What is OCD?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves:
- Obsessions – unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that cause anxiety
- Compulsions – repetitive behaviours or mental acts done to reduce that anxiety
The cycle looks like this: obsession → anxiety → compulsion → brief relief → obsession again.
What OCD looks like in children
| Obsessions | Compulsions |
|---|---|
| Fear of germs or contamination | Excessive hand washing, avoiding touching things |
| Fear of something bad happening | Checking locks, appliances, repeatedly asking for reassurance |
| Need for things to be "just right" | Reordering, rewriting, doing things until it feels "correct" |
| Unwanted thoughts (aggressive, sexual, religious) | Mental rituals (counting, praying, replacing "bad" thoughts with "good" ones) |
| Fear of losing something important | Hoarding, difficulty throwing things away |
Why it is often missed
- Children may hide rituals or do them mentally
- Parents think it is "just anxiety" or "being fussy"
- Teachers see perfectionism as a good thing
- It can look like defiance ("She refuses to get in the car until...")
OCD is not a choice
Children with OCD do not want to do compulsions. They feel driven to do them to stop something bad happening. Telling them to "just stop" makes it worse.
When to seek help
Ask for a referral if:
- Rituals take more than an hour a day
- Your child is distressed by their thoughts
- OCD is interfering with school, friendships, or family life
- They are asking for constant reassurance