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#1
Dec 07, 2011, 10:29 AM
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We have been trying to work on my little girl's OCD for months now. Nothing seems to be working, and its seemingly worse now than it was when we started her therapy sessions. Over the last two months she has developed a problem with her cups that she drinks out of. She cant drink out of them unless she has a lid to cover it up with. She's afraid that germs or "invisible bugs" will get into it and then get into her body. She has collected the lids from the small butter buckets that we use and they can only be used for her cups. I'm worried about it, because its gotten to the point that shes started asking about "big girl sippy cups" that will keep everything out, and still let the liquid out. I'm begginning to think that her therapist may have a point in thinking that she is on the verge of becoming agoraphobic. I've been researching her condition and have found a few things that may help, but so far nothing has been effective.....maybe it just needs more time?
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 unstablemind8
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#2
Dec 07, 2011, 11:14 AM
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I would discuss your concerns with her therapist:
"OCD can sometimes worsen if it's not treated in a consistent, logical, and supportive manner. So it's important to find a therapist who has training and experience in treating OCD. Just talking about the rituals and fears have not been shown to help OCD, and may actually make it worse by reinforcing the fears and prompting extra rituals. Family support and cooperation also go a long way toward helping a child cope with OCD." From: http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotion...vior/OCD.html#
__________________
"Never give a sword to a man who can't dance." ~Confucius |
 ocd5mom
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#3
Dec 07, 2011, 11:45 AM
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I've been trying to, but I'm concerned I may have to get her a new one because the one she has now is so hard to reach and she rarely has more than a moment to discuss the issues with me and its frustrating, but i figure that persistance is part of the battle and since my baby has no one else to speak and act on her behalf, I'm going to have to be the proverbial bulldog and find a solution if there is one
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#4
Dec 08, 2011, 12:01 PM
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Quote:
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#5
Dec 10, 2011, 01:53 PM
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She is five years old. Its been tough getting to a therapist that she likes and will talk too, but nothing that the current one is trying seems to work...and its frustrating to watch her struggle with this condition and not be able to help her. And it seems to be getting worse...i just wish i knew what to do to help her, beyond what i'm doing now.
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#6
Dec 10, 2011, 04:55 PM
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That's so sad. I'm sorry to hear about that. I got OCD when I was 16 and it is very hard. It was very hard for my dad as well. So I know what you must be going through. What kind of things has the therapist tried? It must be more difficult because she's so young also. I'm really sorry :/
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#7
Dec 11, 2011, 03:43 PM
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She has tried to get "T" (my girl's nickname) to try cutting back on some of the small things that she does and to talk through it if necessary in order to get herself to see that they are illogical, but "T" tells her that each and every one of her compulsions are grounded in a logical base (almost her words verbatum). She has also tried to get her to "act more like a child" because it seems to the therapist that "T"s abnormal maturity level adds to the condition. She talks to me about what the doctor says but then she tells me everything anyway, and most of the time she starts out the week doing really well, but after a couple of days the strain of fighting against herself drives her to breaking and she just goes back to "normal" for her. For example: she can't eat any of her food if it has touched something that it isn't supposed to (i.e: green beans cannot touch corn, etc...), she can't even eat it off the same fork/spoon. She has to have a seperate utensil for each food on her plate and each food item has to be in a seperate compartment on her tray (her plate is sectioned). So, when she eats something like: mashed potatoes, green beans, and grilled chicken (just an example): she has to have a fork for the green beans, a spoon for her potatoes, and a fork and butterknife for the grilled chicken. The doctor suggested that she only use on utensil for her veggies, and one for her meats. This worked for about two days and then "T" just started sobbing over lunch and could not physically force another bite into her mouth. I hate watching her go through this and I don't know what else to do for her.
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#8
Dec 11, 2011, 07:04 PM
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Well don't give up whatever you do. My compulsions pretty much went away except for a few things. When i first started going through it though you literally cannot stop doing the rituals. It seems impossible. I know it's hard. But your little girl is still herself and will continue to grow up wether she has OCD or not. So that's one good way of looking at it. In time in sure it will get better. I do know you can't be forceful about telling her they're illogical. For me when my dad did that it just made me upset. It's tough for you but it's even harder for her. It's a terrible thing. I wouldnt wish anxiety and OCD on anyone.
