I just wanted to share my horrific journey I am going through with my nine year old daughter and her ocd.  Her obssesive thoughts started in July of last year and cointinued through September.  She was also crying alot, being defiant and was very slow at everthying she did (getting ready for school, making decisions, homeowork).  I thought maybe she was going through hormone changes.  I had lab work done at the doctor, had her checked out and everything was normal.  She started seeing a therapist in August and was a wreck by the beginning of October.  She was having emotional outbursts in the morning and after school that would last 2-3 hours.  She also starting doing these bizarre stretches where she would bend backwards and touch her foot to her head and hold for several seconds, stand up and redo the stretch. This would go on for 1-3 hours before school and after, sometimes at bedtime. She was flexible since she had been in gymnastics for three years. Along with this, there was EXCESSIVE worrying about everything. She continued with therapy and was diagnosed with OCD.  I thought this would go away but only continued to get worse.  Her mornings consisted of waking at 600 am, counting in bed 20-30 mins, crying on the toilet for 20 min then of course her stretches and trying to decide which counting pattern she would use for them.  Sometimes she would sit in the hallway and lay on the ground in a fetal position and cry because she was so worried about her stretches and what might happen at school.  A couple of times I had to physically take her out of bed or off the toilet.  There was also high anxiety before her gymnastics class.  This went on thru November and so did therapy.  The therapist and I thought meds may be the only way to get resolve.  I was quite worried about having my nine year old take chemicals, especially with her brain not fully developed. I took her to her doctor and he was pretty lax about the whole thing (while I am sobbing).  He thought she should just continue with therapy and CBT and EMDR.  I also asked him about something called 5-htp but he was not sure what dosage to use so I skipped it. November 30 th was her last day of school......Dec 1st I woke her at 600am and she immediately began to sob and worry about her stretches.  That is when I started my search.  I called the local hospital for any kind of intense psychiatric care locally.  He stated that their program was full but adults only.  I reached out to a major university 5 miles away and was told to get on the waiting list. I searched and searched, made several phone calls to the west side of the state, and the east side and another major college but she was too young or there was a waiting list.........some even said she should be in a hospital.  During that day my daughter was making some pretty dark statements.  The worst being that if she died she would not have to worry any more and she could have fun and not have OCD anymore.  Not sure what to do, I took her to the ER the next morning thinking I could get her admitted for a partial program somewhere. And they were able to get an appt for her the following Monday at a facility an hour and half away (I had called them but they never called back).  We arrived Monday and met with one of the doctors.  I was feeling better now that whe was finally going to get some resolve. Well talking with this doctor he thought she should be hospitalized and it was required to be on meds for the partial (full day therapy).  Oh yeah, there was a waiting list!!!! I was furious and was basically begging this man to get her help.  I told him I was scared of the SSRI and he stated OCD is a serotonin imbalance and meds and therpay were the only way..........get on the waiting list.  If you do a general search on line for OCD, it says the same thing plus CBT and EMDR.  

On the way home I thought I might have a nervous break down and was terrified, but that just made me more determined

The next day I took her to the doctor and filled a script for 12.5 of zoloft.  I continued to search in the middle of the night and the following morning for something else but I wasnt sure what.  I even checked out medical marajuana but there were too many side effects.On a whim, I did a brief search for chiropractic care and OCD but did not find much.  I resorted to youtube and found a doctor in another state that sounded interesting. He was a chiropratic neurologist and treats kids with OCD.  I searched into this more and thought this may be my answer.  I thought i was going out on a limb, but I was too desparate to care.  I checked my state and only found six of them.  I searched all of them and found one on the east side of the state (1 1/2 hr away) that specifically treats kids with OCD, ADHD, ADD and autism.  He also works for the state as an expert witness for injury cases and is a state medical evaluater.  I thought  about it and decided to make an appt. and was there is three days.  THE BEST DECISION IN THIS WHOLE THING!!!!! I wanted her fixed, not just a band aid!!!!

At her first appt he determined she has a severe right brain delay causing OCD, balance issues and has scoliosis (determined by xray). I have learned so much from this experience that i hope this can help some one else. We drive to this doctor twice a week now but treatment will reduce to once a week for about 1 1/2 months. SHE  gets adjustments and right brain therapy (piano tiles, color tiles, balance board, canon balls and figure 8's).  We also decided on 100 mg of 5-htp but will taper off eventually.  He also said to start a pro-biotic NOW.  In this process I have learned that scoliosis may affect how the stocmach funtions due to a pinched nerve.  I have also learned that serotonin is produced in the stomach and communicates with the brain via tenth cranial/vagus nerve.  If the stomach is not properly functioning then that may produce less serotonin to the brain (right side).  And yes, PANDAS is real (I was told it was not). If you have stomach bacteria caused from a strep infection or over use of antibiotics, the will cause problems.  Interesting that all the psychs I talked to, not one mentioned this type of care, PANDAS is fake and simple probiotic might help.  

I also learned that in the 20's and 30's there were chiropractic psych wards that treated people and after treatment for a few months, 70% of them were released to live healthy lives.  In the 40' and 50's insurance companies stopped coverage and these places closed. 

We still have about 8 treatments left but it is well worth the time.  She is not 100% but is so much better.  Seh has melt downs but they last 15 min every three days or so, she still counts some and still has a dark thought here an there.  She now laughs and enjoys life more as a nine year old should.  I suggest the following terms to search on your own due to the complexity: PANDAS, gut brain axis, gut brain connection, Dr. Mercola, scoliosis and mental health, gut bacteria, gut flora, vagus nerve and chiropracitc neurologist.  I hope  some one can use this and get help for themselves or their loved one.