Reborn dolls...I just think they're sad...

[QueenIsabella]

Agreed. My therapist did not give me the doll but he agrees that it is a helpful thing for me to have. I am also improving with the combination of therapy, meds and my tools (doll, music and even textured items I carry with me.) A month ago, I still needed my parents to order for me at a restaurant. Now, if we are here in town, I can order for myself. Doll or no doll.

What meds are you on medication for your anxiety? I'm curious, because I have a DS19 with social anxiety. He was diagnosed over the summer, initially refused meds, and has now agreed to go back and try them. He is generally very resistant to meds, so this is a big step for him. He sees a therapist as well. Ordering food in a restaurant is very difficult for him, too. Interestingly, though, this week he did purchase items in two different stores on his own--neither was a familiar store. We've been trying to help him with this, mostly by going to a few stores with him. Repetition and familiarity seem to help our son a lot. We also try to do things like, go to Walmart shop when it's not very crowded.

 

[MinnieMouse84]

What meds are you on medication for your anxiety? I'm curious, because I have a DS19 with social anxiety. He was diagnosed over the summer, initially refused meds, and has now agreed to go back and try them. He is generally very resistant to meds, so this is a big step for him. He sees a therapist as well. Ordering food in a restaurant is very difficult for him, too. Interestingly, though, this week he did purchase items in two different stores on his own--neither was a familiar store. We've been trying to help him with this, mostly by going to a few stores with him. Repetition and familiarity seem to help our son a lot. We also try to do things like, go to Walmart shop when it's not very crowded.

I know you didn't ask me, but I also have severe social anxiety. I take Lexapro for anxiety/depression and Xanax in emergencies (when I feel a panic attack coming on). Best wishes to your son.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I find judging people helps me with my anxiety.

LOL

 

[aristocatz]

I wonder why they don't get a dog or a cat. Then they would get all the love they give back multiplied by a million. Adoring eyes, wet kisses, purring. It can be wonderful!

I agree. Having a pet would be a great way to fill that void. The doll thing just does not seem healthy. Setting a reborn doll on a shelf to memorialize your loss seems healthy. Coping with the loss of a child by pretending to care for a doll is just not reality. I don't mean to be judgmental-I just worry for the well-being of a vulnerable person setting themselves up to a detachment from reality.

 

[aristocatz]

What meds are you on medication for your anxiety? I'm curious, because I have a DS19 with social anxiety. He was diagnosed over the summer, initially refused meds, and has now agreed to go back and try them. He is generally very resistant to meds, so this is a big step for him. He sees a therapist as well. Ordering food in a restaurant is very difficult for him, too. Interestingly, though, this week he did purchase items in two different stores on his own--neither was a familiar store. We've been trying to help him with this, mostly by going to a few stores with him. Repetition and familiarity seem to help our son a lot. We also try to do things like, go to Walmart shop when it's not very crowded.

I tried anti-anxiety meds for years & the only one that ever worked for me was Ativan. It's the only one I use now as well. It's very low pressure for someone hesitant to take meds, because you use it as needed when you feel major anxiety or a panic attack coming on, & seems to work pretty on the spot. Always check with your doctor of course, but Ativan is the only one that has ever seemed to work for me.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Yeah so sad. She should fill the void with normal things like wasting away in front of the TV or accumulating 8,758 posts on a message board in 11 years.

 

[reader_girl]

What meds are you on medication for your anxiety? I'm curious, because I have a DS19 with social anxiety. He was diagnosed over the summer, initially refused meds, and has now agreed to go back and try them. He is generally very resistant to meds, so this is a big step for him. He sees a therapist as well. Ordering food in a restaurant is very difficult for him, too. Interestingly, though, this week he did purchase items in two different stores on his own--neither was a familiar store. We've been trying to help him with this, mostly by going to a few stores with him. Repetition and familiarity seem to help our son a lot. We also try to do things like, go to Walmart shop when it's not very crowded.

