Freeing Your Child from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder A Powerful, Practical Program for Parents of Children and Adolescents

by Chansky, Tamar E.

• ISBN13: 9780812931174
• ISBN10: 0812931173
• eBook ISBN(s): 9780307794444
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-07-10
• Publisher: Harmony
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

If you're a parent of one of the more than one million children in this country with obsessive-compulsive disorder, you know how confusing, even frightening, the symptoms of OCD can be. You're terrified of losing your child and angry about the havoc this disorder has wreaked in your family. More than anything, you want to be able to unlock the secrets of OCD, understand the cause of your child's bizarre symptoms, and help your child break free of these disruptive, relentless thoughts and actions. In her landmark book,Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Dr. Tamar E. Chansky creates a clear road map to understanding and overcoming OCD based on her successful practice treating hundreds of children and teenagers with this disorder. In Part I, Dr. Chansky "cracks the code" of the peculiar rules and customs of OCD -- the handwashing, tapping, counting, and so forth. She explains how OCD is diagnosed, how to find the right therapist partner, and how to tailor treatment options to your child's needs. You'll learn how powerful behavioral modification can be and when medication can help. In Part II, you'll learn how not to be pulled in by your child's debilitating rituals at home or at school, how to talk to your child about the "brain tricks" OCD causes, and how to create an effective OCD battle plan that will empower your child to "boss back" the OCD monster. You'll also learn how to cope in moments of crisis. Part III offers specific advice for how to help your child handle the most common manifestations of OCD such as fears of contamination, checking, getting things "just right," intrusive thoughts, and more. Part IV is an indispensable guide to additional resources, including books, videos, organizations, and websites. Filled with Dr. Chansky's compassionate advice and inspiring words from the many children with OCD whom she has helped, this book will be your lifeline. Battling back from OCD is hard work, but with the comprehensive, proven guidance in this book, you can help your child reclaim a life free from its grip.

Author Biography

TAMAR E. CHANSKY, Ph.D., is the founder and director of the Children's Center for OCD and Anxiety, and a member of the OC Foundation, the Anxiety Disorder Association of America and the American Psychological Association. She offers expert guidance on-line and in the newsletter for the OC Foundation. She lives with her husband and daughter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xi
PART ONE DEFINING THE PROBLEM
What Is OCD? And What Can Be Done?
Understanding OCD	19	(21)
Cracking the Code: Visualizing the Secret Mechanisms of OCD	40	(18)
Diagnosing OCD: The Difference Between OCD and Normal Behavior	58	(23)
The Course of OCD: What to Expect	81	(21)
Treatments for OCD	102	(35)
PART TWO: THE PARENTS' ROLE
Roots and Wings
The Parents' Role: Roots and Wings	137	(22)
Good Parenting Skills to Bring to OCD	159	(17)
The OCD Strategy: A Battle Plan	176	(22)
Pressure Points in OCD	198	(18)
Coping with the Diagnosis of OCD: Taking Care of Yourself	216	(19)
PART THREE TURNING POINTS AND BREAKTHROUGH MOMENTS
Solutions for Managing Daily Life
Contamination Fears	235	(15)
Checking/Repeating/Redoing: Doubting Your Own Senses	250	(12)
Just Right: Evenness, Ordering, Symmetry, Numbers, and Hoarding	262	(15)
Intrusive Thoughts and Imagined Impulses: Harm, Scrupulosity, and Sexual Thoughts	277	(18)
Managing OCD in the Larger Context	295	(28)
Seeing Your Child Through OCD	323	(22)
PART FOUR APPENDICES
A: Resources Including Books, Videos, and Organizations	331	(7)
B: Sample Assessment Instruments for OCD	338	(5)
C: Ideas for Encouraging Sleep in Children	343	(2)
Index	345