual for girls to be diagnosed later than

boys. So many times teachers will be more tolerant of girls'

behaviors. They can get away with more by being " cute " and they

tend to take the attitude that it is more of a social thing that

they will outgrow. Most girls are not diagnosed until they are in

4th or 5th grade - or even later. By then a lot of " damage " has

been done and it's harder to remediate.

I will again stray and give an example from my family life. Most of

you know that I have a daughter who is now 20. She went off to

college at 18 and we thought she was okay. She had been diagnosed

ADD in grade 5, but seemed to be in control and ready to go away.

Well, it was a nightmare. We had to remove her from school in the

middle of her sophomore fall semester. She has been home since.

She is working at a fulltime job at our local Y and happier than she

was at school. However, there is more....not only does she have

ADD, she has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It's been a

nightmare as some of you know. (Whew, now it's out in the open.)

But she is on good meds and happier than I have seen her in a long,

long time. A lot of research and reading on my part has revealed

that this condition is often not diagnosed until at least 10 years

of certain behaviors have gone on - again, especially in girls.

Most of the time, they are first diagnosed with ADD, but as they get

older, the bipolar part becomes more evident. People who do not

know about this don't get help for their children until the " child "

is in trouble - more likely in the late 20's to early 30's.

Just remember to listen to your inner self. If you think something

is not right, then it isn't. I always listen to my students'

parents. I tell them the same thing. The earlier these kids are

diagnosed with whatever condition they may have, the better off they

will be. We've been through hell with both kids now, but we are

reaping the rewards of our efforts. Life in the Zwain household is

never dull and boring. I could use some dullness around here.

Jodi Z