- Claire Hamnes suffers from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and her symptoms have become so severe that her family has had to consider residential care for her.
- The 8-year-old from Billings, Montana, will be treated at a facility in Wisconsin, more than 1,000 miles away.
- Her mother, Nicole, described her daughter as “an outgoing and funny child” but said she had trouble getting dressed because of the static clinging to her clothes.
A girl from Montana plans to travel more than 1,000 miles for therapy to treat her severe symptoms of OCD, which has worsened to the point where she can’t even get dressed.
Claire Hamnes, 8, has severe obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Her mother, Nicole, said her daughter started showing signs of OCD at an early age, so she started taking medication and attending therapy sessions.
Claire is one of the estimated 2.5 million Americans who suffer from OCD, but scientists have yet to discover the true cause of OCD.
Nicole described her daughter as “outgoing and funny” but said she struggled to get dressed for school because there was so much static on her clothes.
talk to KPAXNicole told the outlet:At worst, she could not see her clothes or their arrangement. ”
Claire’s father, Eric, said Claire told him the clothes had too much static electricity.
Despite currently receiving medication and treatment, the family is asking for more support for Claire.
By July, Claire’s obsessions and anxiety had escalated to the point where Nicole and Eric considered putting her in residential treatment.
Because of her age, there are very limited pediatric OCD resources for children in the United States.
“We don’t have a full-fledged program in our state, and even in some surrounding states, and there’s no other program in the country that takes kids as young as hers,” Nicole said.
“She started expressing a lot of concerns about sensory issues around the age of two and a half.
“It’s really hard to follow her rules. She’s ‘just right OCD,’ so whatever her brain says is just right for her are the rules we have to follow.”
“There are good days, there are good moments. There are some very difficult moments in between.”
Nicole and Eric manage to find a residential treatment program in Wisconsin called Rogers Behavioral Health that they hope will help Claire.
The facility accepts children as young as 8, but Claire was only 7 when her family found the center this summer.
Nicole told KPAX that as soon as Claire turned 8 last month, she contacted the facility and was told to put her at the top of the list for treatment.
Unfortunately, when the family contacted the center as advised, they were told they would have to wait another two to three months for a space to become available.
Nicole said she and her daughter drove to Wisconsin from their home in Billings, Montana, where they plan to stay for the remainder of her treatment.
She said she was “sad and angry” when she learned her daughter would not be able to go to Rogers Behavioral Health sooner than originally thought.
“Six to eight weeks, but from what I’ve heard online from other parents, their kids have been there for over three and a half months,” Nicole said.
Insurance will cover most of Claire’s stay at the Rogers Center, but Nicole will have to stay close to the facility at her own expense to be with her daughter.
Therefore, the family GoFundMe page To help fund treatment.
“Due to Claire’s age and the severity of her obsession, the hospital is suggesting that a parent accompany her throughout the program, which is estimated to take six to eight weeks,” a post on the fundraising organization said. Ta.
After Claire completes the residential program, a transitional outpatient program lasting several weeks is highly recommended.
“The family expects to spend thousands of dollars on top of what they have already spent on mental health treatment for Claire and themselves.”
Nicole added, “The fact that we don’t have these resources in the state is just devastating.”
Johns Hopkins University defines ODD as a type of behavioral disorder that makes children uncooperative, defiant, and hostile.
The university also added that children with ODD may argue frequently with adults or refuse to do what is asked of them.
On the other hand, children with ADHD may have difficulty paying attention and controlling impulsive behavior.
People with ADHD have little control over these behaviors because they result from underlying neurological differences.
ADHD can cause significant impairment throughout the lifespan and in all areas of life, and without appropriate intervention, can have significant adverse outcomes.
But with evidence-based treatment and support, people with ADHD can embrace their strengths and interests, learn to cope with challenges, and live full and rewarding lives.