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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

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Original poster

Year 13 boy just told us he has OCD and it’s impacting his focus/ grades hugely. What can he do to help him focus on his Alevel revision?

54 replies

Littl3lim3 · 05/02/2022 07:12

His grades are all over the place and was supposed to be looking at As, just had report and current grades Cs.Has been struggling to focus in class and at home. Came too us and asked for help. So we’re thinking making a timetable. Chunking it up, going for a run each evening, flash cards ….Subjects are physics and maths which he is naturally good at and chemistry which he is less so but can achieve well.He says when he can focus and do what he should he does well but has been struggling recently. Has had a shit couple of years with life events.

OP posts:

LifeOfAnxiety · 05/02/2022 07:25

Speak to the GP so he can be referred for some support/help.

I have OCD. I left it far too long to seek help and it ramped up during the pandemic. It’s pretty much controlling my life atm and I have just started telephone counselling, I’m not sure how much it’s going to help though tbh.

Young minds are very good and can offer parental support/advice to the young person or parents.
www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/mental-health-conditions/ocd/

www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/

Original poster

Littl3lim3 · 05/02/2022 07:41

Will do but need to get through his Alevels. There will be a waiting list.

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Original poster

Littl3lim3 · 05/02/2022 08:12

‘to’ us

OP posts:

Soontobe60 · 05/02/2022 08:14

Can you get him a tutor?

Original poster

Littl3lim3 · 05/02/2022 08:16

Too late and to be honest don’t think he needs it. Just needs to be able to do what he needs to do and focus. Easier said than done.😩

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JustKeepSwimmingJust · 05/02/2022 08:19

If there’s money for a tutor, can you get him private counselling?

Poppins2016 · 05/02/2022 08:24

@JustKeepSwimmingJust

If there’s money for a tutor, can you get him private counselling?

Or private CBT. Just a short course of CBT can be very effective.

Soontobe60 · 05/02/2022 08:25

A tutor can support his to focus. Maybe look for an online one.

Hellocatshome · 05/02/2022 08:28

Who has decided he has OCD if he hasn't seen a Doctor? What behaviours does his OCD cause?

Snoopsnoggysnog · 05/02/2022 08:29

I had OCD during my A levels so I can sympathise. It was brought on by stress. Years later I found that joining some online forums where I could chat to others going through similar things really helped me. Although these days you might have to vet those.

Londoncatshed · 05/02/2022 08:35

Make it clear to him that you are proud of him and that whatever the outcome of his exams, it will all be okay. Ask him to project to 5 years or 10 years time; it will not be important by then if he had to resit and exam or took a different path. None of this is the, ‘be all and end all’.

Visit your GP. You may have to pay for some therapy. Speak to the school, do they have any pastoral support they could offer.

If you get all the foundations in place, the focus will return.

Your idea of daily exercise is great. Is he eating well and getting enough sleep?

Little and often with regards to work, but I would take the pressure off.

tiredanddangerous · 05/02/2022 08:41

My honest opinion is take him out of school. Sorting his mental health is way more important and he can do his A-Levels later.

morningstruggles · 05/02/2022 08:50

Can you tell us a bit more about the OCD? I just wondered whether the obsessions and compulsions are around the studying or other things (e.g feeling of contamination) that are making it harder for him to focus.

If it's related to studying (e.g. if I don't get A's then bad things will happen to my family) then you need to be extra careful how to handle his revision timetable etc.

Honestly I think the best thing would be for him to speak to a professional therapist. I am currently having video counselling and even in the first few weeks it really helped... my therapist sent me a list of normal intrusive thoughts everyone had, which instantly made me feel less of a bad person... as I was experiencing some pretty horrific intrusive thoughts that were actually making me feel suicidal. She worked with me on a 'fear ladder' where I listed all my OCD compulsions from the ones that least impact me to most impact me. Then we are tackling the ones at the bottom of the ladder first so it feels manageable.

One thing to be mindful that I am experiencing in my own journey is that by stopping some OCD can then cause it to manifest in other areas (if not managed correctly). So for example I could stop obsessively checking light switches but what could easily happen is I would be obsessively checking taps instead. That's why I think it would be good to book a therapist.

I recommend reading Break Free from OCD as it's useful to explain OCD

LifeOfAnxiety · 05/02/2022 13:36

@tiredanddangerous

My honest opinion is take him out of school. Sorting his mental health is way more important and he can do his A-Levels later.

This is what I was thinking.

Why focus on his A levels rather than his MH? A levels can get taken/retaken anytime. Take the pressure off him & make sorting his MH priority.

Original poster

Littl3lim3 · 05/02/2022 17:09

16 weeks before his exams?. Bit drastic. He’s ok and had it for years, just left it to the last minute to want to do something about it. If he gave up his exams I’m not sure he could do them later and he’s just nearing the end of the curriculum. He’d be nuts to give up now and wouldn’t want to. He gets Cs doing very little. Cs are better than nothing.

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Hellocatshome · 05/02/2022 17:25

@Littl3lim3 so he hasn't just told you as per your title? If he's had it for years how did he cope with GCSE's presumably he did ok if he is doing A levels so what strategies did you out in place then? Are the school/college aware and giving him support?

Mo1911 · 05/02/2022 17:29

@tiredanddangerous

My honest opinion is take him out of school. Sorting his mental health is way more important and he can do his A-Levels later.

I completely agree with this. It's likely to be the stress that is either causing or exacerbating his OCD and there's no easy or quick fix.

He needs time to get better, exams etc come after that. Exams are much less important than his health.

Punxsutawney · 05/02/2022 17:35

Hellocatshome he wouldn't have taken his GCSES. The current year 13's finished year 11 in March 2020. The majority have yet to sit any formal examinations.

cheekychaplin · 05/02/2022 17:38

@Littl3lim3

Will do but need to get through his Alevels. There will be a waiting list.

I would prioritise his mental health here.

Hellocatshome · 05/02/2022 17:39

@Punxsutawney ah yes that is a very good point.

Original poster

Littl3lim3 · 05/02/2022 17:52

He says he’s had it for years. We knew he had a focus problem but he is now sure it’s ocd and it’s all day. Finally wants to do something about it.He absolutely doesn’t want to not do his Alevels. He’s 18 so I can’t insist anyway. He has friends, a social life etc. Not sure what giving up school would achieve. Didn’t sit GCSEs and no previous SENs so no support.

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cheekychaplin · 05/02/2022 18:37

He says he’s had it for years.

And there were no signs?

Original poster

Littl3lim3 · 06/02/2022 08:23

Not really other than being incredibly disorganised and leaving things until the last minute. He’s not tapping light switches etc It’s thoughts. He’s quiet and private.

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1940s · 06/02/2022 08:26

@Littl3lim3

Not really other than being incredibly disorganised and leaving things until the last minute. He’s not tapping light switches etc It’s thoughts. He’s quiet and private.

Sounds more like add than ocd?

Original poster

Littl3lim3 · 06/02/2022 08:30

Could be but he’s done his research and is convinced. Either way we need to support him.

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