It's perfectly normal for children to have worries and doubts, and this shouldn't be a cause for concern for parents. They simply need to ensure their child receives adequate emotional support and, with their parents' guidance, can cope with these worries and fears and develop strategies to address them. helping children control their impulses. But children who have obsessions or who suffer from OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) often can't stop worryingThese concerns often compel them to engage in repetitive behaviors.
Find information about OCD
If you want to be able to cope with your child's obsessions and help him, the first thing you will have to do is find information about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. OCD is a disorder that has a neurobiological basis, it is a brain condition that affects how children and adults who suffer from this disorder think. For many people Worries can consume many hours a day.It's involuntary, and this constant worry causes them fear and discomfort. Their worries are usually related to whether something might be harmful, dangerous, bad, dirty, or if something bad could happen, etc.
Furthermore, it is considered a anxiety disorder in which intrusive thoughts, images or impulses (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) appear to relieve anxiety or to prevent something feared from happening. It is not the fault of the child or the family: They can't stop him with willpower alone. and it is not caused by inadequate parenting.
Alterations in the biology of OCD have been implicated neurotransmitters such as serotonin and they exist hereditary factors which increase vulnerability. In predisposed individuals, stressful events or illnesses These can trigger symptoms. In cases associated with sudden-onset streptococcal infections in childhood, the medical team may consider conditions such as PANS/PANDAS and the specific medical approach corresponding.
People who suffer from OCD to alleviate this internal discomfort perform compulsions (also called rituals) in which they channel all that fear. For example, They can wash their hands excessivelyThey may think about something over and over again (like a mental prayer to prevent something terrible from happening), etc. All of this gives them some relief, although it is only temporary.
Children can have great difficulty explaining why they do their rituals and many times they just do it but they don't know or understand why. But it is always to try to alleviate the anxiety caused by constant worry and fear.
OCD is like a body alarm system but it is always onThis always causes anxiety and worry. Can you imagine having to live in constant fear and worry? Well, that's what happens to people with OCD, and that's why it interferes with their daily lives. It's important for children with OCD to realize that they don't actually need to repeat these behaviors over and over, but the anxiety they feel is so intense that they see them as "necessary" to stop the uncomfortable feeling. Learning not to respond to compulsion This is key because the relief is temporary and in the long run it can cause them more anxiety.
Symptoms of OCD
As a father or mother, it is necessary that you learn to identify the symptoms of OCD so that you can recognize them in your child if it is happening to him. Children, not understanding what is happening to them, can explain it in a peculiar way and it is necessary Pay attention to what he/she says and how he/she says it. in order to be able to assess.
Children often describe their obsessions as "bad thoughts" or as having many fears or worries. In some cases, they find it very difficult to describe or put words to what is bothering them, but they feel obligated (literally) to participate in rituals that help them manage the anxiety they have inside.
For example, a child may feel very afraid that something bad will happen to his mother and cannot stop checking over and over again that the doors and windows at home are completely closed before going to bed or asks the parents to check that everything is in order. This repetitive behavior is a compulsion or a ritualFears are common, but when they persist, something may be going too far. Another very common fear is the fear of bacteria, which is why people feel the need to wash their hands repeatedly until they feel clean, sometimes even damaging their skin.
Common behaviors in childhood
The most common obsessions These include: fear of dirt or germs, fear of contamination, need for symmetryOrder and precision, religious obsessions, concern for bodily wastelucky/bad numbers, sexual or aggressive thoughts intrusive thoughts, fear of becoming ill or of a family member being harmed, worry about household items and unwanted sounds or words.
Among the most common compulsions These include: cleaning rituals (hand washing, showers, brushing), repetition of rituals (entering/exiting through a door, rereading, erasing and rewriting), repeated checks (appliances, locks, tasks), avoiding or eliminating contact with "contaminated" objects/people, touch rituals, rituals to prevent harm to oneself or others, order and align objects, counts and accumulate things with no apparent value.
Warning signs at home that can go unnoticed
OCD can be hidden for months because children often conceal it out of shame. Look for signs such as: cracked hands due to constant washing, excessive use of soap or paper, unusual increase in water bills, grade dropUnproductive hours spent on tasks, sheets with holes that need erasing, requests to repeat phrases or always giving the same answer, constant fear of getting sick, drastic increase in laundry, plenty of time to go to sleepfear that something terrible might happen, constant checking on the family's health and refusal to leave at the same time as other members.
