Posted: Nov 24 2006 at 11:53pm | IP Logged

Christine,
     I have a prayer request, but I need it to be discreet for the time being. Approximately, two weeks ago, our son, Joseph, began to exhibit full-blown symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and quickly went downhill to the point of not being able to function. He's doing a little better now, but is definitely not functioning normally and in need of prayers. Basically, it has to do with serotonin in the brain and uncontrollable feelings of anxiety and in his case, an irrational fear of germs. If you Google it, you can find a pretty good description. The pediatrician immediately prescribed a form of Prozac which we have thus far shelved. We saw a therapist last week and have another appointment coming up, but he also would lean in the direction of the meds with therapy. I have slept on the floor of his room for the last two weeks as his anxiety is very high at bedtime. He views his bed as a germ-free zone and takes great pains to keep from "contaminating" it. He has washed his hands until they are cracked, swollen, red and dry. He will not let his arms relax to touch his body and holds them up all day long. I've found out that in order for a body to produce serotonin, it need tryptophan (sp?) like you find in turkey, bananas, pineapple, milk and salmon. Of those foods, Joseph only drinks milk. About a year ago, he went overboard on the handwashing and didn't like touching doorknobs, but then he got better. I am wondering if he got better because spring and summer came and the sunlight also helps serotonin levels so I thought it was a phase. Now with the change in seasons, bad weather, daylight savings ending and a growth spurt, and poor diet, I am wondering if it didn't tip him over the edge. However, I don't really know and the pediatrician never asked about diet at all. I am afraid if they start him on meds, we may never get him off. I also don't know if it really is something that could be cured by diet or if it is a malfunction of the brain. He needs the prayers (and dealing with him--so do we), but I also want to see if he acts differently when confronted with normal behavior by strangers. If everyone knows, they might treat him differently and then he won't have to try to work to overcome the anxiety. But on the other hand, he acts so strangely that I can't see not explaining it to people. We had Thanksgiving here and he wouldn't let his cousins in his room or allow them to touch his toys (but he hasn't touched any of them for two weeks). Just yesterday, another symptom appeared--constant blinking of eyes. Anyway, please pray for him and if you come across any information that you think might be helpful, please let me know. I am sure that God has plans for this family through this journey with Joseph. I am trying to remember to keep Jesus with me constantly. It is very trying as Joseph can take as long as three hours to get ready for bed, does not want to put his clothes on in the morning and does not want to touch his school papers or pencil. In this condition, he can't play with his neighbor friends either and when they find out, I can only think of one who will be at all kind. It is just so strange to have experienced him go down hill so quickly, but I have read other stories on the internet with very similar descriptions of how they were normal one day and then started this kind of behavior the next. Everyone thinks he must have seen something, but that's really not how it works. He knows it is illogical, but he can't stop the feelings of anxiety so at times he cries when he is compelled to wash and really doesn't want to. Well, got to go. Thanks.