OCD and Transitions
Posted by Janet Singer on Tuesday, May 01, 2012May, a month of transition for many, is upon us. In my own family, we have two upcoming graduations: high school for my younger daughter, and college for my son Dan. While my husband and I are very proud of both of them, Dan’s graduation is especially poignant, as during his struggle with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, his strong desire to complete his education at his dream college was a powerful motivator to get well. Now here he is, achieving the goal he set for himself. What a wonderful reason to celebrate!
Is OCD Curable?
Posted by Janet Singer on Sunday, April 01, 2012When sufferers are diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, one of the first questions they might want answered is, “Is it curable?” This question certainly was at the top of my list when my son Dan was diagnosed with severe OCD five years ago. We received the standard answer: While OCD is not curable, it is highly treatable. At the time, my son was almost completely debilitated by severe OCD, so “treatable” was good enough for me. With the proper therapy, Dan recovered, and his therapist now classifies his OCD as mild.
Recovery Apathy
Posted by Janet Singer on Thursday, March 01, 2012At the age of nineteen, my son Dan spent nine weeks of his summer at a world-renowned residential treatment program for those suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder. We didn’t force him to go; in fact it was just the opposite. He couldn’t wait to get there as he was determined to free himself of OCD, which at the time was severe.
How Do We Help Those We Love?
Posted by Janet Singer on Wednesday, February 01, 2012As Valentine’s Day approaches, many of our thoughts turn to celebrating love. But what about those of us whose loved ones are suffering? How we can we help our spouses, parents, children, or friends who are struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
New Year’s Resolutions: We Need a Plan
Posted by Janet Singer on Tuesday, January 03, 2012I have never been a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. The few times I actually made them I gave up by the end of January, with only frustration and a sense of failure to show for my efforts (or lack thereof).
OCD and Holiday Giving
Posted by Janet Singer on Thursday, December 01, 2011“I will never forget that feeling of being completely lost and alone, not knowing who to listen to or where to turn for help.”
This quote is from my first post on Connections, where I talk about my son Dan’s journey through severe OCD. Though this nightmare transpired almost four years ago, the fear I felt back then is still palpable, and is what fuels my advocacy for OCD awareness and proper treatment.
Recognizing and Acknowledging OCD Symptoms
Posted by Janet Singer on Tuesday, November 01, 2011Let’s say you wake up one morning and your leg hurts. You hobble around on it for a few days, but the pain gets worse. You tell yourself you’ll give it “one more day” and if it’s not better, you’ll call your doctor. Most of us can relate to this scenario where we’ve had a medical issue, we’ve kept an eye on it for a little while, and then we sought help, and a diagnosis.
Fighting OCD - No More Secrets
Posted by Janet Singer on Monday, October 03, 2011With the help of the Internet, my son Dan diagnosed himself with OCD at the age of seventeen. He had known something was wrong for at least a few years, but never told anyone. Wanting to get help before he left for college that coming fall, Dan mustered the courage to tell me his secret. We were in the car when he anxiously announced he had something really important to tell me. But he just couldn’t seem to get the words out.
