OCD or autism

Anonymous
15 year old is rigid, inflexible and it’s painful. Drs say he’s on edge of ocd or ASD diagnosis so they aren’t sure.

Anxiety makes it even more difficult

Has anyone experienced this?

He’s rude, mean and I don’t want to be around him anymore.

The idea of summer with him, I can’t. He needs a job but he finds fault with every job available.
Anonymous
Mine has both. It's hard. Does he have a therapist? If not, he needs one. Rudeness and inflexibility will make a job very difficult. He may get fired a few times before he finds a position that works.

Anonymous
No advice but I can totally relate. DS is 17. He has ADHD and anxiety, which causes rumination that looks like OCD. We recently had him reevaluated for autism but every neuropsych he’s had has concluded ADHD and anxiety, not autism.

Unless you have a kid like this, you have no idea how challenging it can be.
Anonymous
Op here

Yes same for my 15 year old
ADHD
Anxiety
OCD or autism

I don’t even want to live in house with him. He comes home, I go to bed. I want no part. Finds every chance to go after anyone who speaks to him on house. No thanks. Yes therapist but it feels worse lately as school and workload has increased
Anonymous
Regardless of which it is, you need to treat the anxiety ASAP -- meds and therapy. Then the picture may become clearer. He doesn't want to live like this any more than you do.
Anonymous
Is he taking any kind of medication? If not, I would seriously consider it.
Anonymous
Is he this way with everyone of just certain people (like family)? My child is like this and diagnosed ADHD and Anxiety. Currently on ADHD medication and definitely helps.
Anonymous
Usually it’s both, OP. My son has ADHD, anxiety and autism, with some OCD traits. I believe, personally, that OCD is a form of anxiety that shows up only in people with autism, because that’s what I’ve observed in my circles. Some autistic people do not have OCD, but all people with OCD have autism.
Anonymous
Mine has both. Medication helped a lot, and it's gotten better as he grows up.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:No advice but I can totally relate. DS is 17. He has ADHD and anxiety, which causes rumination that looks like OCD. We recently had him reevaluated for autism but every neuropsych he’s had has concluded ADHD and anxiety, not autism.

Unless you have a kid like this, you have no idea how challenging it can be.

Anxiety is the cause of OCD. If he already has anxiety and is exhibiting OCD behaviors he has OCD.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Usually it’s both, OP. My son has ADHD, anxiety and autism, with some OCD traits. I believe, personally, that OCD is a form of anxiety that shows up only in people with autism, because that’s what I’ve observed in my circles. Some autistic people do not have OCD, but all people with OCD have autism.

Not true.
I have anxiety/OCD. I take Buspirone every day to keep the worst OCD symptoms at bay. I still have a lot of thoughts and traits but the constant need to repeat certain behaviors had been diminished a lot.
I don’t have autism.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:15 year old is rigid, inflexible and it’s painful. Drs say he’s on edge of ocd or ASD diagnosis so they aren’t sure.

Anxiety makes it even more difficult

Has anyone experienced this?

He’s rude, mean and I don’t want to be around him anymore.

The idea of summer with him, I can’t. He needs a job but he finds fault with every job available.


Mine was diagnosed with anxiety, OCD, and Autism going into senior year. It was well masked p and I just thought that they were quirky kid until they totally crashed out. I encourage you to get a neuropsych assessment to get the diagnosis.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Usually it’s both, OP. My son has ADHD, anxiety and autism, with some OCD traits. I believe, personally, that OCD is a form of anxiety that shows up only in people with autism, because that’s what I’ve observed in my circles. Some autistic people do not have OCD, but all people with OCD have autism.

Not true.
I have anxiety/OCD. I take Buspirone every day to keep the worst OCD symptoms at bay. I still have a lot of thoughts and traits but the constant need to repeat certain behaviors had been diminished a lot.
I don’t have autism.

The thing is, the criteria for autism have changed in recent years. You might actually have autism without realizing it. Or we should rename whatever it is to distinguish it from other forms of autism. See what I mean? Both my kids are autistic with anxiety. One also has ADHD and OCD. The other has intrusive thoughts, no ADHD, no OCD practices. I have intrusive thoughts and anxiety, but not actual OCD practices. My husband has ADHD, autism and OCD. If I were diagnosed today, I'm sure I would be diagnosed with autism as well!

Anonymous
Try to get into another therapist to seek a second opinion. Be open to medication. Mental illness can overlap a lot. Also a lot of times, you are treating the symptoms so don’t worry about the diagnosis being so specific. If he has autism, great. If he has OCD, great. Regardless, you are treating the symptoms.
Anonymous
+1 for trying medication

Our DC needs meds to help push back on OCD. Without it, their irritability is much worse.
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