Anaphylaxis and OCD

[acraisydaisy]

I am looking for support for my 11 year old son.  We live on Vancouver Island, BC., Canada.  I have been to the GP doctor, the allergiest, the pediatrician...and also spoke to a psychiatrist last year.  Everyone wants to medicate him for his anxiety and fears...and I get that.  Medication is useful - but he also has developed OCD and has become so hyper vigilant on his allergies....he obsessively washes to the point that his hands are dried, cracked and bleeding.  He won't touch surfaces, cupboard door handles or bathroom knobs.  Everything must be cleaned and I am working hard on not giving into this madness.  Counselling has explained that giving in to the OCD monster solidifies the connection of the fear to the action and make them harder to break.  So I get to watch my sons mental health madness alone...the crying and screaming and anger.  I do do somethings to help - because to leave him a lone to deal with so much anxiety is madness.  I can't seem to find anyone who can support him with the fear and the OCD and help him to get his brain unstuck. 

On top of that he has ADHD and some processing issues...along with sensory issues.  I tried to get him assessed to see if he was on the spectrum because his behaviours are just so stressful.  He has stims...vocal and some action ones.  He struggles to self regulate and be calm.  The only time he is calm is when he is sitting with his iPad, so I let him.  Escapism is not helping in the long run, I am seeing a whole other issue rising up....addiction.  Where does this bloody well stop!??  The support here is awful.  The GP wouldn't listen to me at all and was labeling it a phobia.  It took my sons Behavioral counsellor to call her and have a chat with her and she had the balls to say that it was the first time she was hearing about anything about my son's behaviour.  I requested to see a psychiatrist last year and my son spent 5 mins in a video chat with her and then he scuttled off because he got angry at her questions. Out of that 5 minutes she prescribed him something for his ADHD and anxiety.  Went to the pedicatrician for a check up and he read his notes about the psychiatrists appointment and said to not get that prescription and prescribed something else...no one is forwarding anything to the pharmacy and you can't just call in to these offices because you have to have an appointment to talk to anyone.  Messages get lost.  That was last spring....so November and December come along and my son is worse and is threatening to now commit suicide because he is sick of allergies and OCD.  The GP makes us wait 2 weeks to see her, the psychiatrist won't see him at all because he is unmedicated and the GP I am sure said something to the psychiatrist because they work hand in hand.  I joined an OCD group for support and well no one there is dealing with OCD to life threatening cross contamination of allergens.  What next!!?  I don't know where the blinkity blink I am going!  I am losing my freaking mind!!!  My son was freaking out today because his brother ate something yesterday in the kitchen that he is allergic too and can't seem to get it in his head that I have since cleaned the kitchen!!!  Like seriously....this is really getting to difficult to carry on with.  I am venting here...not suicidal.  I am sick of living like this! 

[spacecanada]

Hi! I live on Vancouver Island too. I have a long list of allergies and idiopathic anaphylaxis.

I am really sorry to hear of your son's struggles and the system failing you. I have some mental illness (PTSD) as a result of my anaphylactic allergies as well. I have gone through periods of fear, hyper vigilance, and food anxiety as well. I went through many years of therapy and eventually found that I also needed medication to better manage my illness and be able to eat better.

Are you on Facebook? There is a really great group of local allergy families there that can help navigate some of your challenges. It is called Metro Vancouver Anaphylaxis Group (MVAG). There are some specific local resources there that may be helpful.

Have you been referred to the allergy clinic at BC Children's Hospital? There are some allergists there that can help with food fears.

What have you tried to help your son with these behaviours of avoidance, hyper vigilance, and fear? Has he had several severe reactions? Recently? Have you tried any type of therapy or medication to help?

[Macabre]

I am sorry to just now be seeing this. I am in the US and deal with some OCD around animal dander myself. I know there are medications that can lessen OCD responses, but I've not looked into them yet. 

Spacecanada would know about resources far more than anyone else here.

I am so sorry you and your son are going through this. It is a lot to deal with. 

Big hugs.

[hezzier]

You are dealing with so much!  I don't have any great advice for you, but this is an amazing community for support.

Is it possible to have some sort of team meeting with you and the doctors?  Or at least have the two confer with each other so that everyone is on the same plan?

You are doing an amazing job advocating for your son...stay strong!   

[becca]

My daughter is now 22, but has dealt with anxiety, depression, and some OCD, and she has food allergies.  Her food allergies are not her biggest issue wrt to the ocd, which is rather mild.  She does take medication that has helped her a great deal with these issues, and has been in therapy few times.  I think Space has offered you great local resources.  I'm sorry your child and you are going through this.

[Mezzo]

I am so sorry for what you're going through.

My young adult daughter has an anaphylactic food allergy, and she has developed some unusual behaviors through the years to deal with the anxiety. She's wanted to talk to a counselor about it, but she knows the average counselor won't understand the serious risk that's actually there alongside some unhealthy anxiety. The trick is to find someone who understands both things, and how do you do that??

So I hear you. I don't have advice, but clearly a professional who understands is needed, and I hope you can find that.