Intrusive thoughts in teen after Covid infection

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Has anyone’s teen had intrusive thoughts during their illness with Covid?
DS aged 17 yesterday has noticed that some of his favorite foods taste the same but smell different - unpleasant
Yesterday he also had quite strong intrusive thoughts of hurting himself on the leg with a knife.
So of course we hid all the knives.
Anyone had similar? I’m less interested in the taste issues. More of the intrusive thoughts. Thanks!

Hello OP

I think Covid has exasperated any mental issues for teenagers.
My son has severe OCD - mainly intrusive thoughts with some rituals.

Firstly it's very good that he's talking to you about this.
It is possible that it's a fleeting stage - 'imp' of the mind - but it may become something. Try to persuade him that weird thoughts are normal. Don't hide the knives. He won't harm himself or others. Try to make light of it. This might stop it in it's tracks.

The difference between passing weird thoughts and OCD is the amount of distress they cause and if it's affected their life.

Encourage him to continue to talk to you and try to keep a look out for rituals (they soothe themselves using this)

You must must get help straight away if he starts to find it distressing or using avoidance or rituals.

No experience of teens, but Covid definitely got into my head in a way that other illnesses haven't. In the early days, I really struggled to get upsetting thoughts out of my head to the point where I couldn't sleep, and for a couple of weeks afterwards I felt very flat and depressed.

I saw another thread on here where people were saying it caused similar symptoms to the menopause, like anxiety and mood swings.

I am sure there was something in the press about COVID triggering ocd? Have a look on the Charity websites OCD Action and OCD UK the latter has a great helpline too.,

My DP had an episode of severe anxiety/paranoia when he had covid. In the 20 years I’ve known him he has NEVER experienced any kind of mental health issues and it was very alarming to see him like this.

I currently have COVID and have been suffering with this, especially in the evenings. It’s mildly comforting to read that it could be COVID as opposed to a permanent change.

The problem is it's quite hard to find anything online, because it's buried amid all the other articles about the impact of the overall pandemic/lockdown on MH.

Thanks all.
He’s had mental health issues in the past - which were resolved/helped with therapy.
He’s also mentioned some brain fog.
I’ll definitely be keeping an eye.

I’m really unsure how to phrase this as its not always a recognised or appropriate diagnosis but there has been awareness of PANS in ocd support groups for ages (my child was tested for this as part of treatment and assessment in the nhs) - I’ve linked an article from the Lancet but essentially there is some evidence that ocd symptoms can be triggered following an infection (usually throat).
I’m in no way suggesting this is it but knowing what it is might help if it doesn’t pass and you wanted to ask the question?
www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(21)00135-8/fulltext?fbclid=IwAR1TlEo2cno7qS6UROl0CcbM9LwENSAkzTjCvm-yTWtx3qmnNELsAqaXv2Q

Op, this is crossing my mind too. I have a ten year old son who had covid recently, he is autistic. His symptoms were fairly mild, only ill for a day or two but he was totoellt mute the row days he was ill. Since getting covid, his anxiety is sky high and he is having intrusive thoughts too! We in crisis as a family. Dp has had to cut back work hours to help support me at home and getting him to school.

I don't have much advice to help as we are struggling too but you are not alone on this and I wish your son and you all the best 💕

Totally *

Maybe try increasing some vitamins for a while. Covid might have depleted them. I had a quick google and low magnesium, zinc and iron can be associated with ocd with some people saying magnesium helps them. DS gets tics from time to time so I always increase his magnesium when he does and it seems to help.