I'm taking Zoloft. 50mg at the moment. It was upped from 25mg this summer.
Being familiar with people and places of social places is a huge help for me as well. Good luck to you and your son.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I appreciate the answers from people with social anxiety. We'll see what his doctor suggests. I'm a little concerned because you hear about teen boys having troubles with anxiety meds. But, DS is 19 and lives at home, so at least I can keep an eye on things.

 

[aristocatz]

I appreciate the answers from people with social anxiety. We'll see what his doctor suggests. I'm a little concerned because you hear about teen boys having troubles with anxiety meds. But, DS is 19 and lives at home, so at least I can keep an eye on things.

You should also ask the doctor some info about cognitive behavioral therapy-also very effective non-medicine treatment for many people.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What meds are you on medication for your anxiety? I'm curious, because I have a DS19 with social anxiety. He was diagnosed over the summer, initially refused meds, and has now agreed to go back and try them. He is generally very resistant to meds, so this is a big step for him. He sees a therapist as well. Ordering food in a restaurant is very difficult for him, too. Interestingly, though, this week he did purchase items in two different stores on his own--neither was a familiar store. We've been trying to help him with this, mostly by going to a few stores with him. Repetition and familiarity seem to help our son a lot. We also try to do things like, go to Walmart shop when it's not very crowded.

Keep at it. Success breeds success!

I want to say that BIOFEEDBACK is non drug and recommended by the Mayo Clinic. It is meant to reduce stress in the body by lowering cortisol. It is a lifestyle change to meditate/biofeedback and frankly I cannot for the life me get my family to do it.

As I am sure you know, dealing with rigidity is difficult. When it is integrated as part of the personality the person may not change. When I mean "change", I am talking about "exercises" that the counselor will give to the person and they do not do them.

As far as the med question, it is really trial and error and seeing a good psychiatrist. I think my family has been through a lot of the common meds (SSRIs) prescribed for anxiety. (Lexapro, Prozac, Celexa, Paxil, Zoloft, Viibryd ) What combo/pill works for one does not work for all.

There are some meds you should stay away from, like propranolol or other beta blockers (bad for heart). Pristique is not so great either however that is prescribed to women because it helps with hot flashes. I say it is not great because it has to be taken at the same time every day do to the fact that there is no build up in the blood and you go into withdrawal pretty quickly if you start missing doses. You have to be timely with that med.

There are meds that are stronger, like lithium, which have very serious side effects.

My 25yo dd's psychiatrist put her on Klonopin. I am not happy about that since it is addictive and may lead her back to drug addiction. Stayed tuned there. Grrr...

Then you have an even stronger med family called MAOIs. They are last resort meds. I do know someone on them and it really helped him tremendously, he is schizophrenic. So even though he is on this scary med he is not in psychosis anymore.

Bottom line from my experience meds help or may even be a necessity however the person has to physically do "things" socially or what not in order to continue to improve. Good Luck to you! Sounds like you are doing your best.

 

[aprilgail]

Lots of folks in nursing homes carry baby dolls with them in their wheel chairs. But I've never seen anyone who was actually lucid and not in a nursing home do it.

I can totally get older people that are not with it having these dolls but definitely odd for anyone else to be walking around with a fake baby unless you are a little kid.

 

[QueenIsabella]

Keep at it. Success breeds success!

I want to say that BIOFEEDBACK is non drug and recommended by the Mayo Clinic. It is meant to reduce stress in the body by lowering cortisol. It is a lifestyle change to meditate/biofeedback and frankly I cannot for the life me get my family to do it.

As I am sure you know, dealing with rigidity is difficult. When it is integrated as part of the personality the person may not change. When I mean "change", I am talking about "exercises" that the counselor will give to the person and they do not do them.

As far as the med question, it is really trial and error and seeing a good psychiatrist. I think my family has been through a lot of the common meds (SSRIs) prescribed for anxiety. (Lexapro, Prozac, Celexa, Paxil, Zoloft, Viibryd ) What combo/pill works for one does not work for all.

