Monday, April 13, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 7
Student struggles with obsessive condition
By Lisa Stevens John
jlohn@kansan.com.
Kansan staff writer.
Today, when Marci has thoughts of harming her boyfriend with a knife or a gun, she says to herself: "It's okay, it's just OCD."
Obsessive-compulsive disorders trap an estimated two percent of people in a constant struggle between perceived worries and reality. The good news is, it can be helped.
Some who suffer from OCD may wash their hands repeatedly, obsessively count and touch things, follow rituals before leaving the house, avoid stepping on cracks, or fear catching germs from other people.
This is Marci's worst fear.
One of the most devastating symptoms of OCD may be the fear of harming those closest to you.
Marci is a student at the University of Kansas who volunteered for an interview on the condition that her real name not be used.
Marci is a tall, brown-haired young lady who speaks in staccato. She moves cohesively from one topic to another, sometimes punctuating new thoughts quickly by saying: "Okay. Move on. Nextth."
Marci said she has had symptoms of OCD for as long as she can remember. She recalls that as a child she would not go to sleep at night until her father tested the smoke alarms. She began having bad thoughts about her parents
— calling them bad names in her mind — around the age of 10, she said. When playing tennis as a teen-ager, Marci developed a ritual of walking up to the net and touching it a certain number of times before each set.
During her later teen-age years, Marci feared that she would hurt her parents. The fear enveloped her life.
"During the night, I would get up to go to the bathroom and I would start obsessing about my fear," Marci said. "I would think, oh my God, what if I were to go into the kitchen and get a knife and hurt them."
The person with OCD will obsess about whatever is the most important thing in their life. Marci said.
"Then, I go to college," she said. "I meet the man of my dreams — we've been together for two years now, and he's the most important thing in my life."
"And so there we go — let's have thoughts about him. And the thoughts were: I'm afraid I'm going to take a knife or a gun and hurt him."
It was only when Marci would actually hold a knife in her hand that she felt calm, she said.
"I'm one of the non-violent people I know," she said. "I would never hurt anybody. When I get the knife in my hand, I realize that it's not the thing that is so bad. It's the thought."
The thoughts have recently begun to improve, thanks to research she has done, to counseling which has taught her behavior modification, and through the use of Zoloft, an antidepressant which has been found to alleviate the symptoms of OCD.
Jim Kreider, a counselor at the University of Kansas Counseling and Psychological Services, said OCD is more common than most people think. Kreider currently is counseling four KU students who have OCD.
"It's very challenging because whatever one tries to do, it often feeds back into the same obsessive thought pattern," Kreider said.
One of the first steps in working with someone who has OCD is to help them understand they are not crazy. Kreider said.
Marci agreed and told how she came upon this realization several years ago.
"I went into a bookstore and I went to the psychology section. I had never done this before. I picked up a book and opened the page and it was me — it was me — on that page. I sat down on the floor and cried because I felt so relieved to know I was not crazy."
Marci soon sought psychiatric help, and six months ago, she agreed to add the medication to her behavioral and thought modification techniques.
The medication has helped, she said. Though she still fears that she will harm someone she loves, Marci is able to remind herself that it is just OCD that causes the thoughts.
But she has no false hopes of curing her disorder forever.
"What happens with OCD is you have traces of it throughout your life," Marci said. "But you really get it — like it hits — at 19 years of age. You're becoming an adult, you're faced with all these life stresses and it just comes soaring."
But Marci is determined to deal with OCD. Everyone has obstacles in life, she said.
"This is my challenge and there is a reason for it. Yeah, I have problems, I struggle sometimes, but deal. There is no point in whining."
Preschool kids get social skills from program
Katie Burford
Today, Bobby and Annie broke ground on their new home. Unfortunately, the structure will probably be a forgotten heap of rubble by naptime, but they are not too concerned about that now.
Special to the Kansan
Bobby and Annie are children in Sunnyside preschool, a program operated by the department of human development and family life at the University of Kansas. Watching them interact, it is easy to forget that they are just four years old.
Kara Arensberg, Lawrence graduate teaching assistant, said that infancy to 10 years old was a critical time for children.
"If they don't receive the proper experiences and stimulation during this time, then chances are they will be developmentally impaired later in life." she said.
Bobby is one of two boys in a group of seven children. Most of the children are playing dress-up but Bobby is not interested and casts a disapproving eye at the other boy who has already donned pastel yellow chiffon.
The teacher puts on a dress to show Bobby how much fun it is, but he is unconvinced and wanders off to play with Legos in the corner.
"Two-and-half to five-year-old children often stick close to the teacher or play individually with a toy, but they are also beginning to have more complex social interactions." Arensberg said.
Annie has put on a flattering floral print sundress with a scarf wrapped around her head for accent and a large pair of sunglasses that swallow her face. She notices Bobby in the corner alone, and she discretely breaks away from the group and makes her way toward him.
Bobby looks up from his construction and smiles widely when he sees Annie approach. She asks him what he is building. He goes into great length about the intricacies of his fabrication and Annie listens intently.
She asks Bobby questions and Bobby nods and looks her in the eye while she speaks. After several minutes of this interaction, the two move side by side and begin building the house together.
Wilma Holt, instructor in human development and family life, said that the department gave children free play time so that they could begin experimenting with social interaction in a safe environment.
"Dramatic play is a very important part of development," Holt said.
How Much Will The IRS Give To You??
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Workstation Office Spaces in the Kansas Union O&L Office for next year are available.
Registered Student Organizations may pick up an application in the Kansas Union at the Organizations and Leadership Office or the SUA Office on Level 4.
DEADLINE
Return Applications to the SUA Office by NOON on Wednesday, April 22.
STUDENT SENATE CANDIDATES DEBATE MONDAY, APRIL 13, 1998
Come see the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates from the Campus Cause and Delta Force coalitions debate the important issues of this Student Senate election.
Date: Monday, April 13, 1998
Time: 8:00-9:30p.m.
Place: Big 12 Room
Panelists: Ann Eversole, Associate Dean of Student Life Diana Carlin, Professor, Communication Studies Michael Kaufman, Elections Commission Member
Questions: Students are encouraged to submit debate questions to the Office of Student Life,133 Strong Hall by Friday noon, or e-mail questions to commish@eagle.cc.ukans.edu.
SPONSORED BY THE K.U. STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS COMMISSION AND SUA
Remember: The elections will be held next Wednesday and Thursday, April 15th & 16th.
You must have your old KU i.d. card with current registration in order to be eligible to vote!!