Grandson16 washing hands & showers hours shredding clothes

[MemaHoney]

He went to dr who put him on prozac saying he would be on it into college. No talk of cognitive therapy. Boy adds new thing almost daily.how do we get a good diagnosis?

[specialmom]

Well, this sounds like it is going in a positive direction.  Please keep us informed!

[specialmom]

Your grandson is in crisis.  If you are dissatisfied with 'some' person or whatever medical facility, doctors office or organization you took him to . . . time to begin again to get better answers.  He's suffering emotionally.  This is a significant downward spiral.  I don't know the extent of it but kids of this age can become suicidal quickly.  No one can tell you that he will or won't be on an antidepressant until college.  I wouldn't focus on that.  Maybe that is their way of saying this is a long term problem which mental health issues usually are.  

WHO does he live with? What are they saying?

He sees a doctor next week?  That's great!  Get a list of ALL the questions you can think of and don't leave the office until they are answered.  He may be going down the road of needing inpatient care.  I'm not trying to scare you but this is a vulnerable age and this boy has a lot going on.  I don't know exactly what.  

the way mental health disorders are diagnosed is by symptom reporting from the teen, their family and their teachers.  The doctor also gives them questionnaires.  There is no blood test or absolutes to diagnosing---  evidence of what is going on in the child's life is used.  Sometimes the specific name is not important but that it is treated. Several disorders such as depression, ocd and anxiety are treated with similar medications (Prozac being one of them) while other things like bipolar are treated with different medications.  But with the level of what is going on with his daily life, I think you need immediate help and intervention for him.
I'd have his parent call the school and inform them of the situation.  Hopefully they are empathetic and will make accommodations as he balances out his mental health.

What type of doctor does he see next week?  And again, they may not personally provide cognitive behavioral therapy . . . but you CAN still get that for him yourself (or his parents).  Some psychiatrists work with psychologists, some don't.  Make some calls to PHD psychologists in your area for therapy.  Let me know how this goes!!  I'm worried about you all!

[MemaHoney]

Thank you for your concern. He lives with his Mom. She was not comfortable with them saying he would be on prozac to college. But she feels he needed it. He has been on prozac 5 days. He is showing signs of  being more peaceful. Starting to eat. Last night he actually slept. He has a meeting about cognitive therapy next week. We hope he will  be active in therapy. We see some signs of hope. His Mom wanted him  to have the therapy with meds. We are hopeful we are on the right path. It may be a long path, A psychiatrist is doing meds.  I forget the group doing therapy. His Mom is happy with them.

[MemaHoney]

The school was informed several weeks ago.  He hasn't been to school this week. He sees a psychiatrist next week  to see if meds are working . I forget who is going to do therapy.

[specialmom]

Oh gosh, that is very difficult.  So, was he put on Prozac because of OCD (the washing of hands)?  And what do you mean shredding his clothes.  Some more details would be helpful.  How is he doing in school?  Who does he live with?  What other symptoms does he have?  If behavioral and cognitive therapy isn't being given by the prescribing psychiatrist, perhaps you can research psychologists yourself and start that process?  I take matters into my own hands when I need to.  But more information would be helpful.

[MemaHoney]

We feel he has not been diagnosed. He was evaluated  by some person. They said he would see a dr in a week.  When he went back in a nurse practitioner sId prozac probably until college. No offer of cognitive therapy. He wants everything washed to be able to wear his. Clothes. We found most of his clothes cut into pieces in the bathroom he refused to go in. He showered for 3 hours sometimes more. Other times he refuses to shower. He is ruining the septic tank so much water. To prepare for school, he gets up at 4 am.  Missed 1 period for days & can not get to school at all now. He is failing. He doesn't want to eat, so he doesn't have to go to the bathroom. He adds new things daily. He just used 120 gloves in 2 days