OCD or depression

[ilovedogs]

Ok, so I'm back from vacation and my mom was here watching ds. He had a major anxiety flare up while we were gone. He started with being scared about all the Halloween stuff that was out and then it progressed to being worried about mom and dad on vacation which all seem normal even for average kids, right? Well, today he started crying out of the blue and I asked him what was wrong and he said that his 'mind' doesn't want him to be happy. Apparently, his mind keeps telling him that he shouldn't be happy and is trying steal his happiness.

 

So, is this a depression issue or is this an OCD pattern of anxiety or maybe just anxiety in general. I found it very interesting that Chemar was seeing an increase in OCD w/her son and the moon cycle. We're going to the naturo doctor tomorrow so I'll see what he suggests but I find it all a bit interesting in regards to the timing of everything. I even had my mom 'upp' his supplements while I was gone but we aren't seeing it get better.

 

Thanks,

Bonnie

[CSP]

Hi Bonnie,

 

You know I did not think about this until you said something about anxiety, but my son had a very bad feeling of anxiety Fri. He said Thurs. night that his mind kept telling him not to go to the football game, something bad would happen to him. I asked if it was about that kid who he had the fight with and he said yes. But he has not seen him in 3 weeks and I don't know why he all of a sudden was worried. I asked him if it felt like OCD and he said no, just scared.

 

He is fine now and we watched him close at the game. The kid was there but did not say anything to my son.

 

Say hi to mum for me too.

 

CP

[Chemar]

when my son said "my mind is telling me....." it always seemed OCD to me

 

I think that OCD often manifests as anxiety and/or depression as well

 

just like TS has become caricatured as a "cussing" disease, I think OCD is oversimplified by the concept of neatniks or rituals etc.

 

frequently the thought processes seem to manifest as other emotional/behavioral stuff IMHO...at least that is what I have seen with my son over the years. when he is in OCD mode, his nerves are generally frayed and he is edgy, anxious, easily flustered, short tempered, depressed etc etc etc

[MichaelTampa]

My experience matches exactly what Cheri describes. Actually, that is why I prefer to look at TS as uncontrolled movements, vocalizations, thoughts, and emotions; rather than just TS as uncontrolled movements and vocalizations and, oh, by the way, the person happens to have OCD as well. I think that first view more accurately reflects the experience (well, I know it does for me), and you end up with all those symptoms she describes.

[Chemar]

agreed Michael!

 

I think the most liberating moment for my son happened when a psychiatrist who was helping him with CBT explained to him that the OCD he had was "tourettic"

 

he showed us several research papers documenting that the OCD that is comorbid with TS is a different "subcategory" from classic OCD.

 

it is often very hard to differentiate what is a tic and what is an OCD and they frequently "morph" and manifest in all those emotional/behavioral other stuff too.

[ilovedogs]

What's funny about it is that he had the episode only once yesterday. Most of the day he seems totally fine. My mom said she got him over his 'spells' of anxiety by distracting him with chores, going for a walk, or making him do something other than sit and feel sorry for himself. I did the same thing yesterday and the issue went away and I didn't see it again. When we had our last really bad OCD moments he would do this behavior all day long, not just 1x a day. So, I'm grateful that it doesn't seem as bad as it's been in the past.

 

We'll be getting back to doing school regularly come tomorrow(we homeschool) and back to our normal activities so I'm hoping he can push through this. He really amazes me as a kid b/c he does seem to be able to push through things and he remembers all his relaxation techniques, etc. I've even begun teaching him some yoga( I used to be a yoga instructor) to help him relax, but he just isn't as bendy as me....LOL!!!

 

 

Bonnie

[ilovedogs]

Well, I tried distracting him with chores and that didn't work, LOL! He says he just feels anxious but doesn't know why. Our naturopath thinks that he needs to experience some sort of anxiety so that he can develop coping skills for later in life. Not that he was saying that anxiety and feeling weepy is a good thing, but he was saying that he didn't want us to change any of our supplements or add anything. He wants to see if things level off on their own for now b/c he thinks this is more of a generalized anxiety. He does not think this is OCD b/c the episodes don't seem to last very long and b/c they don't bother him all day long. They seem to strike when he's bored and about the same time everyday(around 3 PM or so). This is exactly the time when I get busy doing housework and preparing dinner and he is left to his own devices. I've taken to letting him watch TV, which he says helps take his mind off it all. Go figure, he's just like his father!

