Ditching the Glitch: Lucas’s Story of Courage and Healing

At just twelve years old, Lucas was overwhelmed by fear. His hands were cracked and bleeding from compulsive washing—five pumps of soap, again and again—trying to scrub away the anxiety that had taken hold. Diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Lucas was terrified of bees, of being poisoned, of simply being outside.

His family felt helpless. “Lucas was scared of the world,” recalls his mom, Alethea. When he began talking about hurting himself, they knew they needed more than reassurance—they needed real help.

They found it at Bradley Hospital’s Pediatric Anxiety Research Center (PARC).

Through PARC’s partial hospitalization program, Lucas received intensive, exposure-based therapy—not just in a clinic, but in the places where his fears lived: his backyard, his school, his community. With the support of his care team, Lucas slowly rebuilt his confidence. He named his OCD “Glitch,” and with daily coaching, he learned to fight back. His grandfather even made him a shirt that read “Ditch the Glitch,” which Lucas wore proudly to his sessions.

Today, Lucas is back in school. He uses fidget toys, deep breathing, and grounding techniques to manage tough moments. He checks in with a resource teacher and knows how to ask for help.

“Lucas still has tough moments,” Alethea shares. “But now he says, ‘I’ve got this. Glitch can take a hike.’ That strength didn’t come from nowhere. It came from Bradley and the PARC program. And it saved our family.”

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