Hello Community, My son is in his late 20’s and lives out of home. He
has Asperger’s and now has debilitating OCD which ramped up when his
grandmother convinced him to come off his medication when he was still
living with me two years ago, since then...
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Hello Community, My son is in his late 20’s and lives out of home. He
has Asperger’s and now has debilitating OCD which ramped up when his
grandmother convinced him to come off his medication when he was still
living with me two years ago, since then he has moved out and has lost
his job so I now support him financially (which is an enormous
struggle). He is back on meds. I’ve put him on several waitlists for
Psychiatrists but it’s a long wait. Meanwhile his GP is on board to
introduce antipsychotics but my son is reluctant to take them. He tried
one type recently and he wet himself overnight so now taints all
antipsychotics with the same brush. He refuses help, he won’t cook or
eat in his home, washes 6 loads of washing per day, and uses around 6-8
rolls of paper towels per day. He has suicidal thoughts and has given up
hope. Ive been through the hospital system with him over the years and
they just turn us away…It seems unless you are psychotic when presenting
(even when police have been called) you are turned away with a mental
health number to call and that’s it. Our system is flawed so even if I
tried to “section” him, it’s highly unlikely he would be admitted. I
don’t know what to do anymore. He has been to the OCD Clinic twice now
in 2020 which helped, but since coming off his meds he has plummeted.
it’s agony seeing him deteriorating and I’m chewing through my savings
to basically keep him alive. He asks for money constantly as he only
eats take away food in his garage. His garage is also full of garbage
bags of paper towels. I’ve bought a fridge and microwave for his garage
so that he can defrost home cooked meals. But he’s frightened the smell
of food will enter his house and “infect” his belongings. Every time I
talk to him about helping himself he shuts down. As I know ultimately he
has to want to get better, but he doesn’t have the willpower. I know
giving him money is enabling him, but I’m just trying to keep him alive.
He wants to work but he is at such a wretched place mentally he would
not be employable. I’ve found a good employment agency nearby to help
people with disabilities but he has to ring them, they won’t accept me
as his advocate, and of course, he won’t ring. It’s always “I’ll do it
tomorrow”. He was knocked back for NDIS years ago so I’ll try again, but
I’m not certain that will be successful either. I feel so trapped. I
know he’s frightened of getting better as in his mind that means letting
go of control. I understand OCD and it’s horrible mechanisms. I feel
like I’m just waiting until he either takes his life, or bottoms out so
badly he somehow finds the courage to say yes to help.
Parents and caregivers: How are you feeling about the social media restrictions for under 16s?
