OCD

[Kelly569]

My eleven year old son was diagnosed with OCD about 2 months ago. I am going crazy. He is on prozac (very little amount). He has to go next week to check the medication. He goes every week for therapy. The guidance counselor and the psychologist at school work with him. He does very well at school finally but when he gets home he follow me around CONSTANTLY asking me about anything and everything if he's okay. He is anxious about germs and asks me if he's okay if he touched this or that touched this or she touched me or he touched me is this clean is that clean. It does not stop from the minute his eyes open until they close. The therapist has given him MANY "tools". I have done research and given him many "tools" as have the people at school. He does not show any urge to fight back and beat this and I am at my wits end! My marriage (my second, his stepfather) is in turmoil as is the whole family because everything revolves around my son. Any ideas to help him get him to fight back and not let this consume him and beat him???

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

An additional thought for you: your son might like to read any or all of the following books:

Talking Back to OCD (by John Marsh)

Touch and Go Joe (by Jow Wells and Isobel Heyman)

A Thought Is Just A Thought (by Leslie Talley)

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

This diagnosis and treatment are very recent, and it's important to be realistic about your expectations for improvement. You are doing well by arranging treatment, both medication and therapy, and these will be effective over time. If you display impatience and disapproval, your son's condition will worsen because you will be placing pressure on him. Be patient and supportive. Imagine he had a severely broken leg, and was thus unable to walk for a while. Would this place some strains on the family? Yes, because you would have to extend yourself for him for a time. But you would not be pressuring him to get better. Think of the OCD the same way. You are doing the caring, responsible thing by getting him help. That's good. Now give him time as he tries to master this challenge. It takes time, and he needs your understanding.

[Kelly569]

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post.