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Victory is in the Eye of the Beholder
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Hi, I’m a hard-working, God-fearing, wine-loving, passionate mom determined to beat the OCD flea. This is a positive place all about personal growth and vulnerability. Since the time my son turned two, life got increasingly harder. After piles of books, thousands in therapy, stacks of behavioral reports, countless hours spent doubting myself, ever-flowing parenting critiques and an experience that almost broke me we had our Ah Ha moment. At five and a half, he was diagnosed with ‘Just Right’ OCD with hints towards ‘Harm’ OCD… And, ADHD (something his current doctors question due to how similar OCD shows up in young kiddos).
It’s been an emotional roller-coaster ride. And we’re not the same people we were when we got on. We’re smarter about what OCD really is. You’ll never again hear me naively self-diagnose that, “I’m a little OCD.” It’s a type of anxiety disorder affecting 1-3% of children. I’m not in that minority. And now I’m fighting harder than ever to learn how it continues to show up in my son’s life all day every day… and how I can coach and love him fiercely through it so that he’ll be strong enough to weather the worst life may throw at him.
Click here to read about our journey to defeat the OCD Flea on the blog or check out the menu above for more resources
Peace & Victory
JM
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8 Tips to Support a Child with OCD
- Know what OCD IS! In the words of my 6 year old son, “You need to know what it IS before you try to defeat it.”
- Give them the benefit of the doubt. Their behavior is most often directly related to an OCD trigger.
- Love them through it. 40% of people diagnosed with OCD develop substance abuse issues. Nurturing self love is essential.
- Keep OCD’s identity separate. They can’t control their thoughts they simply learn to accept the pain and discomfort.
- Bad thoughts don’t guarantee bad behaviors. We all have intrusive thoughts. Then we move on. Just because an OCD sufferer can’t doesn’t mean they’re more likely to act on it.
- Communicate concerning or repetitive behaviors. Battling OCD means identifying triggers then doing exposure therapy on each and every one with a licensed psychologist.
- Empathize first, coach later. OCD children need even more help identifying their feelings in tough moments. The intensity of their thoughts can be overwhelming. Give them time.
- Accept their fears as real and logical FOR THEM. OCD sufferers do compulsions to feel better. Proving to them it doesn’t make sense only leaves them feeling misunderstood and invalidated. It doesn’t work.
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Contact Info
j.mueller.kcmo@gmail.com
Defeating the OCD Flea 