UPDATES (1 = Low; 10 = High):  Conducted by Diana

DAN B. (5 – 7):  Dan said he usually is at a 7, but he is aggressively tackling hoarding.  His attachments to items that he has collecting and planning to throw away has caused some increased anxiety.  He is very determined to conquer hoarding and to get rid of the items he has accumulated.  He is even willing to get an accountability partner, if necessary.  Anyone in our group feel led to volunteer, let me know.

Jim M.:  Tom said that he could rate himself a 10 because the gamma-knife operation was so successful.  He had the operation on August 30, so he now feels confident he can say that it was successful since he is doing so well after the 3-month period.  He is able to work and do the things with no intrusive thoughts.  He is still on Anafronil and at times wonders if the medication is helping or the operation.  He is more confident it is the surgery, but will know soon since he is going to slowly get off the med.

JANICE (5):  Janice graciously shared her OCD story with the newcomers.  She shared she could identify with Renee and Richard’s son (see below) and gave examples from her own life.  She shared she felt OCD is increased with stress, change, and loss.  She shared her hospice work as nurse has been rewarding, but at times was difficult dealing with the harder issues: obviously the trauma of family members losing a loved one.  She shared since being diagnosed she has applied the steps in Brain Lock to overcome her OCD. 

BARRY:  Gary joined the group for the first time.  He struggles with scrupulosity.  He has difficulty determining “how big” a sin really is and how big of an issue he needs to make of particular sins.  He was diagnosed in 1984 and tries to attack OCD in any way that he can find helpful.  He has a wife who cares for their young child all week, so it is hard for him to get away on Sunday.  But his wife is very supportive of him getting help.  Barry mentioned after Dan’s teaching that Scripture has been very helpful to him with OCD and dealing with insomnia. 

MICHELLE AND DOUG have an 11-year old son, Dean,  with OCD.  They are trying to gather information to help him.  Michelle shared that she also has had OCD since childhood.  She got help in her 20s for panic disorder and OCD. She felt it was very helpful since she had a wonderful counselor.  She is thankful that she is able to greatly understand, comfort, and support her son since she has been through the same thing. 

DOUG:  Doug, Dean’s  father, said that just knowing what it is that is causing their son’s problems has been very helpful to Doug, Michelle, and their son as well.  He wants to be very understanding when it comes to his son’s struggles.  He is trying to do whatever it takes to be supportive in ways that will help his son.  Doug said that he is at a 6 in his personal life.

FRANK (3):  Frank said that his sinus problem was causing him a lot of discomfort lately, especially during group.  He wanted to come to group at least for awhile though.  He also turned 60 on Wednesday.  CONGRATULATIONS, Frank.  He feels that the group is so helpful because, as he put it, “We speak the same language and understand each other.”  It seems that with other people at times they speak a foreign language and vise versa.  Frank commended the parents in the group for supporting their children.  He found it so encouraging and uplifting to see and hear about parents who understand their kids.  Frank is working on balancing and focusing on what needs to be done, instead of letting OCD carry him away from his priorities.  He is somewhat weary fighting OCD, calling him away from these priorities.  He is also working on recognizing triggers ahead of time to be prepared for difficulties that could arise (Like a change in something so he can be prepared for it.).

DEBRA:  Debra said her son, Bill, is getting more clarity on what’s OCD and what is not, even though the week was still stressful.  The family has been discussing Bill going back to school while continuing out-patient therapy at his hospital, so he can move forward.  Debra said that she has been working on knowing when to push Bill forward and when not to.  Overall they are all working on trying to stay positive as well. 

Kurt (2): Jim gave a good definition of scrupulosity.  He said it is “unnecessary guilt regarding expectations from God and people.”  Doug had asked what it is.  Kurt has had a better week, though, focusing on God’s grace rather than on guilt that is unnecessary.  He continues to gain strength and help listening to Gregory Dickow show, “Ask the Pastor.”  The Pastor focuses a lot on grace for salvation which is what Kurt needs to hear.  He suggested that anyone who is struggling with scrupulosity would benefit by listening to the show.  Kurt is working on focusing on the Truth even if he hears something contrary to the truth of God’s word, or hears sermons about hell, etc.

JOHN ( 4.5):  John believes that contamination issues are only 25% of his problem.  Sunday was a hard day in this area after he thought he may have stepped in something on a walk in the morning.  He almost didn’t make it to the group because of his struggles that day, but we were all glad he did.  John suggested that we applaud him for his victory getting to group and being so open with his struggle.  John opened up about his past struggles as well.  His sleep is getting better with his recent medication.

DIANA:   Diana’s boss is home all the time for the next six weeks and she also will be caring for the newborn and the 2-year old who probably has ADD.  As a result, Diana’s OCD has been somewhat worse.  Her husband found out that his hours may keep them apart a lot so he may need a new job in the future which has caused some anxiety.  Diana has been applying the Bible’s advise and the 12-step motto to take “one day at a time” and gather strength for the day from God, which has been very helpful. 

GOD’S WORD:  Focus on the Future 

            Dan B. shared a vital and pertinent truth.  2007 is behind us and 2008 stretches before us.  In keeping with that theme Dan examined Paul’s words from Philippians 3:13 and 14: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”   Again Isaiah 43: 18 and 19 state, “Forget the former things; do not dwell in the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the desert.”

Dan encouraged the group to memorize Scripture, saying that doing so is very helpful to focus on God and change our behavior in overcoming OCD.  We can “change channels” in our thinking, so to speak, turning from OCD to Biblical thoughts. 

What we give our attention to consumes us.  Dan tries to keep one ear to what’s around him and one ear to God’s Holy Spirit and hearing God’s voice.  To underscore what he had been saying he quoted from Philippians 4:4 ff.  “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

ADDED COMMENTS:  Diana writes that Dan did a great job and everyone said they got a lot out of his teaching!  The group expressed great appreciation for Dan and his teaching and the updates Diana did, which was so nice.

Note from Leonard:  Thank you for your prayers concerning my trip to Christian Healing Ministries’ 4-day conference in Jacksonville, Florida.  The focus was on:

• Physical healing
• Mental healing
• Inner personal healing
• Generational healing

I went down with a certain amount of trepidation, but never once was I asked to do anything that I didn’t feel well within my comfort zone. 

I look forward to sharing more specifics at our meeting this coming Sunday.

Dan called me yesterday to say how much love and support he had experienced within the group on the 13^th.  He also said that he will hate to miss this Sunday, since Friday he is leaving to see a relative in Orlando, Florida.  Let’s keep him in our prayers.

NEXT MEETINGS:  Sundays at Willow Barrington, 1 – 3 P.M., room 107

                                   The second and fourth Sundays of the month makes it:

·        January 27

·        February 10

·        February 24