How can I help my child with anxiety/OCD-like symptoms? Is he a candidate for CBT?

[Anonymous]

He is eight years old (finishing 2nd grade) and experiences anxiety in certain situations. We are looking into CBT at Alvord Baker and Associates but I'm concerned because he's not particularly "emotionally articulate" -- he doesn't like to talk about his feelings and has a difficult time expressing himself when he tries. Our resources are limited and I'm wondering if we wouldn't get more "bang for our buck" if we wait another year or so for him to mature verbally and emotionally. Can CBT help a child who isn't necessarily verbally/emotionally expressive? When he experiences anxiety, he very rarely wants to talk about it.

[Anonymous]

OP again -- or might it be better for ME to see the therapist at alvord baker to learn how to best support him? There's no question in my mind he will need individual therapy eventually, but I'm just not certain he's ready for it.

[Anonymous]

I would consider that you both see the therapist for a few sessions. I wouldn't expect miracles, but it's better than waiting.

[Anonymous]

A therapist will definitely help your child develop emotional language. This has been very beneficial to my child with generalized anxiety. I do think most 8-year-olds can benefit from CBT but not necessarily all of them and not in every situation. It requires that a person use rational thought to address emotional responses/dysfunctions. I think that this is very challenging for a young child, regardless of how emotionally articulate he/she is, but also a great tool once they are able to use it.

[Anonymous]

You might consider signing up for an NIH research study on anxiety http://intramural.nimh.nih.gov/research/index.html . We did this one when our DS was 8. He's got ADHD but his anxiety was causing significant problems for him and for our whole family. It was debilitating for all of us. We met with a psychologist who had been recommended but DS isn't always in an anxious state and when he wasn't, DS didn't really seem to remember a lot about being anxious but I'm telling you, he was controlled by it - ruled by it. He was so overwhelmed by it when in an anxious state that he was unable to use any of the techniques he'd been taught. We signed up for the study with the blessing of our dev ped. We were hoping to get some more ideas on how DS should be treated. The research team ended up recommending medication because they didn't think DS was a good candidate for CBT at this time. He was too emotionally/developmentally immature (his younger sister, OTOH, used the techniques to GREAT effect. She was even able to have blood drawn on two occasions and kept herself calm and relaxed. I was impressed). So, through the study, DS started on generic Prozac and stayed on it for about 9 months. He started right before school started and the difference between starting 3rd grade was completely different than when he started 2nd grade. It was a life changer. DS is now 10 and hasn't been on it for about 1.5 years. He's better able to manage his anxiety through CBT but if he ever gets to the level he used to be, we'll start it again.

So, if you don't have a lot of resources, I highly recommend the NIH study. In fact, even if you have a LOT of resources, I recommend it. The researchers were great. They were informative, helpful and I got an excellent report/debrief from it that has been useful with the school. We're all better for having participated - and DS really enjoyed it as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might consider signing up for an NIH research study on anxiety http://intramural.nimh.nih.gov/research/index.html . We did this one when our DS was 8. He's got ADHD but his anxiety was causing significant problems for him and for our whole family. It was debilitating for all of us. We met with a psychologist who had been recommended but DS isn't always in an anxious state and when he wasn't, DS didn't really seem to remember a lot about being anxious but I'm telling you, he was controlled by it - ruled by it. He was so overwhelmed by it when in an anxious state that he was unable to use any of the techniques he'd been taught. We signed up for the study with the blessing of our dev ped. We were hoping to get some more ideas on how DS should be treated. The research team ended up recommending medication because they didn't think DS was a good candidate for CBT at this time. He was too emotionally/developmentally immature (his younger sister, OTOH, used the techniques to GREAT effect. She was even able to have blood drawn on two occasions and kept herself calm and relaxed. I was impressed). So, through the study, DS started on generic Prozac and stayed on it for about 9 months. He started right before school started and the difference between starting 3rd grade was completely different than when he started 2nd grade. It was a life changer. DS is now 10 and hasn't been on it for about 1.5 years. He's better able to manage his anxiety through CBT but if he ever gets to the level he used to be, we'll start it again.

So, if you don't have a lot of resources, I highly recommend the NIH study. In fact, even if you have a LOT of resources, I recommend it. The researchers were great. They were informative, helpful and I got an excellent report/debrief from it that has been useful with the school. We're all better for having participated - and DS really enjoyed it as well.

Thank you for this, PP. And thanks all for feedback - very helpful!