What Does OCD Typically Look Like In A Child?
What Are Obsessions?
Obsessions are fears that kids with OCD can't stop thinking about. They may realize their thoughts don't make sense, but they still feel anxious about certain things.
These fears might include whether:
- They, or someone else, will get sick, hurt or die
- They said a bad word, had a bad thought or made a mistake
- They have broken a rule, done a bad thing or sinned
- Something is clean, dirty or germy
- Something is straight, even or placed in an exact way
- Something is lucky or unlucky, bad or good, safe or harmful
What Are Compulsions?
Compulsions (rituals) are behaviors that kids with OCD do repeatedly. OCD causes kids to feel they “have” to do rituals to "make sure" things are clean, safe, in order, even or just right. To kids with OCD, some rituals seem to have the power to prevent bad things from happening.
Rituals include things like:
- Washing and cleaning
- Often erasing things, re-writing, re-doing or re-reading
- Repeating a word, phrase or question much more than necessary
- Going in and out of doorways several times in a row
- Checking to make sure a light is off, a door is locked or checking and re-checking homework
- Touching or tapping a certain number of times, or a set way
- Having things in a specific order
- Counting to a certain 'good' number, avoiding "unlucky" numbers