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Original poster

To ask if anyone has any experience of therapy that has worked for teenager with OCD?

89 replies

deaperatelyunhappyandscared · 01/12/2024 21:27

My dd15 has OCD, it usually involves rituals that she has to go through when showering / bathing and getting dried / hair etc.
She also gets hyper fixated on various things to do with her health and her appearance.
In the last month or so, it’s become so extreme, that her shower rituals are taking hours. She knows in her head that this isn’t “normal”, but feels that she has no control over it.
She has an occupational therapist, but it’s so difficult to get her to engage with any help, it hasn’t really made a difference. She’s seeing a psychiatrist in a few weeks to discuss the possibility of medication.
It’s exhausting for her and me, I’m a single
parent with one income and it’s becoming a financial strain. Obviously her mental
health is my first priority, so I do everything I can to try and help.
Does anyone have any experience of therapy that has been successful in the treatment of this type of OCD? Or any books you would recommend?
I know we can’t continue like this, but I’m so stuck.

OP posts:
Plastictrees · 01/12/2024 21:53

deaperatelyunhappyandscared · 01/12/2024 21:48

We’ve been Under CAMHS since she was 7, when she started pulling her eyelashes out. She had talking therapy and seemed a little
better, but from the age of about 10 I’d say things got worse. When she started senior school, everything spiralled.
She had a diagnosis of ADHD and we are on waitlist for ASD assessment. She doesn’t attend school any more but has tutoring under ed support.
She has no friends, will hardly leave the house and is very anxious and I think also depressed. Its so sad, I can’t bear to see her like this.

Could you possibly go private if she could be seen by someone highly qualified, and quicker? Although I can see the role of OT being helpful here too. It sounds tremendously difficult, I really hope things improve for your daughter soon.

steponacrackbreakyourmothersback · 01/12/2024 21:52

Would they do EMDR? I found it really helpful when I was having lots of anxious thoughts

Plastictrees · 01/12/2024 21:52

deaperatelyunhappyandscared · 01/12/2024 21:43

Thank you for your replies. She’s tried CBT with the occupational therapist, I think
it was “take your thoughts to court”? type
of exercises. It seemed to make her fixate even more, so it was back to
the drawing board. I think there are other types of CBT though?
I am hoping the psychiatrist can suggest other things that can go alongside medication, but she and I are keen to try that, as this has gone on for years now and only
got worse.
I’m sorry to hear that you have been and are going through this, it’s relentless and very difficult to live with.
We haven’t thought of hypnotherapy, maybe i
could look in to that.

Sorry I should have been more specific - CBT with a CBT therapist or a Clinical Psychologist ideally, the work done with OT wouldn’t be intensive CBT. It can be absolutely transformative, finding a therapist she clicks with is so important.

Beamur · 01/12/2024 21:49

That sounds really tough.

Original poster
deaperatelyunhappyandscared · 01/12/2024 21:48

We’ve been Under CAMHS since she was 7, when she started pulling her eyelashes out. She had talking therapy and seemed a little
better, but from the age of about 10 I’d say things got worse. When she started senior school, everything spiralled.
She had a diagnosis of ADHD and we are on waitlist for ASD assessment. She doesn’t attend school any more but has tutoring under ed support.
She has no friends, will hardly leave the house and is very anxious and I think also depressed. Its so sad, I can’t bear to see her like this.

OP posts:
Beamur · 01/12/2024 21:46

I think the right therapist is key.

WickWood · 01/12/2024 21:46

The OT wouldn't have been able to do a proper, full course of CBT. Possibly CBT informed therapy, but not actual CBT.

I hope you can find something that helps x

unkownone · 01/12/2024 21:45

Yep Dd16 was in therapy for a year or so. She still has ocd and I’m guessing intrusive thoughts still but it’s manageable now.

WickWood · 01/12/2024 21:44

CBT. Is she under CAMHS?

Original poster
deaperatelyunhappyandscared · 01/12/2024 21:43

Thank you for your replies. She’s tried CBT with the occupational therapist, I think
it was “take your thoughts to court”? type
of exercises. It seemed to make her fixate even more, so it was back to
the drawing board. I think there are other types of CBT though?
I am hoping the psychiatrist can suggest other things that can go alongside medication, but she and I are keen to try that, as this has gone on for years now and only
got worse.
I’m sorry to hear that you have been and are going through this, it’s relentless and very difficult to live with.
We haven’t thought of hypnotherapy, maybe i
could look in to that.

OP posts:
Beamur · 01/12/2024 21:42

My DD also has OCD but was much younger when it started - she had CBT with CAHMS which helped. But I think she was 'fortunate' to experience this fairly young and not too severely, so she has been able to understand her feelings and learned techniques to deal with the intrusive thoughts.
One of her friends has OCD presenting in rituals and is responding well to talk therapy and CBT.
For many people it doesn't entirely go away, but it does become more liveable.
DD has also been recently assessed for ASD and is autistic.
Hope you can find something that helps.

Plastictrees · 01/12/2024 21:34

Yes, CBT is the recommended treatment for OCD - I’ve used it successfully with many patients. I hope your DD gets the help she needs.

Pomegranatecarnage · 01/12/2024 21:30

My daughter had several sessions of hypnotherapy for her OCD. She had orthorexia and anorexia which was related to OCD. She also had rituals around washing. After CAMHS, the hypnotherapy was a last shot, and I was surprised when it worked.

Greenbanana7 · 01/12/2024 21:29

Watching, I have same experience with my DS (age 16) it's very hard. Sorry you are going through this.