Reality. Ah, yes, that illusive experience that we all are trying to grasp. What is reality, exactly? Is it simply our lived experiences or is our perception of our lived experiences? Is it what has happened to us or is it how we understand our happenstance? Consider this: maybe it is HOW we see life that is the most powerful ‘reality’. If Neale Donald Walsch is correct, what are our thoughts telling us about our life? More importantly, how are our thoughts shaping our reality right now?
Tips:
By: @believephq
We generally think that addressing the existential challenges we face will guarantee a healthier mind but there are more important and practical steps we should consider first. Explore things like our sleeping and eating habits, how we are connecting in relationships and taking advantage of the opportunities to learn and grow FIRST. Believeperform.com created this beautiful infographic that looks at ways that will enhance our mind and improve our mental health.
Thanks:
We do not always have control over how our brains remember things. While we wish we could delete some memories all together and hold on to others in all their vibrant color, we aren’t able to guarantee such an outcome. What we can do, though, is to be intentionally thankful for the right now moments, find joy in our present experiences and store how we feel in our heart. Mindfully connect with our emotions and allow ourselves to sit in gratitude for those experiences. When we live this way, our heart becomes a shelter of goodness and carries us through.
Alyssa, an 11-year-old, has picked up a habit. Her caregiver noticed that while working on math homework, Alyssa plucks strands from her hair. Upon closer view, her caregiver noticed that Alyssa now has a small bald spot near her temple. Feeling alarmed, they explore what is happening and learn from Alyssa that plucking at the strands of hair helps her do well in Math. She believes that she must pluck hair in a particular spot in order to maintain progress in class. Alyssa experiences the most satisfaction when pulling hairs there as she understands that the action is key to her success. When encouraged to stop pulling, she stated that she cannot because, if she did, she would fail Math for the school year.
This is an example of OCD.
OCD Defined
Photography: Keira Burton
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety-related mental health disorder in which people experience pattern of unwanted thoughts, feelings, and fears that lead to repetitive behaviors. Today, we will focus on the O – Obsessions – in OCD. Many people with OCD experience obsessive ruminations, where they find themselves struggling to move through unhelpful thoughts. Try as they might, they feel confounded and overwhelmed by these intrusive thoughts. Obsessions can impair the ability to function and negatively impact the capacity to work, relate and live fully. While symptoms can vary from person to person, our purpose is to explore how it typically manifests in children.
Obsessions in Children can relate to:
Disproportionate fear and/or avoidance of germs or dirt
Preoccupation with losing or forgetting things
Overwhelming need for organization
Intrusive thoughts of violence or harm, whether as perpetrator or victim
Obsessive thoughts regarding rules or order.
Extreme need for rigid morality.
Remember, these obsessions are repetitive and intrusive. The thoughts are not based in reality. They are generally unwanted thoughts that intrude on your life and make it difficult to function. They don’t have to make sense or be logical; they just need to be distressing for you.
The Impact of OCD
Unfettered, obsessive thoughts can begin to impair your child’s daily functioning. The continual intrusions can lead to compulsive behaviors and disrupt their mood and relationships. The impact of OCD can look like:
Inconsistent sleep hygiene
Anxious or depressed mood
Poor emotional regulation
Withdrawn presentation
School Anxiety
Separation Anxiety
Social challenges
Body Dysmorphia
Agoraphobia
These symptoms and more can be very challenging for a child with OCD. In Part 2 of this series, we will explore compulsions and the impact they have on a child’s mental and emotional health. Until then, what can you do if you think your child may struggle with OCD symptoms?
Parent Tip: How to Respond to Obsessive Thinking
If your child is showing signs of OCD – Obsessions:
Speak with your child about their thoughts. Talk in a supportive way and listen, while showing love.
Make an appointment with a therapist with training in treating OCD.
Be an active part in your child’s therapy.
Identify community resources that may provide your child with guidance and support
Parents, it can be hard to watch your child struggle with the challenges associated with OCD. It is important to recognize that it is not your fault. It will require you to become educated on the diagnosis so that you can best help your child. With compassion and understanding, you can help your child acknowledge and deal with their obsessive tendencies without shame. You can be a part of their healing and celebrate their efforts to live a more enriched life.
Hi, y’all!!! It’s been a WHILE since I have connected with you all here! Life has been so full of adventure, revelations and new paths since my last post and there is SO much to tell you! One of the things I can say now is that the journey over the past two years have been incredible. If I can say one thing about life, it is to EXPECT CHANGE! Have you experience this in your life, this inevitably of change? How has it impacted you? I am looking forward to exploring how much life has taught me regarding life, love, parenting and all the things!
Tip:
When things feel overwhelming and we want to give up and go home, consider this: the way we heal is by taking the process one step at a time, not leap-frogging into the healing ‘end zone’. With this in mind, consider all of the steps you have taken so far. Can you look back and see how far you’ve come? When we realize that we have made serious moves in the right direction, the journey may not feel so impossible! So, continue to walk. You’ve got this!
Thanks:
Thank you for your support! Whether by reading my blogs, following me on social media, referring clients to my practice, you have been constant and I am so thankful for all of you! I am looking forward to sharing time with you!
