Hello, I have a 15 year old son who has been diagnosed with Trichotillomania last year. He does go to therapy for it and has tried different ways to help but it seems it has gotten worse. The doctor is now going to try some pills to help with it. I am a little hesitant about putting him on medication but since it is not got better, desperate to try anything. Anyone have good results with being on medication for this type of OCD? Trying everything I can do to help my boy. Plus if anyone else is experiencing this but dont want to say anything just read it will help them.

zomboney

Date posted: 5y

Hi! I have OCD with Dermatillomania and Trichotillomania, and was diagnosed around the same time as your son. Medication can be scary, and your concerns and fears are warranted. If anything, they show what a caring mother you are. Often, though, medication is necessary for normal functioning in moderate to severe cases. After I was finally put on medication as a teen, I went from being a complete shut-in and dropout who spent all my time doing compulsions, to a well-adjusted college student with a 4.0 GPA. I can't speak for your son, but medication will likely also seriously help his OCD, and allow him to live his best life. Speak with your doctor about the different kinds of medications they're thinking about, and let them know about your concerns. Any good doctor will be transparent and explain to you in detail how each medication works, and discuss the possible risks and benefits, so you can find the best option for your son. I know it seems so hard right now, and it hurts to see him suffering, but recovery and healing is possible. Take it from me, no one expected me to ever recover, but I did it. Medication was the key for me. And sometimes, medications are not permanent. Your son may reach a point in his recovery that he no longer needs to be medicated. It's case by case. But no matter what, this is not a life sentence. Its the start on a path to healing. Things will get better, maybe not immediately, and maybe some days they'll feel worse, but one day you'll be able to look back and see how much progress has been made.

Anonymous

Date posted: 5y

Thank you so much for commenting, gives me hope for my boy. May I ask what started it, if you don't mind? If not I completely understand.

zomboney

Date posted: 5y

@Mama281 Of course! My mother would tell me that she noticed a pretty sudden shift in my behavior when I was 2 or 3. I went from being a pretty easy-going and happy toddler to screaming and crying when the furniture was slightly rearranged. I started constantly asking for reassurance that bad things wouldn't happen to me or our family, and by the time I was 5 or 6 I was very focused on illness. I'd scrub my hands raw and constantly research illnesses. My mother wouldn't let me watch the news because every time there was an outbreak of illness or contaminated food, it would trigger me tenfold. I even got to the point where I wouldn't eat until she had reassured me over and over that the food I was eating wasn't infected. That's where the picking at my skin and hair started too. When I saw blemishes, I wanted to "get the bad stuff out", in case it was some kind of illness or disease that was going to spread to the rest of me (which isn't how it works, I know. It was comforting to the OCD though). The hair picking for me was usually entirely mindless, it was a stress reliever and I'd do it while I was ruminating. This all got even worse when I hit puberty, I started picking at body and facial hairs and would not stop clawing at my skin. The content of my obsessions changed a lot, too. They became disabling in severity and were focused on more existential and personal matters. I still picked at my skin and hair, more than ever. They were still compulsions, in a way. It brought me so much relief to focus on that instead, even though it hurt me. I'd say that was the point that the Trichotillomania and Dermatillomania really started for me, even though I'm sure I've had OCD since I was very little.

Anonymous

Date posted: 5y

@zomboney I thank you so much for letting me in on your life. I am glad medication has helped you and you are doing the best you can. I am still waiting on the medication for him but I have a better perspective on it. Good luck and keep it up!

PBubblegum

Date posted: 22w

My partner has severe OCD

Hello i got this app hoping to maybe find some support for my partner i thought about reddit but reddit has become a hateful place and i figured this is a safe place. i love my partner more than anything and he’s been struggling with OCD his whole life he has a hard time talking about it with anyone because it’s too painful he’s stated that it’s gotten worse as he’s gotten older His biggest issue right now is overwhelming thoughts of his actions having tragic outcomes and being unable to stop these obsessive thoughts (such as needing to check out door handle 5 times to make sure it’s locked but still panicking that it’s unlocked) he’s not open to one on one therapy or meds although he loves learning and watching informative videos i fear he’s afraid to confront his OCD or just afraid nothing will help i really wanna help him live a stress free and happy life he deserves it would anyone possibly have any ways to naturally help with OCD or recommend any great individuals that could share techniques on managing OCD or helping your partner with OCD? i would very much appreciate it!

trinii

Date posted: 16w

Medication or treatment?

I understand that everyone is different but lately I have been debating on medication just because of past experiences but does anyone have any good experiences with medication that has helped them with their OCD as well as therapy or treatment? As of now I’m dealing with it by myself but it feels like it may be getting worse

Young adults with OCD

Mum🌸

Date posted: 15w

Need advice how to help son with his religious OCD

My son has Pure O religious/scrupulosity with GAD and Bipolar. My son was diagnosed with Pure O religious OCD two years ago. He has to complete a task so that God doesn’t send him to hell if he doesn’t do it. These tasks are dangerous like doing multiple back flips on concrete, or jumping off balconies three times, doing MMA slams on his back three times. The thoughts are telling him if he doesn’t do this he will go to hell. Or he is so worried about blaspheming the holy spirt and loose his salvation. He knows this is his OCD. He knows the scripture and that God is one of peace and love. Been there and done that on quoting scripture and reminding him he is saved. I can see the torture he is going through and it is painful to watch. He also needs to be stuck next to me at all times cuz it makes him feel safe. This is impeding on my life as I feel I have a toddler again, he is 24 and a former 4 star football player. He wants this to stop, he is in therapy and working on it. He was free from these thoughts from November 2023 till April 2025. He is dealing with narcissistic trauma with his father and this triggers the OCD. My question is what can I do to support and help him through these episodes and not agitate him and to help him heal?

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