Conference yukon::christian_v7

    Like not being able to not reply to a note whether you have anything
    valid to say or not Neil? :-) :-)
    
    Good to see your still around, I've thought about you often lately.
    
    Yes, I've dealt with this issue, what is your question?

    Our little girl, age 6, seems to be struggling with this. She began
    repeatedly cleaning everything she touched and feels she needs to eat
    everything on her plate, even if she is no longer hungry. She also
    worries that when she prays, 'she is not saying the words right'. So
    she starts the pray over again.
    
    I talked to a counselor yesterday. He said this usually occurs in
    people who are very emotionally sensitive. It is usually the result of
    of anxiety or guilt. About 3 weeks ago, an elderly couple were robbed in
    their home, at gun point. In our small town, this is highly unusual.
    They still have not caught the thieves. This worries the kids alot.
    
    The counselor had some real goods recommendations on dealing with this
    behavior and she is showing alot of improvement.
    
    It's nice to here from you Nancy.
    
    God Bless,
    
     Neil
    

    
    Phew.  Sorry that your little one is having this problem. 
    
    I was going to say if anyone WANTs to have compulsive behavior, 
    I could teach them, being a world class obsessive - compulsive
    myself.  ;-}
    
    I do pray that she can be healed of this soon.  A little of this
    behavior is ok and is in fact useful.  However, carrying it over
    to adulthood can make the people around you crazy (as well as 
    yourself).  I happen to also have very good friends who are 
    compulsive, but we have a good time with it. 
    
    Sometimes the source is some environmental condition (family or friends
    or school or whatever) that makes you think you have to be 'perfect'
    and make everything around you 'perfect'.  So, very often another
    characteristic of a compulsive person is also being a 'control freak'.
    (I'm familiar with that one up front and personal as well.  And knowing
    members of my family and my friends family, I think it is hereditary...
    ;-)  )
    
    For teenagers and adults, a good book that can help you start to work 
    through this stuff is called "Search for Significance".  I can't
    remember the author.  It is a study on where you derive your self
    esteem.  From the things you do or from who you are (as in a child of
    God).
    
    I'll pray for you and your family. 
    
    Mary Jo 
    

    Hi,
    
    Actually it is probably a simple chemical imbalance that can be treated
    very easily with a non-narcotic substance known as an SSRI [Selective
    Seretonin Reuptake Inhibitor].  What it does is to simply cause the
    brain to make new Seretonin rather than reusing the old stuff.  Seretonin 
    is a neurotransmitter and when the old Seretonin is used again and again 
    it causes a chemical 'short circuit' in the brain.  This can cause lots
    of problems such as repeated washing of hands, cleaning, counting,
    praying, the need to know certain information again and again, etc.
    When the brain reuses the old Seretonin repeatedly, it is like trying
    to wash your dishes in dish water that has gone cold and the soap has 
    disappeared.  The dish water is not doing the job it was meant to do
    but it is still being used.  You need fresh hot soapy dish water in
    order for the dish to do what it was meant to do.  It is the same with
    the brain chemicals [remember, we are electro-chemical beings].
    
    By all means pray about this, but for heaven's sake, get medical help
    for your precious little one before too much damage is done.  20/20 did
    a wonderful show on this last year.  It showed one teenage girl who was
    a compulsive checker.  She needed to check the stove, the lights, the
    doorlocks, the faucet, etc. before she went to bed every night, but
    when she checked them she had to recheck them all again to make sure
    she had actually checked them the first time, and then she had to check
    them again to make sure she didn't accidently turn something on by
    mistake during the last check, etc. etc. etc.   Her obsessive/ 
    compulsive desire to do this [over which she had not control] stopped
    after the very first pill.  It can be that simple.  It works.  I know.
    And your daughter's nature is probably not causing her problem.  I tend
    to think it may be a result of it instead.  She may be very sensitive
    because she is 'short circuiting'.  Please get some competent help now.
    
    God Bless you and your little one,
    Janet

    Your note brought back a memory of when I worked for the DMH.  One teen
    had been treated for many years with little or no success.  A new doctor
    put her on MEGA vitamins as opposed to just multi-vitamins.  The girl
    graduated from high school and enrolled in nursing school -- something
    that would have been impossible just a year before.
    
    My grandson is ADHD and is on medication (not Ritalin but I don't
    recall what it is) and you can actually see when the dosage is wearing
    off.  My daughter belongs to a Bible group where all the members are
    praying for each other, but we accept that often a doctor's calling is
    spirit directed.
    
    Please keep us posted.
    Karen
     

    Thanks so much for your replies and prayers, both online and offline.
    Our daughter has shown some improvement but there are still problems.
    
    A professional counselor at our church encouraged us to seek
    professional help with this. He felt that we might be able to eliminate
    the behavior/symptom through diversion but the root problem still
    remains. We need to determine the cause of this behavior.
    We are going to schedule an appointment with a local child therapist
    today.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Neil