How is your young adult child with OCD doing?

[Anonymous]

DS was diagnosed with OCD while in college. He had managed pretty well with therapy and medication. He's now getting ready to move across the country to start a challenging and intense job. I'm concerned about how he'll manage and wondering what I can do to help keep lines of communication open. If you've been there or have been a therapist working with OCD young adults, I would appreciate any insights or advice you might be able to offer.

[Anonymous]

OP, ask Jeff to move this to Special Needs. You will get a response there.

[Anonymous]

He should get set up with a psychiatrist/therapist as soon as possible in his new area even if he’s leaving old location feeling well and with plenty of medication just in case he has a flare up. It can be very discouraging to start feeling badly and be calling around trying to get in with someone only to hear there is a 4 month wait. Other than that if he’s doing well now and has the appropriate skills learned in cbt/erb therapy he should do well-many very high functioning people with great, fulfilling lives have ocd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He should get set up with a psychiatrist/therapist as soon as possible in his new area even if he’s leaving old location feeling well and with plenty of medication just in case he has a flare up. It can be very discouraging to start feeling badly and be calling around trying to get in with someone only to hear there is a 4 month wait. Other than that if he’s doing well now and has the appropriate skills learned in cbt/erb therapy he should do well-many very high functioning people with great, fulfilling lives have ocd.

+1 my ocd “onset” when I was 22 (I’m now 38). It was so difficult in the beginning, but After high-quality treatment I recovered enough to meet a wonderful partner, continue studies, eventually reduce medication, have a family, etc. i have a very happy life. but the ability to connect with professional help when there are flare ups is very important.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- thanks for your responses and encouragement. DS is planning to stick with current therapist and psychiatrist via telemedicine. I'd appreciate thoughts on this from any posters who have tried it. Also, if you have thoughts on how DH and I can help keep lines of communication open and positive, that would be helpful. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- thanks for your responses and encouragement. DS is planning to stick with current therapist and psychiatrist via telemedicine. I'd appreciate thoughts on this from any posters who have tried it. Also, if you have thoughts on how DH and I can help keep lines of communication open and positive, that would be helpful. Thank you.

Are you sure he is able to do that? During the first year of the pandemic states waived licensing requirements so clients could do telemedicine but those waivers no longer exist. So if his providers are not licensed in the state where he is moving he will not be able to see them. Thus, he should try to find a new team right away. My dd’s first college was a bad fit and her ocd spiraled out of control first semester of sophomore year. Her therapist was fortunately licensed in her college’s state which was adjacent to our home state. For second semester, she transferred to a school in our home state. Her therapist thought she might need an IOP so she took only 3 classes. Between that and a better housing situation, she flourished (and did not need the IOP). She still struggles with OCD thoughts (and likely always will) but has the tools to deal with them. Will she have setbacks in the future? I’m sure she will bc it is the nature of the disease but hopefully it won’t get as bad as it was in the beginning. Best of luck to your son.