Our 20 yr old son has taken a break from college - dealing with OCD (harm/existential/sexual/others). He also has depression that has joined the OCD. We have tried online counseling with a great counselor from the NY OCD clinic, medication (maybe helped some with lots of fits and starts), in person counseling when he has been home (we are in Alabama and he is in Texas). The online OCD counseling helped some but his depression is causing him to not be able to do the basic things like sleep, eat, get on a routine and he ended up dropping doing the counseling. Last night he agreed to see if there was an inpatient program so I'm going to call the ones I know about today but wondered if you had any advice. This mom is worried and lost and trying to help a 20 year old who wants his autonomy.....but I'm worried about his safety! I originally posted this to Stephen Smith but wondered if any others in this community had advice on next steps too

Tell him it does get better.. and will get better... it is hard but he will get there ... stay strong... exercise helps loads if he can x

Honestly, in this situation, tough love needs to be in order. You can’t let him sleep all day, not eat, not shower, etc. he’s digging hole for himself and he’s making himself worse. He needs to be on a schedule and from the sound of it, he needs to be in therapy at least once a week.

As someone who’s been literally dragged out of bed by a parent before, I agree that it’s the best thing they can do. Being in the same house as someone who could be helping set a routine but instead let me do what I wanted felt like abandonment to me. Although the opposite also hurt, I at least felt that my problems were seen and therefore real enough to be helped.

@mya97 Yes, I have to drag my ass out of bed sometimes but I KNOW it has to be done. He might even need to be in an inpatient program. Or at least an outpatient one, depending on their location and accessibility to those things.