Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

January 5th, 2010

As a kid, I could read and write before starting scool and was writing poetry and reading adult novels at the age of eight. I also already had the start of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Despite my aptitude for English class, I had a lot of problems at school caused by my disorder and failed a lot of other classes because of it. I left school as soon as possible to work in a supermarket, where I stayed for 10 years, despite a supposedly high I.Q. and the occasionally published short-story or poem. I was not diagnosed with my disorder until I was 26, although I had diagnosed myself at seventeen and sought help. Unfortunately, the doctor that diagnosed me was rather scathing of the problem and basically, told me to toughen up and stop distressing my poor mother so much! (I had made the mistake of taking my Mum along with me to help explain my symptoms) Shortly after, I attempted suicide with an overdose of prescription medication, at work. After I recovered, ‘the incident’ was never discussed, and I still didn’t recieve any help, until I had an emotional breakdown at 26, and luckily found a sympathetic and informed doctor, who started me on an appropriate medication, which changed my life. Until then, I had only ever dared to go on two dates, out of fear that I would be rejected for having such a ‘wierd’ condition. I have now been with my husband for eleven years and am expecting my fourth child in 5 weeks. I always swore that if any of my children showed symptoms of a problem, that I would be straight onto it. O.C.D. was my biggest fear of course, but then my daughter started having trouble with reading and writing from kindergaten age. Since I had been trying flash cards since she was a toddler, I started requesting an assesment from primary school on. I was told throughout this time that she was a lovely, bright little girl who would ‘click’ with reading and writing ’soon’. Maddison had a year of reading recovery from midway through Grade 1, then consolidated with another year of Grade 1 and 12 more weeks of reading recovery, and was still often writing even her own name backwards. Now in Grade 2, I had to ring The Education Department of Vic, and every section of it, to finally get an assesment, only to fnd that the psychologist who saw her had no real knowledge of Dyslexia and thought the suggestion that she might have it ‘interesting’! I have since taken her to a behavioural Optometrist, who has done testing and does believe that she is dyslexic. And now I have found that there is no funding for the problem, and indeed, limited and expensive help to be found! My husband earns an average wage, and I am unable to work currently. When my baby is born, I will have 3 other children under 3 1/2, whilst my precious first born will be heading into Grade 3, still struggling with the same sort of ‘inferior’ feelings that I myself felt, and it breaks my heart. Of couse, we will scrimp and save, and somehow find the money for some sort of private tutoring, but I cannot believe with the advancement in education and knowledge, that there is still no funding to help our kids achieve their full potential! Please, anyone reading this, who can change this situation, please do your best, for the future of our incredible kids, who have so much to offer, if only given the chance!
- Kelly

What you say is very interesting and thank you for sharing this with us.
Children who find reading and writing very easy do tend to have compulsive obsessive disorders. They tend to be towards the autistic end of the spectrum.
It sounds as though your daughter, though, is different from you and probably more dyslexic. She is not likely to have the same problems as you and you will find it hard to teach her yourself because she will learn very differently from you.
There are many parents now using my teaching materials and their kids are doing fine. They are very easy to use. I hope to have my complete dead easy phonics course finished soon. So keep posted as this can be used to teach any kid, without a teacher.

I have noticed that many families do seem to have both dyslexia and asperges. I do not know if any study has been done on this but I find it interesting. My own brother is asperges. He found school very easy but life very hard whereas I was the opposite.

keep in touch
Cheers
dawn

Entry Filed under: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder