17-year-old showing possible OCD behaviours - any suggestions for help

[Bufftailed]

DC 17 is showing what I think are OCD behaviors. Was always a bit this way inclined ie wanted uniform in very precise way. Now though an evening routine to get ready pre-school is getting to an hour. Involves exercises, shower & other hygiene things and getting stuff ready. His room is organized with complete precision (except chaos of stuff in draws).

I have suggested this routine is eating into his time and it would be an idea to talk to someone. He is absolutely against. I can see it is hard for him as between school, a job and v busy social life he is short of time. He also looks in the mirror a lot and can’t start undefined tasks (do homework yes/ consider where you want to go to uni - having said he absolutely wants to go - never happens).

Any similar experiences or ideas of how I might help?

It’s difficult if he doesn’t want any help or doesn’t see it being an issue.

The only practical thing I can add is to break the huge task into much more immediate steps. Eg can you look through an article on Unis together? Or agree to have a 20 minute chat and research subjects together.

Mental health professional here - have a read of “your OCD will hate this book” it’s very accessible and practical and might be a starting point if he’s not ready to see a therapist yet.

We’ve just done 5 months of ERP, watched Ali Greymond videos on you tube.. limited results. My daughter struggles with past OCD in particular.. we are looking at I-CBT not the same as CBT alone, to see if it’s more acceptable to her.. plus as she twitches when thoughts she doesn’t agree with come in, are going to see a psychiatrist about SSRI. Medication to see if this helps her progress in therapy..

Thank you for replying

@Mullaghanish some antidepressants are very useful for OCD, fluoxetine and venlafaxine in particular can really help to reduce distress. If ER was unsuccessful, or if you daughter is Neurodivergent, it’s worth looking into EMDR also..

My 14 year old son has OCD and SSRI's are very helpful if DC is unable to do therapy. They will lower the baseline anxiety to the point that he may agree.
Be careful not to get involved in any of the rituals, any reassurance etc. OCD has to be treated counterintuitively you have to try to ignore and not draw attention to it.