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#9
Dec 12, 2011, 02:16 PM
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The doctor told us that her OCD is possibly genetic, and I have it but mine is cornered into keeping things organized (my bookcase, my college work, my movies, etc.) and I'm not spastic about it like I used to be, but T has it worse than anyone I know. Its frustrating, but I will never stop trying to help her, and I'm not forceful because the one time I tried she had a panic attack and ended up in the hospital...i never want to go through that again....she has asthma and is on oxygen a lot, so I don't want to push her too hard too fast. I know she wants to get some better because she says she feels like she can't control her life and that her "condition" makes her waste a lot of her time and energy....that makes me sad too, but I'm lost most of the time. I hate trying to explain things to other people, especially in or family, because they don't understand or even try to...they think she is after attention...which makes me mad on her behalf because they won't say it to her face.....
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#10
Dec 12, 2011, 02:45 PM
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I guess it's possible to be genetic. But I'm not sure. I know my mom had a lot of phobias like I do when she was my age. It's so sad though that someone that young has to go through that, I've never heard of that before. I hope she gets better like I said no one deserves that at all :/ I'm really sorry again. But it will work out one way or another I promise that. Something WILL work. It's just a hard road to get there. I just try to keep faith in getting better.
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| ocd5mom
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#11
Dec 12, 2011, 02:48 PM
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You should check out stuckinadoorway.org
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| ocd5mom
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#12
Dec 12, 2011, 06:35 PM
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I've been sending good thoughts into the universe, if that will help then I have some good things coming....for her i hope....
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#13
Dec 12, 2011, 07:06 PM
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My nephew's foods couldn't touch each other either, but I was becoming anxious just hearing how many different things were on her plate at one time! I followed the one-bowl diet for a while - actually it's pretty much how I usually eat, one thing at a time, then if i'm still hungry, something else. She might be feeling overstimulated? I know my nephew had no control over anything in his life, so it came out in food issues. Are her symptoms just around food, or other things too?
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#14
Dec 12, 2011, 08:08 PM
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No, its part of her thing...she has to see everything...and its small quantities also...she eats about a tablespoon of each thing...and her meats are half portions....i don't put much on her plate...and this is just one example of her condition anyway, but its basically this way in every aspect of her life. She has to have a separate utensil and everything....its frustrating for me, but if I don't fix things a certain way she has difficulty and often cant force herself to physically participate...I had always heard that OCD could be physically restraining, but this is different than what I ever expected.
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#15
Dec 15, 2011, 06:15 PM
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I spoke to T's pediatrician today about looking for a new doctor for her. I told them the issues I have had with the current one and they agreed that I needed a doctor that would get back to me when needed and help, instead of "suggest"
so, maybe we will get a better one, but I feel guilty about switching doctors on T when she was just getting used to this one, but if it wasn't beneficial I needed to do something right? |
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#16
Dec 15, 2011, 11:54 PM
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Yeah I feel like that'd be the best thing to do. As long as you've have it some time which you say you have. I think a month or two or maybe like 5-10 sessions should be enough. At first I had some negative thoughts about going to a therapist but after about the fifth time seeing her I started actually getting somewhere and now I look forward to seeing her. So yeah do whatever you feel is the best thing to do. Hope that helps
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#17
Dec 21, 2011, 06:24 PM
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dear mom...
I had a thought which may or may not be a viable option. you say that she does well after therapy sessions and then regresses in a matter of a few days. perhaps she needs to see the therapist twice a week so as to avoid the regression. if you try this and it helps, you can eventually wean her to seeing the therapist less. the consistency of the therapy may help the consistency of her improvement insofar as she is less ritual-dedicated. what do you think?
__________________
life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you deal it! 
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#18
Dec 23, 2011, 08:51 PM
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Quote:
I have so much trouble getting her in with the therapist once a week, I'm not sure if I could do twice a week. She does help, but its a strain on her and she has anxiety attacks when it gets too much. It was a thought that i had also though, but its hard to get her in with this doctor, but maybe if she got a new one it would be a workable solution......
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