Growing up, TinaB次元官网网址檚 son Matt always seemed like a normal kid.
He was happy, outgoing, and was a little ball of energy that couldnB次元官网网址檛 sit still.
But certain things bothered him B次元官网网址� he never wore jeans because he didnB次元官网网址檛 like the feeling of them on his skin, and didnB次元官网网址檛 like going to the beach because he hated the dusty feeling of sand on his hands.
As Matt, a Vancouver Island resident whose name was changed to protect his identity, got older, he was diagnosed with anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. But it wasnB次元官网网址檛 until he turned 12 when things changed B次元官网网址� and quickly.
Matt started over-worrying about things and then his focus turned to contamination. Matt would wash his hands several times in a row, and if he washed his hands and went to do another task, would wash them again. He worried about touching his game controller, in fear he would contaminate that and would be forced to wash his controller. He only used a towel once and as soon as it hit the floor Matt thought it would be dirty and would contaminate the floor.
Shortly after, Matt was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). According to the International OCD Foundation, OCD is a mental health disorder that occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings.
The Canadian Psychological Association reports between one and two per cent of Canadians will have an episode of OCD. It describes the condition like this:
B次元官网网址淥bsessions are recurrent and persistent intrusive thoughts, images or impulses that are unwanted, personally unacceptable and cause significant distress. Even though a person tries very hard to suppress the obsession or cancel out its negative effects, it continues to reoccur in an uncontrollable fashion.
B次元官网网址淥bsessions usually involve upsetting themes that are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems but instead are irrational concerns that the person often recognizes as highly unlikely, even nonsensical.B次元官网网址�
According to the CPA, OCD can be chronic B次元官网网址� waxing and waning with lifeB次元官网网址檚 stresses. It seldom disappears without treatment, and can have a profound negative impact on functioning B次元官网网址� interfering with jobs, schooling, social interactions and relationships.
B次元官网网址淚t exploded on us, it came out of nowhere. It was very confusing for him as well,B次元官网网址� said Tina, who is calling for more mental health services on the Island.
B次元官网网址淚t [contamination] was transferable almost. Say I touched the car door that he thought was contaminated, then I touched something else, then that would be contaminated. ItB次元官网网址檚 just that snowball effect.B次元官网网址�
After the diagnosis things became more severe. His fears of contamination escalated to the point where Matt would use his sleeves to open car doors. If he thought a part of the car was contaminated he would move to another seat, and then another, until he would finally ask his mother to wash the whole car.
The disorder began to affect his relationships as well. If he was hanging out with friends and his clothes got dirty he would have to go and change his clothes a bunch of times or they would want to go for a bike ride and he felt he couldnB次元官网网址檛 do it. As a result, he lost some friends in the process.
Tina said watching the disorder take over his life was difficult.
B次元官网网址淲atching him and how debilitating it was for him and how much it was hurting him emotionally, thatB次元官网网址檚 the worst part,B次元官网网址� she said.
Shortly after, Matt received treatment at the Ledger House at Queen Alexandra Centre for ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Health, where he received therapy for seven weeks.He went on to participate in the OCD program through the B.C. ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital in Vancouver for another six weeks.
According to the BC ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital website, treatment for OCD typically consists of psychological and psychiatric assessments, after which the assessing team meets with the family to discuss its findings and .
The evaluation includes a look at the patientB次元官网网址檚 medical, developmental, family and school history and his or her mental state, with attention to the potential presence of other psychiatric disorders.
First-line treatment for mild and moderate cases typically consists of cognitive behavioural therapy B次元官网网址� basically, getting a better understanding of, and control of, the issues through talking.
B次元官网网址淭he aim of CBT is not about learning not to have these thoughts in the first place, because in essenceB次元官网网址ntrusive thoughts cannot be avoided. Instead it is about helping a person with OCD to identify and modify their patterns of thought that cause the anxiety, distress and compulsive behaviours,B次元官网网址� reads a statement by the OCD-UK, a British charity dedicated to those affected by OCD.
B次元官网网址淲hat therapy will teach the person with OCD is that itB次元官网网址檚 not the thoughts themselves that are the problem; itB次元官网网址檚 what the person makes of those thoughts, and how they respond to them, that is the key to recovery from OCD.B次元官网网址�
For more serious cases, where the patient distress is severe, or ability to function significantly impaired, or where there is resistance to CBT, drug treatment is also recommended.
B次元官网网址淧oor insight into the irrational nature of the obsession and/or compulsion can lead to resistance to CBT,B次元官网网址� the ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital practice parameter document states. B次元官网网址淭he need for close family involvement will make successful implementation of CBT more difficult in chaotic or non- intact families.B次元官网网址�
Tina said Matt, now 17, has good and bad days. While school had been put on the back-burner, Matt is busy with a job and hangs out with his co-workers.
Despite the fact that her son was able to get treatment, Tina said there arenB次元官网网址檛 enough mental health services on the Island.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have any of those programs here,B次元官网网址� Tina said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a big lack of services.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址� with files from Black Press
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