Michael has severe OCD. It is affecting everything he does and is really taking a tole on our life. The other day at soccer practice Michael became so consumed with how the water bottle was sitting on the grass that he spent the entire practice time fixing the bottle. If I don't let him do it his anxiety reaches a level that no one can bare and he drives himself out of his mind if I do not let him just do what he needs to do.

I HATE the judgment from the other parents. Even when I tell them he has OCD they do not understand. They just say tell him no and if he throws a tantrum then he is misbehabing. This is not how OCD works. He will go out of his mind and it is torture for him if he is not allowed to do his rituals etc... Somethings I have to say no to (dangerous, wrong, etc...) and the meltdown are humongous and are the stares.

He has such a little understanding of this at 4. I know there is other help once he is older and he can do some behavioral therepy and stuff. I do not want to medicate him. The doctor told us for the time being to let him do the things he needs to do. He does not understand what his brain is telling him to do and telling him no or trying to talk him out of it actually makes his stress levels to high for him.

I have talked to my pediatrician about it and it seems like my only options are medication. No way. How do I find a way to live with this and help my poor child with this? I feel so bad for him. His whole life is consumed by it.

BBB Triplets Born 2003

Hi,
My son is 8 now. He has OCD. We had many of the same issues that you describe. He had to turn on every light switch when we enterd a rrom. He had to be the one to open and close the door when someone came to our house or we went to someone elses. He had to have the crayon in the box a certain way at school before he could move on. We tried having him take turns with the other kids with the door or the switch but his OCD always moved to something else. He just could not help that he felt the need to do it.

Anyway, we did not want to medicate but after tryinf all else and our whole family walking on eggshells not knowing what was going to set off the meltdown, we decided at age 4 to try medication. He takes liquid celexa. His OCD is hardly there now. We still have moments here and there but my son also is PDD (on the autistic spectrim). I wish we did not have to use medication but I am so happy that we did. His life is so much eaiser because he is not constantly stuck.

I understand how you feel. I just wanted to let you know that sometimes it's a good thing. If you need to talk you can e mail or IM me and I will give you my number.

Julie

I have often wondered if he has PDD. I don't know if some of the things he does is OCD related?

It varies by month but right now he has a strange hand movement with his fingers he keeps making. He clicks his toungue after every word when he talks. He asks me the same question 100 times. Probably OCD.

I really need to talk more to my pediatrician. And be open to more options.

BBB Triplets Born 2003

I have 2 sons with OCD. One is actually autism, the OCD is part of the Autism. My autistic son is not on medication. I hve tried to replace the OCD behavior with a different bahavior that is more acceptable. Most of the time it works. Sometimes you just have to remove them from the situation that sets them off. I know this is a tall order. My autistic son is obsessed with doors opening and closing. I can hardly get him out of the car then I have to drag him out of the doorway when I get to the grocery store. My solution...hire a sitter. If I can't do that I arrange my shopping so that there is minimal time he can see the windows and doors. I bring a sensory toy to keep him distracted and plan it around when he is most civilized. Son #2 is on meds for ADHD. It seems to help some. He sticks everything not bolted down in his mouth. Last year I had to rush him to the hospital for an emergency toy-ectomy. He was in ICU. You would think that would have jolted him. Nope I just have to watch him like a hawk and ride him so that he doesn't hurt himself. I would reccomend getting a Psychiatrist or Psychologist that specializes in pediatric OCD. They can do wonders. I have friends that have kids that go to them and I get info from them. Best of luck

Chris

My DS Aidan has what I would consider a little bit of OCD (who is also autistic - very common trait b/w the two). He will only wear Red, obsessed with doors (although getting better) and also obsessed with anything opening and closing (which is a door thing as well).

I have not chosen the medicine route as of yet but it is a possible future option. Right now, we basically give him no other choice than to make another decision. For instance - the red shirt - he can wear every other day and as for the door thing - he is given a 2 minute time limit to stim (or play) with them. We sing a song. "Door time is over, door time is allllll done". It works.

Aidan has many more such as stimming on reflections that is difficult to pull him away from, playing with the water fountain, facinated by the bricks on a wall, staring at an object for an obsessive amount of time etc... We just keep singing the song because that is what helped him in therapy. Little by little, it is getting better but it has taken a tremendous amount of work. I still feel like giving up many times a day but then I think how far we have come and I keep going at it.

Good luck

Bea
Mother to bbg (7/28/03)

Educate yourself on the growing number of children with Autism. Awareness Counts.

www.autismspeaks.org

Thank you so much everyone. I am just glad to know that we are not alone. We are going to start the feingold diet too. I read that it helps OCD problems too.

BBB Triplets Born 2003