Psychiatric OCD symptoms help

[Hope4M]

Hi! Kinda feeling a bit desperate. 😞 My lovely, beautiful, kind DM started talking to herself in February, she is 15 years old. Things have escalated. She talks/high pitched squeals to ward off bad thoughts, her head jerks too. She won’t flush the toilet, stops and does her mantras at every doorway, can’t turn off/on lights. She saw a Therapist who said after 4 sessions, she needs to be diagnosed by a Psychiatrist. She is now in the “system” with CAMHS. Her GP is doing an urgent referral letter, as she is finding it difficult to drink fluids (she’ll swallow the bad thoughts 😔), she also pinches her stomach. Lots of other things too. She’s struggling for every day-to-day tasks and homework is very, very slowly getting done.
Can anyone suggest any advice in how to deal with this? How do I go about getting her an assessment soon? Can anyone suggest private psychiatrists in the Essex/Hertfordshire area? It’s absolutely devastating watching her, she needs help now. I would be so grateful for your help. 🙏

Was the therapist a psychologist? Might be worth finding a clinical psychologist - check the BPS website - you can search by postcode

I'm sorry you're daughter is suffering like this - this sounds awful for her and for your 

Hi, thanks for your reply. The therapist specialises as a Clinical Hypnotherapist & BWRT Practitioner. I’ve since found out about registered BPSs. I’ve also contacted a special BPS group of counsellors and they have advised for DS to have an Assessment done first. I’m currently waiting for CAMHS to give an Assessment date. I have no idea about going private and wondered if anybody out there has done so and if it has been successful. She needs help now and not assessed in 3 months time then wait even longer to receive treatment. I feel utterly useless, as I cannot do anything to help at the moment, but to sit back and watch the torment that goes on. X

Can you try phoning a few psychologists and see if anyone can see her in the interim before the CAMHS assessment? They should be able to teach her some coping techniques which may help

There are some good books on OCD available from Amazon - break free from OCD is one. It might help you at least feel better able to support her.

Are CAMHS able to give you a timeline of when they can assess?

I would Google private child psychiatrists in your area, and contact them for a private appointment. This will BE MUCH quicker than Camhs.

Thanks everyone. CAMHS have said approximately June till DS can be seen. In the meantime, I’ve emailed a Child Psychiatrist and a Clinical Psychologist and waiting for their reply. Everything takes soooooooo long! I really appreciate all the time to reply to my thread. It means a lot. 🙏

I had to do the same for my 15 year old, as a stop gap until CAMHS were able to see him. My son started on a low dose of sertraline, and within a month was so much better! Obviously it's an ongoing thing, but if you can afford it its definitely worth going private until Camhs are available to take over

PMing you.

Mental health referrals tend to take such a long time and it's terrible. For now, I would go back to the GP if you are seeing things get worse and maybe suggest medication for the mean time? I have OCD and have taken a few different medications that take the edge off of compulsions and obsessions.

It might also be worth contacting a local mental health charity or a bigger charity like Mind as they might be able to point you in the right direction or even advocate to get seen quicker.

After years in the mental health system I've learned you have to be pushy (phone CAMHS and chase up the appointment as much as possible) and don't hesitate to go to A&E if things escalate.