Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

[blingcherries]

Hi, I'm new here and I could use some help. My 10 year old has been diagnosed with OCD and ADHD She takes Luvox which tamps her repetitive touching symptoms down, but she is not symptom free. I have noticed that she becomes what I would call 'manic' in the evenings. This behavior is very "Robin Williams-esque." She is just streaming and insensitive to what she's saying (hurtful) and uninhibited in her actions (acting out in public). I feel like she has built up a static charge all day and then she is just humming with it...she cannot release it. She has ALWAYS had difficulty getting to sleep, from her colicky infancy on. At this point, we have been directed to give her 35mg of benadryl every night to help her sleep.

My question is about this 'evening overcharge.' Does anyone find this a familiar element of OCD? If so, does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do to relieve it? We have tried all the relaxation techniques...they don't seem to work on her. She cannot even slow herself down long enough to engage in any of them.

I appreciate any input. Thanks.

[lynn77]

I just want to say first off is I don't have any experience with what you are going through, but I decided to share my thoughts anyway...

My first thought is maybe it is the medication she is on that is causing the evening hyperness. My son has asthma and after his first couple attacks that landed him in the ER, he was given some medications that made him act out in ways that were very difficult to handle and most often it was right before bed. He is a very laid back child and he would kick and scream as a side effect. It was not like him at all.

My second thought was and maybe you have already tried it, but how about a bed time routine that starts a little earlier. Maybe you can play some music and dance or run around outside and then have her take a soothing bath with some lavender and finally read a book together before going to bed.

As a parent I know that times like these can be very trying. It's often hard to remember patience in the moment. One last thing, since she is 10 and can comprehend what is happening, have you talked with her in the morning or during the day before this happens about how her body is feeling and why she may think she is acting this way?

Best of luck to you!

Lynn

[blingcherries]

Lynn, thanks for your thoughts. I have an appt with her psychiatrist to discuss the 'overcharge' issues and I wonder too if the med could be affecting her evenings. (I must admit that she's been evening hyper since birth and has only been on the med about 2 years now so I'm not sure of myself there.)

I love the bedtime routine stuff...works wonders for my younger daughter...puts us both to sleep, leaving my older daughter running around the house alone. Arghhhhhh. :-)

I hope you got those med prob's straightened for your son. As uncomfortable those behaviors are for us...I am sure they are confusing and scary for the kids. Best of luck, Joan

[Maddie]

A few things, are your daughters meds being prescribed by a psychiatrist? Is she on meds for the ADHD? Those meds can actually make OCD worse. Has she been tested and diagnosed by a cognitive behavior therapist and is she in treatment for the OCD? While meds can help with symptoms, there are few people that can rely on them alone. Most have to do the treatment for OCD, ERP, which needs to be done with a CBT trained in ERP. The most effective treatment is a combination of ERP and OCD meds.

The OC Foundation is full of information including meds for children/adolescents, books and videos for them as well as for the family. There are several excellent books for family members which I highly recommend. It is very important to learn as much as you can about OCD and what things you can do that will help her and her OCD and what things, if you do, will only make it worse. You will also find valuable resources including online discussion groups for parents with children who have OCD.

Best Wishes,
Maddie

[blingcherries]

Maddie, I hate to sound clueless, but could you let me know what books, groups, associations you recommend for learning about OCD. I have read books, but obviously there are some gaps. My daughter is under a psychiatrist's care, for what that's worth. He prescribed OCD and ADHD meds, but we have not filled the ADHD rx because behavior-wise, she's good in school. Focus is a different issue, but her grades are holding for now.

We have tried several psychologists, but owing to a)their lack of familiarity with OCD and b) the fact that she's a 10 year old who only wants to be a normal 10 year old and doesn't even want to talk about OCD, therapy hasn't proven useful yet. The one CBT recommended by our psychiatrist charged me $200 apiece for two phone calls without telling me of the charge ahead of time. I felt taken and soured on the therapy schtick.

Any resources you can recommend would be appreciated. Thanks, Joan