These days I do not post unless there is something weighing heavily on my mind, and this post is no exception.
Last Friday, we had a behavioral assessment with Lorelai and her pediatrician (who specializes in behavior disorders). I came in the room with a literal list of behaviors and tendencies I have noticed with Lorelai. Some are more recent, and some have been characteristics of hers for years. After our assessment, her doctor diagnosed her with a General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and a degree of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). He informed me, at this point, Asperger's was still a possibility, but he was unable to diagnose her with such so early on in his evaluation. He recommended behavioral counseling with the option of introducing medication if counseling does not help her through her current issues. Basically, she falls in the "Syndrome Mix."
We met with the counselor today, and I am very encouraged. She is warm, friendly, and supportive. She uses art therapy and hands on applications. She is going to help Lorelai identify what anxiety is, what it feels like to her, and how to recognize the different intensities of anxiety with certain situations. She will work with her to relax on her routines, object placement, and repetitive actions.
While we are just starting out on this journey, I feel we are arming Lorelai with the skills she needs to go on and live a more peaceful life. While her anxiety, obsessions, and compulsions will never completely subside, the goal is to teach her to work through them and push past them to reach a more comfortable state of mind. Medication might be added, diagnosis might be altered, but the goal remains the same.
I struggled with sharing this with people outside the family. I felt by announcing this I would be labeling her with some sort of negativity. After thinking, stressing, researching, talking, and thinking about it again...and again, I decided that I will not let this diagnosis define her and restrict her. While it changes how she may process things, she is still wonderfully Lorelai...and being self aware and mentally fit is never a negative.
There are so many kids out there battling anxiety, OCD, autism, depression, self-esteem, etc. My child is very high-functioning with her issues, but other families are not so lucky. These diseases should not strike fear or concern. Each child with special needs, whether great or small, deserves patience and kindness. Lorelai has a long enough journey ahead of her without worrying about the stigmas that come with these labels. I won't hide her GAD/OCD because I am afraid how other's may react. If you have Lorelai in your life, you have all of Lorelai.
She is passionate, intelligent, clever, thoughtful, funny, kind, reflective, and honest. She's got this.
Not a doubt in my mind, she's got this.
M.LEWIS
