Posted by R.Anne on November 6, 2000, at 23:00:59
In reply to Tourette's, OCD, and rage, posted by cole on November 6, 2000, at 12:14:33
> I have a question about Tourette's and rage. My SO (who has Tourettes, + some obsessions) periodically gets extremely angry with me. 99.9% of the time he is the greatest, most loving guy ever. We are good at compromising, and don't usually have big arguments. Every so often he gets angry and argues and will not de-escalate, he verbally attacks me during this time. We've realized that if this is over the phone I need to hang up, in person I try to "hang up" as best as I can. He says he usually has trouble when he thinks he has hurt my feelings, this confuses him, then he tries to argue to make things "right". I get confused while it's happening, because he is really good at making me feel like everything is my fault. Every time, within about an hour he snaps out of it and feels really bad. He will sit there and mull over the attack all throughout the next day, when I'm beyond worrying about it anymore. He says he feels nothing when he is in the middle of one of these attacks.
> Have any of you dealt with similar feelings? How can we prevent this from happening? Are there any meds that are fairly low key in terms of side effects that might work? He said he's been feeling like the OCD is more noticeable lately as well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
> Cole****
I have dealt with the problem of OCD. You didn't mention if your son is getting any help. If not, I think you need to persuade him to seek psychiatric or psychological help. There is good medicine for OCD, Tourette's. People who aren't getting any help for OCD cannot help how they act sometimes but medicine and or therapy can help that. He needs understanding and support and so do you. You could tell him (when he is acting ok) that you understand he has OCD and it's his OCD talking when he gets into a rage but that you have to leave the room when he does. There is an organization for families and friends of those with mental problems and the persons with
mental problems themselves(National Alliance for the Mentally Ill). In addition I think that family therapy can help the 2 of you deal with this problem of OCD. Doctors often use SSRI drugs and sometimes some neuroleptics like Risperdal for Tourette's and OCD. I've had luck with Paxil and Risperdal for it. Some doctors use Effexor, too. There is plenty of help and hope for him. There is also a book out that he may want to get: Stop Obsessing: How to overcome your obsessions and compulsions by E.B. Foa and R. Wilson. Good luck to you!
poster:R.Anne
thread:48267
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001102/msgs/48319.html