Question- when an individual with ocd is taking meds- do they stop (or reduce) their 'rituals"?:confused: :confused: :confused:

Being on meds has reduced some of my symptoms. Are they completely gone? No but they are improving and the more I discover that I AM in control of my life the more my rituals are less in control of ME.

I hope you find the right combination that works for you :)

I have ocd tendencies and my meds almost completly control my checking rituals. In fact, I'd go so far to say that the meds make it a non-problem for me.

ME :D

so basically it depends on the person? so a child can not comprehend to control it? but it might be reduced?

Well, the meds help, but I have to make an effort to overcome the impulse to act on an obsession.

For example, When I get the impulse to check the lock on my front door, I need to remind myself that I already locked the door and resist the impulse to go check the lock again...

I cognitively resist the impulse, but the meds make it a lot easier to do so.

If I get really scattered, all bets are off and I will probably start acting on my rituals. The point is, the meds reduce anxiety enough that I can manage it. I guess that says the meds are working for me.

As an adult, I am able to know when I am having issues, a young child may not be able to cognate that he/she is stuck in a ritual or come up with a strategy to get "unstuck" and will need your help in learning to work around it.

Simply trying to stop acting on a compulsion is like stifling a sneeze, and a pointless act. But, you can modify your response to it and overcome it in that way... in increments if you must.

My workaround for checking locks is; When I check a lock, I make sure I stop and make sure I understand that I just checked it, and that I don't need to check it again. The next time I get the impulse to check it, I remind myself that the lock has been checkd and there is no need to do it again. I also know it is an obsessive issue and not a "normal " checking of a lock, so I can reinforce the idea that the lock has alredy been checked and that I should not check it again.
I still get the impulse, but I can resist it. (which is why I am not dx'd with full-blown ocd).

The meds reduce the strength of the impulse to check, because they reduce anxiety and reduce the tendency of my mood to change quickly, thus I am not quite as impulsive and have weaker compulsions to check. (that is my theory on the matter).

It is so tough for a kid (not easy for an adult either). The obsession and the compulsuon are very real, and the disorder is rooted in neurology , and driven by anxiety. With the right meds and the right cognitive skills a person can hopefully work around or otherwise overcome OCD (that seems to be the current thinking on the matter).

ME :D

tHANK YOU- I am just preparing and trying to understand... just in case my son does get put on meds, I dont want the false sense that one pill or whatever and he will be his old self. Obviously a child cannot explain it, but all of you can so thank you!!!!!!

anything that reduces his anxiety will help.

ME :D