18 year old is considering taking medication for OCD and anxiety

[Anonymous]

Started seeing therapist in Feb so I feel like it’s a little early to be having this conversation but she feels that she is getting worse. Therapist has brought it up and she is considering it. She feels her anxiety is so bad that it is debilitating her. She is going to a great college int the fall and to the outside world her life is great but I know she struggles. Some things she mentions also seem normal to me so I find it confusing. This year has been hard for her but will it get better without the medication is what I am wondering. I worry that this will be something that she might feel the need to take all her life. If that’s what she needs then I am okay with it but am wondering if she should be trying other things too. All her friends go to therapists and are on medication so this is totally normal for her. But I would like to have a more wholistic approach. Medication plus CBT etc etc.
Any light you shine on this willl be helpful. How did it go with your teen? Did medication help? Do you think the therapist is jumping into this too quickly? I asked her if she tried CBT and she says she doesn’t know and that the therapist doesn’t label things.
I intend to speak with the therapist soon. What kind of questions should I ask her?

[Anonymous]

If her symptoms are quite debilitating then she may need medication to put her mind in a calm enough state to benefit from the talk therapy. For therapy to be effective, your mind needs to be well enough to think and process and problem solve and if her anxiety is high she won't be able to do that.

You can certainly talk to her about recovery and how most mental illnesses and definitely anxiety are treatable and people recover. That once she has it under control (potentially with meds) and has learned the skills to manage and has reframed her thinking, she likely won't need long term treatment.

Medication can be an important tool in recovery. It is important that it doesn't become a quick fix / relief that is easy to depend on versus doing the hard work but it can be critical to managing symptoms of a serious health condition.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your reply. I understand what you are saying. She told me that because this is something that she has been dealing with from her childhood her therapist felt that she might need to use medication long term. I guess I am not comfortable that the therapist is not telling her what you just told me. I am trying to work out for myself if I am being irrational and protective here or if my concerns are genuine.
I will certainly talk to her about what you said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for your reply. I understand what you are saying. She told me that because this is something that she has been dealing with from her childhood her therapist felt that she might need to use medication long term. I guess I am not comfortable that the therapist is not telling her what you just told me. I am trying to work out for myself if I am being irrational and protective here or if my concerns are genuine.
I will certainly talk to her about what you said.

You don't know that. You can't control every aspect of the therapy even if it were so. This is like OCD and anxiety on your own part.

[Anonymous]

There is a particular form of CBT that is tailored for OCD symptoms. Are you near Silver Spring? Google Charles Mansueto, his entire practice is focused on OCD. It might help just to have a consultation with them before you start meds, for your own peace of mind. But if she’s describing her symptoms as debilitating, that’s significant. It’s probably better to start meds over the summer while she’s home so you can monitor any possible side effects.

[Anonymous]

^^ just to add - they don’t take insurance but they will fill out paperwork for you.

[Anonymous]

Google ERP therapy.

[Anonymous]

CBT and medication together. She is telling you it's debilitating. She is working with a therapist. Your DD is saying it's impacting her life. She's 18. She's an adult. Let her decide with her doctors. When she goes to get meds, send her to a psychiatrist not a GP. OCD can be devastating. Leave all your judgments behind and let her get the help she is SEEKING.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Started seeing therapist in Feb so I feel like it’s a little early to be having this conversation but she feels that she is getting worse. Therapist has brought it up and she is considering it. She feels her anxiety is so bad that it is debilitating her. She is going to a great college int the fall and to the outside world her life is great but I know she struggles. Some things she mentions also seem normal to me so I find it confusing. This year has been hard for her but will it get better without the medication is what I am wondering. I worry that this will be something that she might feel the need to take all her life. If that’s what she needs then I am okay with it but am wondering if she should be trying other things too. All her friends go to therapists and are on medication so this is totally normal for her. But I would like to have a more wholistic approach. Medication plus CBT etc etc.
Any light you shine on this willl be helpful. How did it go with your teen? Did medication help? Do you think the therapist is jumping into this too quickly? I asked her if she tried CBT and she says she doesn’t know and that the therapist doesn’t label things.
I intend to speak with the therapist soon. What kind of questions should I ask her?

You just infuriated me. If you have diabetes, you don't just take insulin for a year or so until you 'feel better', do you? If you have a heart condition, you don't just take your medicine for a little bit then decide to wean yourself off and declare yourself magically healed, do you? Mental health is just that, health. It is a medical problem. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain. Neurons misfiring. Anxiety is a problem with your amygdala and your hippocampus. You don't just wish that away.

Yes, CBT and other forms of therapy are great and helpful. But a medical concern needs medicine, in addition to other therapies.

She is 18, her therapist does not have to tell you anything and frankly, I don't think they should. You need to be supportive, not dismissive and undermining of your daughter's health concerns. It is awesome that she is taking ownership, seeking help, wanting treatment. Stop patronizing, belittling and minimizing her concerns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Started seeing therapist in Feb so I feel like it’s a little early to be having this conversation but she feels that she is getting worse. Therapist has brought it up and she is considering it. She feels her anxiety is so bad that it is debilitating her. She is going to a great college int the fall and to the outside world her life is great but I know she struggles. Some things she mentions also seem normal to me so I find it confusing. This year has been hard for her but will it get better without the medication is what I am wondering. I worry that this will be something that she might feel the need to take all her life. If that’s what she needs then I am okay with it but am wondering if she should be trying other things too. All her friends go to therapists and are on medication so this is totally normal for her. But I would like to have a more wholistic approach. Medication plus CBT etc etc.
Any light you shine on this willl be helpful. How did it go with your teen? Did medication help? Do you think the therapist is jumping into this too quickly? I asked her if she tried CBT and she says she doesn’t know and that the therapist doesn’t label things.
I intend to speak with the therapist soon. What kind of questions should I ask her?

