`Magic Games’ eyes disorder

POLLY’S MAGIC GAMES: A Child’s View of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, by Constance H. Foster, illustrated by Edwin A. Chase, Dilligaf Publishing, 64 Court St., Ellsworth, 20 pages, $12.95.

Polly and Annie, 10 years old and best friends forever, had so much in common they seemed just like twins. They liked to ride bikes, look for frogs, sleep over at each other’s house, and have Fluffernutter picnics. But lately, Polly was beginning to do things that seemed strange to Annie. She would count every step on the way to her bedroom, and recount them from the bottom if she missed a step. Or she would flick the bathroom light switch on and off, always five times. Annie didn’t like this behavior, and finally said so. Polly’s behavior threatens to break up the friendship, until her mother decides to take her to a doctor who explains that Polly is suffering from a disease called obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD.

This disorder afflicts one out of every 20 people, and is caused by a chemical imbalance of the brain. As Foster explains in the afterword, this disorder often goes undiagnosed. People are ashamed and want to pretend everything is fine. Children who display the repetitive behavior characteristic of this disorder are often admonished to “just stop it,” and labeled as stubborn troublemakers.

Foster is a resident of Ellsworth and a member of the Dilligaf Network which provides support to hundreds of people with this disorder and their families. She urges parents of these children to seek the medical assistance their child needs as this is not something they will outgrow. She also encourages educators to learn about this disorder so that they can help prevent a child from slipping through the cracks of the system unnoticed. As she states, “You could possibly be the one person who could make a difference in what type of path that child’s life is to take.”

Foster concludes the book with a list of reading and reference materials and a partial listing of clinics and research units available for children.

Designed as a picture book, this is an important tool in the effort to educate children and adults about OCD. Partial funding of all sales of this book and an earlier book titled “Funny, You Don’t Look Crazy” goes directly toward neurological research at the appropriate units at UCLA, Massachusetts General Hospital, Princeton, Stanford, Harvard and the OC Foundation. Share it with a friend — maybe you’ll end up making some young person’s life a whole lot better.

Judy Eyerer is a free-lance writer who lives in Bangor.