I am a new member.   My 17 year old son has been struggling with Pure OCD / Pefectionism for quite a long time now - and was diagnosed in Year 9 (14 years old).   He is an academic child who loves to learn, and has always had perectionist tendancies.   He suffered wih panic attacks and tics since the age of 9 ... but seemed to deal with that and then when he reached 14 years of age, the OCD kicked in.   He felt he was a bad person abd that he was contaminating everyone. He washed his hands hundreds of times a day, showered for almost an hour at a time, we had to wash bags, clothes etc as soon as he returned from school, he had to exercise for a certain amount of time each week and was very restrictive with his food - only eating healthy things.   He has been attending CAMHS, on and off, for three and a half years now, and although day to day, he has made a huge amount of progress and managed to get through his GCSE's ..... the OCD has now affected his ability to study and make notes for his A Levels (which he is due to sit in Summer 2021).  He feels he has not read things thoroughly, that his notes are not good enough, that he has to research everything about a topic (even if it not in the syllabus)...... He does not want to do anything else with his life other than get good A level grades and go to University .... and yet, this seems impossible at the moment.   He has been on a low dose of medication for over two years now.   CAMHS are saying that he is probably not well enough to be studying for A Levels - but he says he does not want to put his life on hold .... so is trying to keep going and see if he can get an A in any of his three A levels. To be honest school is where he is his happiest as he likes beings with his close circle of friends ... and is destracted from his OCD more. Also with the pandemic in full force - there is not much else he could do at the moment anyway.   I feel so helpless and hopeless. Being a parent is the best thing I have done in my life and I would do anything to support my two children .... and yet I cannot do anything to help with this OCD. His Grammar school are trying o be supportive ..... but I don't think they understand the full imact the OCD is having on my son's like (although they have spoken with CAMHS to try and understand).   I am just so desperate to find someone who has potentially been through this situation. I feel exhausted and could cry at a drop of a hat .... My family and friends say they don't know how I am managing to cope and be so strong for my son. I do have a partner - but he just becomes frustrated when I try to talk to him about the OCD ... and asks why CAMHS have not managed to make our son better yet?   I would love to hear from any parents out there that have found themselves in a similar situation.     ... View more