There are some meds you should stay away from, like propranolol or other beta blockers (bad for heart). Pristique is not so great either however that is prescribed to women because it helps with hot flashes. I say it is not great because it has to be taken at the same time every day do to the fact that there is no build up in the blood and you go into withdrawal pretty quickly if you start missing doses. You have to be timely with that med.

There are meds that are stronger, like lithium, which have very serious side effects.

My 25yo dd's psychiatrist put her on Klonopin. I am not happy about that since it is addictive and may lead her back to drug addiction. Stayed tuned there. Grrr...

Then you have an even stronger med family called MAOIs. They are last resort meds. I do know someone on them and it really helped him tremendously, he is schizophrenic. So even though he is on this scary med he is not in psychosis anymore.

Bottom line from my experience meds help or may even be a necessity however the person has to physically do "things" socially or what not in order to continue to improve. Good Luck to you! Sounds like you are doing your best.

I appreciate your insights. I don't think my son would be receptive to meditation, but when we see the doctor, I'll be sure to bring up non-medical therapies, as well as meds. On the good side, he's receptive to doing things like going to the stores with us, just to get more familiar with them. I was surprised he chose on his own to make two purchases this week--up until now, we would talk about it, and usually he likes me next to him (staying silent) when he does it. Last semester, he got an A in his Communications class, which included him completing a group project and giving two speeches. So, we are making slow, steady progress. His diagnosis was only 5 months ago, but I do think it helps him to know he's not just "weird", he has specific, treatable challenges that need to be dealt with.

 

[StephAkridge89]

As a woman who is now in her 30s and has lived her whole life on the Autism spectrum, I can deal with the ignorance of the comments in this forum. But what I don't like is the fact that some of these commenters are not doing their research on the purpose of these reborn dolls. I have one for therapy purposes (because when I was 19, I was coerced into getting my tubes tied by a very abusive family member). It (or she) fills the void. I still haven't found a suitable partner to spend the rest of my life with. But I need to work on healing me first before that can be done because I have a lot of trust issues from my past.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

It probably would seem weird if I saw it BUT people do all kinds of socially acceptable things to quell anxiety and pain.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

And people think Im weird for putting clothes on my Yorkie...I mean, she's a dog, but she does get cold.

I finally caved and we got our dogs sweaters this winter.

And ... now I see this thread is from 2013.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

wow..... I kind of agree with a pp....WHY ???Are we supposed to abandon all reason now ?... think about it!
Having had grandparents with dementia, I know firsthand that a baby doll is very comforting to them, b/c it reminds them of the days when their own kids were babies,and that's where their minds were stuck.... I don't know anything about a lady that gives away teddy bears....
but what happens when some sane person at a daycare tells one of these women,"No, we don't babysit for dolls, this is a nursery for actual humans" ....then what? what happens when someone draws the line for a seemingly sane person,and tells them that their doll will be fine waiting in the car while they eat dinner....
Should my actual human child wait in a doctors office behind a plastic doll with an 'illness'?
I understand the concept of 'it makes them happy' but that doesn't equal 'it's a mentally healthy thing to do'.......
(FWIW,I dislike dogs being treated like babies also, but at least a dog is a living breathing being with actual needs to care for, not a plastic doll)
I feel sad for a person who feels the need to pretend to this extent...

Wow no one ever said that they were expected to stand in line behind a doll. Seems you don't feel sad but are judging. Lets all leave people alone. I get it would seem weird but who cares.

 

[GreatLakes]

Zombie thread!

 

[TLSnell1981]

Zombie thread!

I get sucked in every time!

 

[hsmamato2]

Wow no one ever said that they were expected to stand in line behind a doll. Seems you don't feel sad but are judging. Lets all leave people alone. I get it would seem weird but who cares.

zombie thread

 

[ashley0139]

I read the whole thread and this has happened twice now. New people to the forum coming onto this thread to defend their use of a reborn doll. Very strange phenomenon for a Disney board.