From the OCD diaries

By definition — my definition, anyway — OCD is worry out of control. You worry about all kinds of things beyond your control while .......
are they beyond my control??
As addicts, we have a very exaggerated perception of how people look at us. But, as this woman noted, “We’re just another bozo on the bus.”
but our relationship is like a jigsaw puzzle with a lot of missing pieces. Those pieces have a lot to do with boundaries and OCD triggers. It’s as much my fault as it is her

Sometimes, it turns out we did hurt someone and need to make amends.                                                              
Other times, it turns out we just have an overdeveloped sense of our own importance.                                  
I’m working hard to understand the difference

OCD and Tactile Sensory Disorder

My 9 year old dislikes all clothing but will wear dresses. I recently read articles about Strep infections and possible links to inflammation of the brain that can induce sensory issues. I also read about PANDAS which is a autoimmune disorder assoc with Strep. But I hit a brick wall when trying to find Doctors that understand it or will try and help me diagnose our daughter to see if this could be the link to all the Tactile, OCD, and anxiety issues.


Does anyone have any advice or other info assoc with OCD, Tactile, and anxiety?

In 2008, my daughter had several boughts with Strep ..............15xday so much so that her hands were red & raw and if she touched anything when sitting down she'd go wash again - also checking toothpaste amount every night because she was afraid she'd be poisoned - obsessive thoughts - sleep disturbance - so itchy in her own skin that she tried to get out of a moving car -- Good Times!) and extreme sensory defensiveness. ............ a copy of it just in case he tested for Strep Titers but I doubt it. I have recently found out about a nutritional supplement, not a drug, that helps with these kinds of disorders. It's called EMPowerplus...../...... Not sure seems to be about strep and tonsils etc....

A poem by a lady

OCD
By Michelle

O - Obsessive, such a 'taboo' word.
C - Compulsive, such a 'mad' word.
D - Disorder, such a 'problem' word.

Put these three words together, its a scary thing to admit to, You hide every compulsion, every stupid little thing you do.
Tapping light switches to get rid of scary thoughts, You try not to do it but your mind chucks out all sorts.
'What if this?' 'What if that?' Filling up your head, You try to ignore it but you obey Mr OCD instead.
You know there's no logic in the things you are thinking, You try and try but you can't get it to sink in.
You may lose your temper or be reduced to tears, But you carry on doing the compulsions to banish your fears.

Compensatory action
:'(

Its Saturday the 26th May 2012,
I have been trying really hard lately to pinpoint specifics regarding my ocd,
I realise it is stark that OCD has completely ruled my existence,
for so long,
Life is a series of moments within which OCD exists and haunts, influences and
life at the disposal of OCD

the glance of an eye, the flick of a switch,
scratch of the skin, the choice of a pen,
the foot on the floor, the tap of a key,
the turn of a page, the position of an eye,
the word executed, the


unfin

From ocd in children

From OCD in children
Kids with OCD become preoccupied with whether something could be harmful, dangerous, wrong, or dirty — or with thoughts about bad stuff that might happen.


Kids with OCD also might worry about things not being "in order" or "just right." They may worry about losing things, sometimes feeling the need to collect these items, even though they might seem useless to other people.


Kids might have a difficult time explaining why they do their rituals, saying "just because." But in general, by doing rituals, kids with OCD are trying to relieve anxiety. They may want to feel absolutely certain that something bad won't happen or they may simply want something to feel "just right."


Think of OCD as an "overactive alarm system." The rise in anxiety or worry is so strong that a child feels like he or she must perform the task or dwell on the thought, over and over again, to the point where it interferes with everyday life.


Most kids with OCD realize that they really don't have to keep repeating the behaviors. But the anxiety can be so great that they feel that repetition is "required" to neutralize the uncomfortable feeling. And often the behavior does decrease the anxiety — but only temporarily. In the long run, the rituals may worsen OCD severity and prompt the obsessions to return.


Causes
Experts believe OCD is related to levels of a normal chemical in the brain called serotonin (known as a neurotransmitter).

When the flow of serotonin is blocked, the brain's "alarm system" overreacts and misinterprets information. "False alarms" mistakenly trigger danger messages. Instead of the brain filtering out these unnecessary thoughts, the mind dwells on them — and the person experiences unrealistic fear and doubt.
Also, imaging studies of the brain have shown that people with OCD have different patterns of brain activity than people without OCD.
Scientists believe that the tendency (or predisposition) for someone to develop the neurotransmitter (serotonin) imbalance that causes OCD can be inherited.

Common OCD Behaviors in Kids

The behaviors often take up a great deal of time and energy, making it more difficult to complete tasks, such as homework or chores, or to enjoy life.

In addition to feeling frustrated or guilty for not being able to control their own thoughts or actions, kids with OCD also may suffer from low self-esteem or from shame or embarrassment about what they're thinking or feeling (since they often realize that their fears are unrealistic or that their rituals cannot really prevent their feared events).


They also may feel pressured because they don't have enough time to do everything. A child might become irritable because he or she feels compelled to stay awake late into the night or miss an activity or outing to complete the compulsive rituals. Kids might have difficulties with attention or concentration because of the intrusive thoughts.
Among kids and teens with OCD, the most common obsessionsinclude:

• fear of dirt or germs
• fear of contamination
• a need for symmetry, order, and precision
• religious obsessions
• preoccupation with body wastes
• lucky and unlucky numbers
• sexual or aggressive thoughts
• fear of illness or harm coming to oneself or relatives
• preoccupation with household items

These compulsions are the most common among kids and teens:

• grooming rituals, such as hand washing, showering, and teeth brushing
• repeating rituals, such as going in and out of doorways, needing to move through spaces in a special way, or rereading, erasing, and rewriting
• checking rituals, such as making sure that an appliance is off or a door is locked, and repeatedly checking homework
• rituals to undo contact with a "contaminated" person or object
• touching rituals
• rituals to prevent harming self or others
• ordering or arranging objects
• counting rituals
• hoarding and collecting things of no apparent value
• cleaning rituals related to the house or other items

Just a bit I've taken from a video

E.R.P
exposure response prevention

habituating
getting used to your anxiety

Expose self to it,
and eventually not react to the intrusive fears, ideas or images.

ritual prevention,
not reacting