What's It Like for Kids With OCD?

Some kids don't always talk about the fears and behaviors OCD causes. They may feel embarrassed or confused about their fear and keep it to themselves. They may try to hide rituals they do. They may worry that others will tease them about their fears and rituals. Sometimes, it seems so normal for them to think these things, it doesn’t occur to tell anyone.

On the other hand, most kids are going to talk a lot about their fears with their parents. And parents will notice their rituals done at bedtime, when eating or when they are playing. 

Kids with OCD feel unable to stop focusing on their obsessions. They feel like they have to do the rituals to guard against bad things they worry could happen. For some kids, doing a ritual is the only way they feel "everything's OK." Most often, these thoughts or behaviors do not go away on their own.

If they do stop thinking a certain thought or stop a compulsive behavior, it gets replaced with a different thought or behavior.