OCD for a 17 yr old boy

[tina7]

Hi

I have a 17 yr old boy, who is obsessed with everything with respect to cleanliness.  For example a friend of his was playing at the park and licked the slide at the park and as a result, my son thinks that she is diseased and is now going to spread it to him.  He walks around with an abundance of hand sanitizer whereever he goes (every scent you can imagine).  He wont use the same bar of soap than anyone in the family, and he wont eat from the same dish or drink from the same cup as anyone.  At a friends house, someone took a sip of his drink and he freaked for a day that he was going to get sick.

What can we do?  Or does he need counselling?

[stitchy]

sounds more like he could be a hypochondriac.

[gumbygumby]

He should see a therapist. (everybody should see a therapist imo) If your son is honest, the professional will most likely be able to give a diagnosis of ocd if he has it. Dont convince yourself or your son that he has ocd (or anything wrong with him at all). Let the therapist give the diagnosis uninfluenced by your worries :)

[ILADVOCATE]

The best thing to do is have him see a psychiatrist to diagnose if it is OCD. From what you describe it does like OCD but only a psychiatrist can provide a diagnosis. Medication is helpful on OCD and cognitive behavioral therapy works in addition. Talk therapy can be helpful for anyone but specific cognitive behavioral therapy is what is most useful for OCD. A psychiatrist could determine the best course of action.