Hi there my son who is 25 suffers from severe ocd he thinks he is a pedophile and can't have any contact with my grandkids but it is taking over his life it has got so bad that the sexual thoughts have moved onto our pets and just about everything he comes in contact with. He isn't getting any help from his mental health team and we don't know what we can do he has threatened to take his own life.
Need help : Hi there my son who is 25 suffers... - OCD Support
OCD Support
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Try to reassure him that it's because he is so horrified by these thoughts that he is safe with children and animals. The fact that he is so distressed by these thoughts makes it clear that he isn't a paedophile.
It's not easy to intervene in someone's else's treatment, however close they are to you, but if you can try to get across to his team how urgent and severe his case is, they might take notice. For reasons of confidentiality, though, they are unlikely to be able to discuss his treatment with you.
He could benefit from a stay in an OCD unit. Springfield Hospital in Tooting has an OCD unit where patients get intensive therapy and treatment. Places are limited and there is a waiting list, and I can't say whether or not he would qualify, but it might be worth considering it. Stays are normally four to six months. I found it very helpful.
It must be very distressing for you as well. Help for carers and family and friends is available online and in some self-help books. Try OCD Action: ocdaction.org.uk/support/ca... or rethink.org/carers-family-f... as they have some useful stuff.