17 year with strange behavior

I have a 17year old son who i have seen do things that i thought was strange, keeps his room very messy, which is not so strange, but i have found plates of old food, wrappers, when he has a trash can, bottles of urine, meaning instead of getting up and going to the bathroom he is peeing in a empty water bottle, i found all of my silverware, just things that are making me wonder is there something seriously wrong with him, please help, i am seeking some counseling for him but wanted some feedback.  Thank you.

[Jason Greenberg, Ph.D.]

I am afraid that in light of what you've described, I don't have much to add that hasn't been commented on by others already.  The hoarding, particularly of urine, seems to indicate something more than just "being a slob," and is enough to warrant having him meet with a psychiatrist (one who specializes in treating adolescents).  Just out of curiosity, have you noticed anything else unusual in his behavior as of late?  And has anyone else commented on his behavior to you (e.g., school and/or job, other family members)?

[innerchild09]

Takie it from an actual slob not one of my best traits but that is pretty strange even for someone who lacks orginization skills. Look my room is a mess sometimes food included but I have never pead in a cup. So there could be something wrong Have you tried asking him about it? He may need some counciling. Any other strange behavior that makes you think there could be a problem?

[Jaquta]

I was wondering if this could be representative of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).  These behaviors could be signs of chronic hoarding.

I would probably start by having him assessed by a psychiatrist.

This forum expert will be better able to advise and direct.

[therese83]

WOW , someone else has this problem !

My 18 year old just came back from University I was hoping he would have stopped Urinating into bottles, glasses, anything he can find.

He hadn't stopped. He is and always has been so self centered and lazy and without any shame.  He just doesn't want to get out of bed, he doesn't hide it.  It is disgusting.  But not as uncommon as you would think.  I just cleaned the room, he had tidied it before leaving (an improvement) but there were liter bottles in the bin.  Even though i have told him he cant live here in the summer if this continues.  I mean i am easy going, but so mad over this, he has no respect for me or anyone.  

But otherwise he is a decent boy ??

I saw one of those shows 'queer eye for the straight guy' they were renovating a very nice young mans apartment.  It was a mess, he had glasses of Urine, he said it was because he was too lazy to get out of bed.

I am very frustrated over this, and plates under the bed ! Of course , all that.  He also does Science experiments with balloons, matches, etc, but the Urine is the limit !

[meemums]

I'm not a parent, nor am I a teenage boy, but I occurs to me that he ought to think about what a potential girlfriend might think of his habit of peeing into a bottle.  If I were a teenage girl and found out my boyfriend couldn't bother to get out of bed to use the bathroom, I would drop him like a hot potato!  That's just gross!  I wonder, if the right girl comes along who's important to him, would it make him clean up his act?  It might!  Still, it might not hurt to mention to him what girls will think of his bottles of urine in the bedroom.  Good luck!

[Jaquta]

I think it is most likely to be a mental health problem and I think the behavior would be extremely difficult to change.  People can want to change but the actual changing is the challenging bit.

The person would have to be very special for me to consider being in a relationship with someone with those tendencies.  It's extremely judgmental on my part but the behavior is also extremely socially unacceptable.  In my culture anyway.

I wouldn't wish that behavior on anyone and I hope they can work through it.  I think interventions have a good chance of succeeding if they are done at an early age.