OCD Action

PDM
Member

Hi, I'm a noobie so please be gentle with me. Anyway, I have a question. My 28 year old son has OCD but also is noise intolerant to the extent that it causes him considerable distress. He lives in a shared house but spends a lot of time with me. I am worried about him - he doesn't sleep at night, spends most of the day in bed and he now also displaying signs of BDD. He won't seek help and refuses to take meds. He was 'diagnosed' with OCD when he was 14 and I am at a loss what to do to try and help. He is also severely dyslexic so finds it difficult to participate in forums or read books/pamphlets.I think this is one of the reasons why he is trying to control this alone. When I try to discuss this he just gets angry and refuses to talk. I live alone in a one bed cottage and as well as being concerned about my son am finding it difficult to cope. Help and advice please.

Thu Nov 24 2011 19:00:08 #
Truddles
Member

Hi WorriedMum,

Welcome to the forum

If your son is severely dyslexic and so finds participating on forums and reading books/pamphlets difficult would he find it easier if he was able to get the books in audio format? I believe there are some books on OCD in audio format or you could record them for him. He might also find going to an OCD support group useful. There are groups in your area and this might help build his confidence enabling him to seek professional help.

Your health and well being is just as important as his and so you need to have time to yourself to do the things that you want to do.

Use the forum for help and support from others.

Trudy

Thu Nov 24 2011 22:00:07 #
Tess
Member

Hi worried mum
So sorry to hear about your son. The noise intolerance may be due to the OCD or it might be due to another condition but whatever the cause it is obviously causing him a lot of distress. Many years ago I was friends with a lady with OCD noise problems, in fact she accommodated me in her home for a few weeks as a form of mutual support. Her husband, who was a builder had soundproofed the party walls with three feet wide foam insulation but she was still convinced she could hear her next door neighbour's TV even though no-one else could hear anything and she was terrified. This was long before modern treatments but I am just telling you as an example of how noise intolerance can be due to OCD.
Has your son tried using one of the turquoise blue screens which can help dyslexia sufferers, one of the members of our support group uses one to help him with reading.
There is a huge amount of help available for your son, but he has to be willing to accept it. The young man I mentioned in our support group is getting a lot of help and support, an organisation down here in Cornwall has been helping him, they paid for him to spend a week on a sailing ship with a group of other people with mental health problems and they had the time of their lives, they have provided one to one support in adult education classes and he is now doing voluntary work for a charity helping disadvantaged children. The normal way to access these services is via the GP who will then refer on to the mental health services. Presumably your son is in receipt of benefits and in my experience if you can deal with the benefits system then approaching the mental health services is a piece of cake. If your son refuses to take advantage of all the free help available then you could perhaps make a few enquiries of your own, it is possible for your son to self refer without having to go through the usual channels and it could make a huge improvement to his life.

Fri Nov 25 2011 10:17:31 #
Wombat140
Member

Dyslexia, OCD and hypersensitivity to noise are all things that often go with autistic spectrum disorders, even slight ones. Might not be, of course, but it seems possible seeing that he's got all three. Thought I'd mention it as the professionals might not think of it - OCD and autism tend to come under different people.
Good luck, anyway.
Wombat140

Mon Nov 28 2011 17:26:42 #
PDM
Member

WorriedMum here - changed my screen name as there is already someone with that name

Thanks for the replies I am aware of most of what you mention, but as Tess says my son has to be willing to accept the help available. Its difficult to try to persuade a 28 yr old who, as Wombat140 mentions, may have several related disorders. I really just wanted confirmation that the noise hypersensitivity was more than likely related to OCD. @Tess, he has self-referred to the mental health team before, but is reluctant to do so again as he is convinced they can't help him. With regard to the blue screens, thanks for mentioning that. He tried those when he was younger but they don't work as he is practically blind in one eye. Just to add, he is a strapping 6ft 4, handsome chap with a lot going for him - if only he would accept help However, it will probably help me to be able to ask questions on the forum, so thanks again for the replies.

Tue Nov 29 2011 19:44:39 #
Tess
Member

Hi PDM
I think it's worth mentioning to your son that the mental health teams can open doors to other organisations which may be able to help him. I don't know what you have in your area but down here in Cornwall we have an excellent Rethink centre and there is a brilliant organisation called Outlook SW which provides a lot of support for people with all types of mental health disorders and we also have an organisation called Pentreath which provides a lot of support with rehabilitation, providing social activities and voluntary work placements, all with ongoing support. I'm sure there must be similar organisations across the country and I think your son could be helped if he is willing to take that first step of making contact with the service providers. Not only that if he is the 6ft 4ins hunk you describe he could brighten a lot of other lives by getting out and mixing in and brighten his own in the process.

Wed Nov 30 2011 10:44:18 #