Fighting back in the shower

I don't normally stay in the shower by myself because I get a thought that someone is going to take me. So I set a goal with my dad and counselor that I would try and just stand in the shower by myself with no one in the room and see how long I could stay in the shower. I tried staying by myself for as long as I could but then STINKER came! I started to fight back and told myself that someone was coming to get me and I would not see anyone again. I started to scare myself really bad and could not do it any longer. Right after I scared myself my mom got home and came into the bathroom. I was grateful for her coming in because I did not want to get out. I was really proud of myself at first but then a big jolt of disappointment hit me. I was so sad that I could not do it any longer, but now I feel really proud of myself, my dad was so proud of me and my mom. I hope that I can try it again and that some of you can work on helping yourselves. I wish all of you good luck and hope you will get better.

Fighting back against Stinker

Today I had a meeting with my counselor I set three goals with her. 1. To not pull my hair or pick at my fingers in the car. 2. To try to stay in the shower by myself for as long as I can. 3. To try to stay in the house by myself. Now that I have finished trying to keep my mind off of the thoughts I have to play the same game of stinker. When ever I get a thought like when I am in the car I get a thought that we're going to crash and so I use to have to sing a song and do a hand game. Now I have to tell my self out loud, oh we're going to crash and we're going to get hurt really bad. I tried it last week and it was really hard, but my family has helped me a lot and my mom and dad have helped me the most and I am grateful for my family and all of the support they have given me. I am sorry I have not written as much but it's been really busy. I have started on pills that will help me not pull my hair out and take away all the stress. I have had them for 2 weeks and they have helped me a lot. I hope my blog will help many of you, and that you can be able to have fun with this.

So sorry that we have not posted for a while. Summer is incredibly busy. My sweet princess is doing well at fighting back at her OCD "Stinker". We are learning so much on this journey and will share more later. We have been referred many books from our psychiatrist and counselor. We are very blessed to have found two specialists that specialize in OCD. Finding a counselor and psychiatrist who specialize in OCD is key. Our counselor told us two weeks ago, that the average person will go through 9 counselors, before finding one who can actually help. To help you locate someone who specializes in your area, please contact the IOCD or www.ocfoundation.org/BTTI.aspx. We sincerely hope that this blog will help others. Did you know that OCD is the "Doubting Disease"? It fills their minds with doubts about everything and "The Doubting Disease" demands certainty to fight back.

In the words of my daughter, "When OCD hits, it feels like a bolt of lightning". The anxiety becomes so all consuming that it can shut her down for extended periods of time. I am so excited to report that she is winning this battle.

Watch for more to come on a regular basis!!! Good luck to all!

What my days have been like

I thought it might be helpful to tell what my days have been like, I am really scared of going downstairs by myself, I always have to have someone downstairs with me which is hard because my bedroom is downstairs. When I want to be by myself but am to scared to go anywhere I always have to have someone with me, because I get a thought that tells me someones going to take me. I cant be by myself outside because whenever a car passes I get a thought and that's when I would either run away or call for someone to be with me. It gets harder and harder and harder after a while if you don't try to do the opposite of what that thought is telling you to do. I went to my counselor and she told me to do some kind of activity while I am by myself downstairs or outside alone. Some of the things were singing as loud as you could while hopping or jumping or doing jumping jacks. One day I tried doing this when I went downstairs and sang while hopping and it worked! I was so excited and the next week I told my counselor and she was very proud of me! Each day I will try to tell you more of what my days have been like. I have always been afraid of a lot of things and have had a lot of anxiety. I am now learning that life can be different and I don't always have to be afraid.

Weekend

So, it was a great weekend. I cannot believe how much Mikalyn's quality of life has improved since starting counseling. Her counselor last week told us she cannot believe how quickly Mikalyn is taking control and fighting back on her thoughts. So, for those of you not aware of some of what people with OCD go through, here is a quick intro to Mikey. When Mikey's OCD hits, a thought will enter her brain which is completely illogical. But, for her, the thought is so powerful, that it is her reality. These thoughts are very scary and can be debilitating. It shuts her down to where she cannot function or think reasonably. Mikalyn is trying to fight back with her brain and tell her brain that these are not real. In my next post, I will go into more detail. But for now, she is fighting back and is winning, this is huge for her and will greatly improve her quality of life. GO Mikalyn, we are so proud of you!!!

About Me

Hi, my name is Mikalyn and I have OCD,
when I first found out that I had OCD I didn't really understand what it was after a while I got it and started understanding it a lot more. About a week ago my parents went out of town and my grandparents stayed with me, it was really hard for me and I would have to call my parents 4 times a day. It felt like I was alone and no one was there to help me but then when I went to my counselor she helped me out a lot. I did much better the next week and was very proud of myself. Sometimes when I get thoughts it feels like I am by myself and no one can help me but then when I go to my counselor she helps me a lot. The reason me and my mom started this blog was to help other people, because my cousin was the one who helped me with OCD. I am really excited to talk about everything that happens, and I hope I can help a lot of people. Lets Kick OCD out to the curb!!!!!

My daughter's blog

My name is Julie and I have a 12-year-old daughter who was diagnosed with OCD when she was 9 months old. How you ask? Well at that time she was diagnosed with Trichotillomania and Trichophagia. In basic understandable terms, she pulled her hair out and then would eat it. Little did we know what lay ahead for us as parents.

This disorder affects 1 in 50 people. It is a silent attacker and it is curable. Unfortunately, those affected by it usually suffer in silence.

My daughter will post on here from time to time as will I, of our journey as she is now in counseling and we are hoping that this story will help others.