Blog Archives

NOT OTHERWISE DEFINED

BY PETE ROSCH

I am not really defined by my OCD, but some days it feels like I am. It dictates my behavior every minute of every day. It is perpetually in doubt as to whether I am doing things myself, or because I’m compelled. Meaningful moments outside of spelling are few and far between. Every moment is permanently possessed by compulsions. But I am not my OCD. Nor am I defined by my diagnosis of autism. I am Peter Rosch, fried food aficionado, reader of poetry, lover of music, and writer of this blog.

10/28/2024 1 Comment

Sedation Rocks

I am writing a follow-up to my last post. Last weekend I went to the new dentist. While I was pretty scared walking in, when we actually got to to the room, I was starting to calm down. Everyone there was nice, and not condescending. Then they asked me if it was ok to get an IV, and next thing I knew, it was over.

People should consider taking their nonspeaking children to sedation dentists. The experience was profoundly less traumatic than previous dentist visits. We need more dentists and doctors that understand our needs. We cannot control our anxiety, and thus, sedation is an humane act of kindness. Knowing I don’t have to dread the dentist anymore is beyond a relief.

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10/21/2024 1 Comment

Going To The Dentist

This weekend I have to go to the dentist. I am stressed already and it’s only Monday. Going to the dentist has always been horrible for me. I can’t bear sitting there and having someone mess around inside my mouth. I’m not sure what it is that freaks me out so much. It could be a sensory thing, I suppose. It feels disgusting to have something foreign in my mouth. I don’t even like having my teeth brushed by my Dad, but I can tolerate it…barely. But having a dentist stick all that stuff into my mouth? No thank you.

My Mom is my hero right now, because she found a sedation dentist. I can sleep through the whole thing. You cannot imagine my relief. So while I am stressed about going this coming weekend, it’s nothing compared to the past.

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10/7/2024 0 Comments

Trying Medicines

Getting the right medicines to help us can be difficult, but it can also be life altering. My parents have been trying to help me, but it was only in the last month that they succeeded. I want to say that Abilify barely made a difference but I cannot, as it would be a lie. It damn well changed everything. I feel like a new person. Using a scale from one to five, where five is the worst possible, my OCD has gone from a five to a two. I can think more clearly, and my thoughts are happier. I am calmer by a factor of a million.

So for all you parents who feel guilty for putting your children on meds, maybe it’s time to feel guilty for NOT putting them on meds. I was suffering more than I can say. I am not cured, but I am so much better already there are no words. For the sake of your suffering children, I can only beg you to consider trying. It can take years and scores of medicines that fail first, but in the end it is worth it.