Finding the Calm in the Storm

We were encouraged by the psychologist to try several different things to help Selena calm down when she her anxieties are running out of control. He suggested things like playing with play dough, card or board games, reading, or anything else we could engage her in. We have also started a journal of sorts of our days to log her anxieties and OCD as well to the activity that brings her calm.

All of us are aware of those with OCD and how they use numbers or counting as an attempt to combat what the OCD is telling them. For example they will have to wash their hands so many times, go in and out of a door so many times, or count to a certain number. Many will avoid numbers seen as bad luck, others will have certain numbers that are good luck. All of this becomes very exhausting for the person as they attempt to find a calm.

This past week we have tried several things with Selena to find things that will calm her down. We have also found many things that just do not work. We tried the play dough, but that had a minimum to no affect for her. We tried coloring again with a minimum to no affect. Reading does help so long as it isn’t a book that contains something in it that sets off her OCD. Here are the things we are finding that have proven to be where she finds the most calm.

A nature walk followed by a craft:

A game of checkers or tic-tac toe, I guess the process of strategy draws her away from the anxiety.

Mental math, or the use of manipulates to revisit or learn a new concept.

We still want to try painting, different card games, as well as to listen to Selena’s ideas.

We will keep you updated and posted on the techniques we discover and learn that Selena is incorporating into her routine to calm the storm.