OCD late teens

[loretta1]

Has anyone out there had any luck with any non drug support or intervention with more extreme levels of OCD? Has anyone had any luck with any drug other than Fluoxetine and their severely affected child? Has anyone tried the American OCD Teen camps - does anyone know any equivalent here in UK? It is the saddest thing in the world to watch a teenager gradually cut off their life with this crippling psychological disorder. Sending courage to all who deal with this.

My son has OCD, as well as ASD, Tourette's and probably ADHD too. He's just been referred for CBT. He's very resistant to medication, so we're trying this first. We're not sure he'll be very receptive to CBT, because of his ASD, but we're hoping. He is complex to treat medically because of the other diagnoses, but fluoxetine is what has been mentioned. Any experiences of this? It is a horrible, horrible condition to live with, not just for the sufferer, but for the people who live with them too.

My daughter has OCD. She had it very severely when she was diagnosed 2 years ago and had to be hospitalised for 8 months. She is on sertraline (highest dose) and has had CBT. She has made and is continuing to make excellent progress. There are centres of excellence, the main one being The Maudsley in South London. My daughter was referred there for a second opinion which was the best thing we could have done. It is available for everyone in the UK with a diagnosis and referral but you may need to apply for funding. I am a volunteer for OCD action and I would recommend you look at the website which has lots of fantastic advice. There are forums and support groups and an advocacy service. Where are you both from in the UK? It is the most heartbreaking condition but there IS help out there. Please mail me back.

Hi debz2, thanks for posting that. Glad your daughter is making progress. I'm in the Midlands.

I know there are support groups in the Midlands but I am starting a parent/carer group in central Manchester probably too far for you to come?? How are you coping on a day-to-day basis?

To be honest, I'm finding it really hard to live with. Apart from the fact it's devastating to see your child so upset and tortured by the things they have to do, it is exhausting. He is convinced that everything is contaminated, mostly by raw meat and since I had to use ant powder to kill some ants, he's convinced that he's tracking it into the house/it's getting onto his clothes etc. He knows it's not true, but it doesn't make any difference. I feel quite low about it - things have never been easy with his other diagnoses, but this is worse than everything else really. We're going for his first CBT appointment on Friday; he's very resistant to medication (I think I'm repeating myself now!) but I'm hoping he will change his mind...

Sorry it's taken so long to reply. Things quite tricky here. How did the CBT go? My daughter resistant to it at first but with doctors persevered. Did you see the program about the American camp? I found that really moving and positive and am going to see if she will watch it with me. I can send the link if you like. She knows things are irrational too but also has meat contamination and won't even go into a room if there is meat in it and I can't convince her that that isn't being a vegetarian it's OCD. We are also in the process of assessing her for Asperger's. Are you getting any psychological help yourself? I am more than happy to chat if it will help and will reply to you much quicker. check out ocdaction lots of fantastic advice and support. Stay strong. x