Wanda's Secrets, Chapter 4

copyright 2001

Wanda's Secrets, A Story About a Girl with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Chapter 4: The Secrets are Out

Wanda sat next to her mother in the doctor's office. She looked down at her hands, folded in her lap. How did she get into this? Why couldn't she just stop washing her hands? They were red and dry and they hurt.

"Wanda Simpson!" Wanda jumped when she heard her name called. This was it.

Doctor Martin asked Wanda a million questions. It seemed like a million anyway. Wanda's mom answered some of them. Then he had her leave the room and talked to Wanda alone. That was okay because she felt like she knew him by then. He was a nice guy. He wasn't at all surprised that she washed her hands up to 100 times some days.

"All those questions were tests to find out how your brain works, Wanda," Doctor Martin said. "The tests show that you have OCD. That means your brain works different. Not bad, it doesn't work in a bad way. It just works differently."

"Is there anything you can do to make my brain work right?" Wanda asked.

Dr. Martin smiled. "Yes, we can help. You're lucky because today we have good treatments for OCD. We'll send you to a therapist that can help with special kind of therapy. It's called cognitive-behavior therapy. We'll give you medicine that can help, as well. Together these things help your brain learn new ways to work. Ways that won't make you so nervous and scared. That'll help you stop washing so much."

"It sounds scary!" Wanda said. "I've tried to stop and it's hard."

"Yes, it sure is scary," Dr. Martin said. "It's hard work, but it's worth it. You'll feel better and be proud of your success."

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