 

Bonnie

[Chemar]

Bonnie

 

just as an FYI, when my son's OCD is waxing....he doesnt necessarily have it all the time, but usually more at night and early morning. and yes, he describes it as a generalized anxiety feeling sometimes without any known reason. In his case, playing one of his musical instruments or a fave video game is usually his best distraction

 

I will be glad when this weekend with full moon is over!

[ilovedogs]

Bonnie

 

just as an FYI, when my son's OCD is waxing....he doesnt necessarily have it all the time, but usually more at night and early morning. and yes, he describes it as a generalized anxiety feeling sometimes without any known reason. In his case, playing one of his musical instruments or a fave video game is usually his best distraction

 

I will be glad when this weekend with full moon is over!

Do you think things will settle down after the full moon is over, or do you think it will be a gradual settling down? My ds was up at 6 AM this morning crying about a preview he saw on tv for a new show. I think we were watching DWTS and I figured the previews would be harmless.....guess not???!!! Anyway, he said he's been waking up early every morning for the past week or so so I know his system is definitely off track!

[CSP]

Bonnie,

 

My son increases during the waxing and about 2 days after the full moon. And yes he is always better during a new moon. Somethime I plan events around a new moon just so he is not to bad.

 

I have to say this is the best year as far as increase goes, he has done well.

 

Can your son eat walnuts? I have been eating them before bed and they do help keep me asleep all night. Walnuts are said to affect one like turkey I don't remember if it was sarotonin or trytophan or both.

 

CP

[CSP]

Bonnie,

 

I think my son has done well with the coping skills the Dr. is telling you your son needs. I feel this may easier for me because I have 3 kids and I could not always be there for my son when he felt he needed me.

 

I remember one time when I got angry with him because he seemed to be bugging me about his needs and his little sister at the time needed 6 fillings and she was panicing. She was only 8 at the time and he was 12 so I really let him have it, and told him to grow up.

 

My husband was the one to always tell me to leave him to figure things out for himself. I think it has worked for the most part and he now only bugs me for the "oops I forgot something for school, mom, could you get it."

 

I like telling these stories to you since you have met my son.

 

Since I have met your little guy I wish I could give him a hug.

 

CP

[ilovedogs]

Bonnie,

 

I think my son has done well with the coping skills the Dr. is telling you your son needs. I feel this may easier for me because I have 3 kids and I could not always be there for my son when he felt he needed me.

 

I remember one time when I got angry with him because he seemed to be bugging me about his needs and his little sister at the time needed 6 fillings and she was panicing. She was only 8 at the time and he was 12 so I really let him have it, and told him to grow up.

 

My husband was the one to always tell me to leave him to figure things out for himself. I think it has worked for the most part and he now only bugs me for the "oops I forgot something for school, mom, could you get it."

 

I like telling these stories to you since you have met my son.

 

Since I have met your little guy I wish I could give him a hug.

 

CP

Thanks for the cyberhug for Grif! He's still having episodes daily but, again, it's during the afternoon hours and he sometimes just seems to need to cry it out. I can tell he's stressing b/c he's ticcing more, too. What I have been doing with him is I sit down with him, give him a hug, and tell him to practice his breathing. I also tell him to redirect his thinking(which he thinks doesn't work too well when the anxiety is in full swing) and try to focus on something positive.

 

I understand what you're saying about telling them to grow up. I do that, too, but not when he's white as a sheet and scared from his own thoughts that are disturbing him so much. If he cries from scraping his knee and there's no blood, then I tell him to buck up and get over it, LOL. I'm really hoping this moon thing has something to do with this b/c I'm getting really tired of all this anxiety in the house. Did I mention that my dh has been on major anxiety/depression mode, too? I really need to go back on vacation!

 

Bonnie