Alternatives to Meds for Son Diagnosed with OCD

Well, I don't know how long your tried treatment for your younger son, or what you tried, but you are doing both your children a disservice by tossing out standard medical care for a flesh and blood organ system becuase you don't like the idea of a problem with it. We don't have this attitude for the pulmunary system, the lymbic system, the cirularitory system, the urinary tract, the digestive system, etc, but we shun good solid medical care when something goes wrong with the brain. Somehow, we think brain health intervention is a DIY project.

It is quite common for issues to run in families. Genetically, neither of your children can help that they have molecular disfunction in their brains. Medication and therapy can help, but you must be willing to try different treatments. Treatment includes far more than medication, and medication should be a tool that you use to help all the rest of the multiple therapies be more effective. The first medication you try might not be the one, so you try again. Why we don't allow trial and error for brain disorder treatment is beyond me, but in almost no other aspect of life do we toss out the baby with the bath water so quickly. No one ever says that they are giving up on chemo therapy because they are tied of being a guinea pig, but we do that for our brains.

You can search all you want, and spend a fourtune on all kinds of stuff. There is no shortage of people who have the answer for you if you are willing to beleive. The placebo effect is powerful, and you may find your panacea for a little while. Untreated, your children will be miserable and their futures are bleak, and progressive disorders march on with permanant concequences.

I can tell you what I see as an advocate, many people leave standard care in thier search and have had such terrific results, they shun everything that sparks of the diagnosis, including educational intervention. The come back to standard care eventually. I have not ever met anyone who did it the other way. You don't want to know how much ground those kids lose in the classroom while they were "cured." I help them get the best educational services they can in the time they have left, but for many, it is just too late to be very effective. I see that side of the "alternative" craze.

OCD responds incredibly well to medical treatment. It is like night and day. ADHD is a more tricky medical problem, and if you did not have a good medical prescriber, then find a better board certified child psychiatrist to help your son. Some people can't tolerate medical therapy, but don't give up until you know for certain that your son is one of those people.

Finally, do some research. Check out the probable future for a child with untreated ADHD and OCD. You won't like it.

M.

We're experienced with both ADHD and OCD. In our son's case, medication is essential for both. OCD is way more extreme than ADHD as far as treatment, however. Your doctor is absolutely right. There are no natural treatments that amount to anything. All of the research shows medication is what does the trick. No amount of behavioral therapy or parenting strategies will correct OCD (ETA: Therapy can HELP, but alone won't solve things). Believe me, we thought we could "parent" him out of the anxiety and it just didn't work. The last thing we wanted to do was add another medication, but it proved critical.

Our son went on Celexa when he was four. Before then, we couldn't get out of the house sometimes because of the OCD. He would lose it if his karate belt wasn't lined up right or we didn't follow the right order going into the garage and make us re-do the order -- hysterical for an hour or more if things weren't "right." Since he's been on Celexa, the OCD has gone into remission. Major, major difference and zero side effects. He's just a happier boy all around as a bonus.

Your doctor is completely correct.

OCD is an anxiety disorder and is a completely different beast from ADHD. Most ADHD medications are stimulants. Anxiety meds are completely different, and there are so many to choose from.

I have anxiety and OCD. I don't compulse, but I do obsess. Mine is very mild and easily controlled behaviorally. To my knowledge, there's no information on diet controlling OCD/Anxiety, but therapy is a good alternative to medication.

Has the pediatrician recommended a good therapist who specializes in children with OCD? If not, I'd begin searching. OCD takes on SO many different forms, that finding one who addresses your son's specific needs is really important.

Here's the list of resulting documents from the American Academy of Pediatrics on their parenting website:
http://www.healthychildren.org/english/search/pages/resul...

Good luck!

Because OCD is driven by anxiety, look for treatments for anxiety as well.

I don't have any personal experience with OCD but here's an e-how article that I pulled up about natural treatments:

http://www.ehow.com/about_###-###-####_natural-treatments...

Hope this helps.

Someone I love dearly was diagnosed with OCD, but only when he was older. He tried many different homeopathic and alternative treatments: none of them worked. He resisted medication and without it could, and I am using his words "sort of function, but not come anywhere near my potential." I am not being dramatic when I say that medication saved this person's life. Some people with OCD can do behavior modification, but I would trust your doctors. If you are unsure, get a second opinion. The OCD clinic at Stanford is excellent and can give you recs for centers on the east coast. I can understand your desire to not place your child on meds, but in my experience, this is a case where you need to listen to what your doctors are saying. This must be difficult for you and your family, but know that this is a manageable illness.

I have some contacts on this subject and I am going to reach out to them. I will be on vacation starting Saturday but I should have some info after that. Can you make a note to get back in touch with me??? I'll do the same for you!

Hi J.,

OCD is an neurological problem similar to ADHD. Of course nutrition will help it! Any doctor that tells you otherwise is reading from the "pharmaceutical company handbook." My youngest was diagnosed with ADHD and I believe she had OCD tendencies, if not truly OCD. We changed her diet, gave her an absorbable multivitamin/mineral complex used the Omegas when she would take them and detoxed our home. There are outside culprits that exacerbate OCD.

Detoxing is simple and it can be inexpensive. I can also recommend a really good absorbable vitamin. All vitamins are not alike and some simply don't absorb and some even cause disease and neurological issues. Please get back to me if you'd like to know exactly what I did. I'd love to help.

Regards,

M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk

PS My entire extended family has issues like this. I've dealt with it all my life. My immediate family doesn't have issues like this anymore.

Hi J.,

I am not big on labels or medication for children until they are cognitively old enough, 13, to be properly tested by a leading & highly recommend child & adolescent psychologist. I suffered ADHD, my mother placed me on a gluten free diet, enrolled me in a talented & gifted program & emphasized sports. Now that I have my own Eco Friendly Baby Planning business, I can tell you based on my own research, medication & labels of children are pushed & pushed way to commonly on our young ones. Also, consider what chemicals you use in the home. Switch to chemical free cleaning agents & detergent products such as seventh generation, which is what I use. Most children who suffer OCD, ADHD, ADD do not need to be treated with medication, rather more creative and extracurricular activities to focus their attention off their habit. I thank my mother everyday that she did not medicate me. It is an "easy" fix & unfortunately a phenomenon in our culture to push meds. Also, embrace that he has a unique personality. Try to think back to any "triggers" emotionally, psychologically. Also, genetically to help yourself better understand why they may suffer ADHD & OCD. In the mean time, don't reward or focus your attention on his OCD, same with your eldest son. Yes, he is exhibiting the symptoms, we can't deny that. Don't discuss it in front of him or around him. If you see him exhibiting the symptoms redirect to a positive activity! Always, always redirect a child with OCD, ADD, or ADHD. Work with his teacher's and administrators privately as well for any accommodations he may need in the classroom (this goes for your older son as well.) Therapy does help with children suffering OCD. Not the therapist mentioned above! Try the herbal and Organic techniques first. You are doing a great job!