Hi all,
OCD is an anxiety disorder that psychiatric clinicians recognize to be more
common than originally thought.  OCD is sometimes used to describe people
who are perfectionist, require a certain order or have rigid routines. (Oh
no I think I fit that definition)  Even though many of use have these
personalities traits, people with this disorder lead disrupted lives.  The
disorder has two components- Obsession are persistent thought that intrude
the consciousness mind and the person is unable to control them; Compulsions
are behaviors that are repetitive and ritualistic, i.e. in PP frequent
bathing baby, changing clothes.  Many of these mother have horrifying
thought of doing harm to their babies.  But because OCD is not a psychotic
illness these mothers know there thoughts are wrong and they feel guilt and
shame about them.  We also need to remember that these mothers do not act
upon there thought!
OCD usually worsens during pregnancy and pp.  The thought on this is that
estrogen and oxytocin plays a part in this disease and this maybe the reason
Marci's mother stated that hormones made her OCD worse.  This mother
probably needed to be start on meds while pregnant and by the time she got
to the pp period and breastfeeding her symptoms hopefully would have been
under control.  Antidepression(SSRI) medication have been shown to be most
useful in the treatment of OCD, but in the treatment of OCD the meds may
need to be at a higher dose.  Six antidepression meds shown to be useful are
Luvox, Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Anafranil and Effexor somewhat
effective.  Many of these meds have been used during breastfeeding without
problems for the infant.  Anyone with OCD also need Behavioral Modification
therapy to change their compulsive behavior.
What's an LC to do when her mom's are not getting mental health help?  She
goes to Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner school!
Crystal Stearns RNC, MS, IBCLC
Mercy Memorial Health Center
Ardmore, OK  73401

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