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Replies to '07/11 What’s Up, Doc?'
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July 19, 2007, 12:48 pm PDT
 Quote From: skoolcounselor I think there are two issues here: 1) the (often misunderstood) medical diagnosis of encopresis. a valid condition that can be well-managed with the help of a medical professional. 2) behavior of the two kids discussed on the show. the fact that they do not clean the bathroom after themselves, sit in their excrement (even after being hounded by their parents), etc. suggests that there is more that needs to be addressed than just the diagnosis. while the boys are certainly not culpable for the disorder, they are certainly old enough to clean the bathroom after themselves. likewise, they should certainly be involved in the laundering of their clothes. because this affliction can be long-term, i would suggest the parents engage these boys in some self-management activities. while the boys may not be able to feel the bowel movement coming, they are certainly able to excuse themselves politely to the restroom to clean up the result. let's give them kids opportunities to exhibit control over some aspect of the disease. train them on how to excuse themselves from different situations (when an accident has occured), train them on how to pre-spot and treat laundry stains, model proper nutrition and hygenic habits. it seems to me that the lack of bowel control these boys suffer has led to a certain level of apathy. there is simply no excuse for sitting in their dirty clothes until their video game has ended. You've made a very interesting point regarding the behavior of the two mentioned in the show. First, let me say that I am extrememly understanding of this issue, so my point of view is both sympathetic and curious at the same time.
My 7ry old daughter suffers from encopresis, which is so often totally misunderstood by family and friends. However, she often takes care of cleaning herself up at school if there is a problem. Fortunately, we've been blessed with some very understanding teachers who knew that if she had been in the bathroom longer than usual, that meant that she was having a problem. In that case, they would send in a well-trusted peer or perhaps a teachers aide to see if she needed her backpack, which always contained extra underwear and wipes, along with baggies to put her "dirty" underwear in so there would not be any smell. Additionally, if she goes to a friend's house and there is even a remote possibility there could be a problem, I always send with her, in either a small canvas tote bag or a small nylon carrying bag, a few changes of underwear and some wipes.
Bottom line is, I've tried my best to help her empower herself. There will be accidents, and I will not always be there to help her. She has to help herself, and she does. Perhaps the boys featured on Dr. Phil have become so apathetic to the situation that they simply don't care about themselves anymore - I don't know. I know for a fact that the medical community often dismisses encopresis, or only treat the physical aspect of it. There is so much socially and mentally that a child must deal with that often falls to the parent to handle. And if the parent is already stressed by the situation or doesn't have the tools to help their child, the social aftermath of the disorder is often left untreated. But aside from being your child's soft place in the world, I feel that it is equally as important to teach them that this disorder is not their fault, and to build the child's self-esteem so that they care about themselves and want to be the best person they can be, which means making the best out of any situation they are given. Again, this is all just my opinion. |
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