My oldest son is 23 and was over for dinner complaining about how all the women he knows and dates are all on mental health drugs. He says they are all nuts, clinically nuts and doesn't understand why they are all drugged up, like it's a trend.

From what I see this is just how they cope with life. Whatever we are doing as a culture and society is creating a generation of people unable to cope.

Flame away, but this is just what I'm hearing.

[Anonymous]

Now is the time to do it. My DS was doing well with CBT to treat his anxiety, but when he went to college the anxiety increased and he couldn’t find a therapist who he could click with. He ended up on meds which helped a great deal. Having the opportunity to try meds while she is still home and able to work with her therapist would be best in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Started seeing therapist in Feb so I feel like it’s a little early to be having this conversation but she feels that she is getting worse. Therapist has brought it up and she is considering it. She feels her anxiety is so bad that it is debilitating her. She is going to a great college int the fall and to the outside world her life is great but I know she struggles. Some things she mentions also seem normal to me so I find it confusing. This year has been hard for her but will it get better without the medication is what I am wondering. I worry that this will be something that she might feel the need to take all her life. If that’s what she needs then I am okay with it but am wondering if she should be trying other things too. All her friends go to therapists and are on medication so this is totally normal for her. But I would like to have a more wholistic approach. Medication plus CBT etc etc.
Any light you shine on this willl be helpful. How did it go with your teen? Did medication help? Do you think the therapist is jumping into this too quickly? I asked her if she tried CBT and she says she doesn’t know and that the therapist doesn’t label things.
I intend to speak with the therapist soon. What kind of questions should I ask her?

My oldest son is 23 and was over for dinner complaining about how all the women he knows and dates are all on mental health drugs. He says they are all nuts, clinically nuts and doesn't understand why they are all drugged up, like it's a trend.

From what I see this is just how they cope with life. Whatever we are doing as a culture and society is creating a generation of people unable to cope.
Your son sounds like an ass!

Flame away, but this is just what I'm hearing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Started seeing therapist in Feb so I feel like it’s a little early to be having this conversation but she feels that she is getting worse. Therapist has brought it up and she is considering it. She feels her anxiety is so bad that it is debilitating her. She is going to a great college int the fall and to the outside world her life is great but I know she struggles. Some things she mentions also seem normal to me so I find it confusing. This year has been hard for her but will it get better without the medication is what I am wondering. I worry that this will be something that she might feel the need to take all her life. If that’s what she needs then I am okay with it but am wondering if she should be trying other things too. All her friends go to therapists and are on medication so this is totally normal for her. But I would like to have a more wholistic approach. Medication plus CBT etc etc.
Any light you shine on this willl be helpful. How did it go with your teen? Did medication help? Do you think the therapist is jumping into this too quickly? I asked her if she tried CBT and she says she doesn’t know and that the therapist doesn’t label things.
I intend to speak with the therapist soon. What kind of questions should I ask her?

My oldest son is 23 and was over for dinner complaining about how all the women he knows and dates are all on mental health drugs. He says they are all nuts, clinically nuts and doesn't understand why they are all drugged up, like it's a trend.

From what I see this is just how they cope with life. Whatever we are doing as a culture and society is creating a generation of people unable to cope.

Flame away, but this is just what I'm hearing.

DP I find it sad that you and your son are so uneducated about mental issues that you label people "nuts" when they seek medical help. If they had diabetes like the pp above said would you label them "unable to cope with life?" First, mental problems should not be seen as shameful. The brain is part of the body just like anything else and you should want people to be want to seek medical help.

Also, are you living in a cave? Being a women and girl is very difficult and if you son was treated like a second class citizen on everything I'd like to see how he feels. I have to admit I thought our society would have been more advanced by now but, I suppose I should have realized that white men aren't wanting to share power, wealth and privilege without a fight.

Lastly, I am sure you son isn't perfect so he shouldn't act all superior. He lacks empathy for one!

[Anonymous]

As a parent with a daughter who has been down that path, I would tread very cautiously into the world of medication for anxiety. Our DD was worse-off with medication. We could see that before our DD could but she came around to the same conclusion. She still sees a therapist and that has been great. A more rigorous exercise regimen and Yoga has helped as well. We now believe medication was started too soon - and our DD was convinced that it was an easy solution to her anxiety issues. The psychiatrist should have done more before prescribing medication.

Read this albeit with a critic’s eye ~

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/05/27/the-troubled-history-of-psychiatry

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Started seeing therapist in Feb so I feel like it’s a little early to be having this conversation but she feels that she is getting worse. Therapist has brought it up and she is considering it. She feels her anxiety is so bad that it is debilitating her. She is going to a great college int the fall and to the outside world her life is great but I know she struggles. Some things she mentions also seem normal to me so I find it confusing. This year has been hard for her but will it get better without the medication is what I am wondering. I worry that this will be something that she might feel the need to take all her life. If that’s what she needs then I am okay with it but am wondering if she should be trying other things too. All her friends go to therapists and are on medication so this is totally normal for her. But I would like to have a more wholistic approach. Medication plus CBT etc etc.
Any light you shine on this willl be helpful. How did it go with your teen? Did medication help? Do you think the therapist is jumping into this too quickly? I asked her if she tried CBT and she says she doesn’t know and that the therapist doesn’t label things.
I intend to speak with the therapist soon. What kind of questions should I ask her?

My two DDs are on small doses of prozac and it has helped. You should let her decide and see how it works for her. I don't think three months is moving too quickly btw.