Support for my son

[ISTY]

Any parents of a 10 yo boy with OCD out there? My son could really use to relate with a peer who “understands” he’s been talking to his friends lately about how he is struggling and gets frustrated that they don’t understand at all.

A peer would be helpful as we are working really hard to break him of this grip. Also, any advice I am open to anything.

It is Harm Jntrusive Thoughts that he has.

Thank you

[reshon]

i don't have a son like yours but I am 53 and have had OCD for 40 years and learned to adapt and deal and make adjustments in life with it (since diagnosed at 13). As a 13yo boy at first it was tough and all through school and I was even told I would have a 50% to graduate. Well as 17 and 18 approached I did graduate and then get a Bachelors and Masters degree and 7 licenses work related in my work industry. So the moral is things can get better (never on medication) it just learning to adapt and knowing your limits. I am happy to listen, support and chat with both of you if you so choose. Either way good luck.

[ISTY in reply to reshon]

Thank you very much for your story and support. He is in therapy and doesn’t believe it will “go away” - I want him to believe it can. Should I not tell him it can? The therapist thinks he can work with him to learn to “see it differently” and accept the fear. It’s hard to know he goes through this all day. Any advice for me as his mom or for my husband?

[reshon in reply to ISTY]

Its really hard as each case it different. To be honest I work in finance yet my undergrad degree is in Psychology and I did my senior thesis on OCD, but that was long ago.

You can support him and let him know he's a great kid and try to give him all the positive reinforcement and if at times he develops rituals give him time to work through things"try not to rush him" it will only agitate him( I did that to my parents through yelling and it only stressed me more ).

If he can somehow in his mind distract the "bad thoughts" and catch them off guard possibly t might help? If not he has to try and do his rituals or thoughts somehow discretely to relieve his stress as I have had to do and still do in my daily life ( but still get the job done at work and home just sometimes it takes me a little longer (minutes not hours). Meditation is another thought to medicine possibly?

[ISTY in reply to reshon]

Thank you - he is starting to meditate and loves it and yes positive reinforcement- I will be more patient for sure and allow him the time he needs to work through.

I will use the phrase “catch them off guard” today and see if that resonates he might like that idea..

thanks for the support means a lot

[reshon in reply to ISTY]

No problem reach out anytime I will try to reply back asap, sorry for the delay I had the cleaning people here