my daughter

[moon]

It's been a long time since I have visited the board. I still am struggling with my OCD/depression and skin picking. The picking is somewhat under control, my OCD and depression I am working on. I had to come back to the board because of my daughter. She is 6. Her doctor has diagnosed her with OCD and psychosomatic disorder. Not surprising after having a mother like me. They are making an appt with a child psychiatrist. I know OCD is a disease, but if saddens me so much that she is suffering because I passed this "disease" on to her. He said most children go through OCD like stages, but when the OCD can be harmful then treatment is necessary (as in her case, she had taken finger nail clippers and peeled the skin off the bottom of her feet and when I asked why she did it, she just said she wanted to, that she liked it). I asked him if he had ever seen anything like that before and he said not in a child that young. The hurt and guilt in my heart has never been so overpowering as it is now. She still has little purple scars on her arms from a bad skin picking episode last summer. It embarrasses her when the kids ask what those spots are.

What I have read about childhood OCD stated that OCD is a chemical imbalance (which I already knew) and can worsen by triggers (I knew that too). In a child, they listed several things which can lead to an OCD behavior. These relate to her.

* birth of a sibling (brother is 6 months old)

* divorce (we almost did, seperated for 6 months, altho that has been awhile, I think it affected her greatly)

* strep infection (I was surprised by this, and yes she had strep about a month ago)

Article also said..
* this illness is sensitive to stress (well, of course it is and she has stress in her entire daily life, who doesn't?)

I would appreciated any information, advice, comments etc. that could help.

Thanks

[guest]

Hi,
I wish I had more to offer you, but I can only think of one thing. I remember when I was little I used to get insufferably bored(still do). I think that if I were involved in activities that demanded all of my attention I would have been much better off. The idle time is the problem; as well as alone time. I guess that your daughter does not harm herself in front of others? If you both can find some activity or hobby for her to participate in that requires an attention to detail(like most art) she may be able to channel her energy into something creative and positive. Maybe you already know and have tried all this; but I know for me it would have been my saving grace if we could have realized when I was that young.
Hope that helps.

Take care, Julie

[dmj]

[glow=red,2,300][/glow]


hi how are you.

i think guest has the idea i wanted to write about.

being and keeping busy with other things.

example: dancing, going out with friends, watching tv..playing video games, work, take classes...sports, gym, swimming...it might cost a little money but place your energy or your child's energy on things you like or she likes...explore and see what you like.....

keep busy...so busy that picking will hardly be on your mind.
study something. memorize something. place deadlines..
join leagues...


i used to have this problem.
once in a while it resurfaces,,,but i leave it alone early and ignore it..

i work, have a grea bfriend...and keep busy....
i think that if i slip i do not make a big deal about it,,and see what i did and how i did it and how to prevent it.


be thankful of the intact skin you have.
that really helps in between.

good luck..

its possible to change your habits.
from bad ones to fun and productive ones.