Professional diagnosis and evaluation
If you suspect OCD, Consult with a pediatrician or child mental health professional.The professional will ask questions in understandable language, for example: “Do you have thoughts or images that bother you?”, “Do you need to check things over and over again?”, “Do you wash your hands a lot?”, “Do you count or repeat actions an exact number of times?”, “Do you keep things that others throw away?”. They will also assess frequency, intensity and family history (OCD, tics, Tourette's).
It frequently coexists with other disordersAnxiety, depression, ADHD, learning disabilities, trichotillomania, tics, and pediatric acute-onset syndromes (PANS). Diagnosis is not a label. helps adjust the intervention already coordinating family-school-professionals.
Evidence-based treatments
The most effective treatments are the cognitive behavioral therapy with Exposure and Prevention Response (EPR) and, when necessary, SSRI medication (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) prescribed by specialists. The EPR explains in a gradual and safe to the feared stimuli while block compulsionshelping to verify that the anxiety decreases on its own and that the imagined catastrophe does not occur.
The role of the family is crucial: talking only about fears and rituals Without a therapeutic plan, these feelings can be reinforced. It is important to have a professional with specific experience in pediatric OCD. In some cases, especially if there is significant functional impairment, a combined intervention or intensive. When OCD arises after streptococcal infections, the medical team will adjust the medical treatment appropriate within the overall approach.
How to deal with your child's obsessions?
Accept your security object
It might be a blanket, or a stuffed animal… it depends on their age. Young children need objects that help them feel safe. If you allow them to have one, it will increase their ability to manage anxiety when they find themselves in a situation where they feel insecure. It's a phase they will pass, but your child needs to know that you understand and that you accept him as he is.
Identify what may cause you concern
Young children (all of them) are very sensitive to stress and therefore need to use objects to feel secure, especially since they are unable to verbalize their feelings of anxiety. For example, if you have to rush out in the morning because you're late for the school bus and your child wants to grab their stuffed rabbit, don't forbid it; it's because they feel anxious at that moment. So that your child does not feel that need, it is necessary to practice calm at home and carry out daily routines so that you know what is coming at any given moment, without the need to worry.
Work emotions from home
It's essential that children learn to understand their own emotions and those of others, and this needs to be addressed daily at home. It's necessary to work on feelings, empathy, and assertiveness. Emotions are key for any child, and a child with OCD will especially need to understand why they behave this way, why they have those thoughts, and strategies to combat it.
If after reading this article you realize that your young child behaves in a way very similar to what I describe here but has not been diagnosed with OCD, Then don't hesitate to consider taking your child to be evaluated by a professional.A diagnosis isn't a label; it will simply help you better understand why your child behaves the way they do, allowing you to offer more appropriate support. In some cases, a [missing information - likely a specific type of intervention] is needed. specialized treatment to improve the quality of life, not only for children who may suffer from this disorder, but also for their families.
Practical guidelines for families: support without reinforcing
- Recognizes signalsRepetitive behaviors, safety questions, ritualistic lateness, irritability, or sleep problems. Interpret these as symptoms of OCDnot as disobedience.
- Avoid daily comparisonsProgress is not linear; observe medium-term advances and celebrates small improvements.
- Maintain the family routineDon't let OCD be the "boss" at home. Establish respectful boundaries and preserves common activities and norms.
- Do not participate in rituals neither of reinsurance Constant (responding to the same thing over and over). Accompany without reinforcing: “I know you’re worried, and I trust what you did".
- Promotes treatment with an EPR specialist and participate as a family to align responses at home.
- Take careSelf-care for mothers, fathers, and caregivers reduces stress and improves support capacity. Support groups and psychoeducation they help a lot.
Complementary and creative strategies for children
These tools can be practiced as a complement to EPR and never replace to professional treatment:
- Time of worrySet aside 10–30 minutes a day to write down worries with pen and paper. Outside of that time, the child can say to themselves:I'll think about it next time.Rereading them later usually weakens their impact.
- Put your worries on pause: write them down and save them in a worry boxHelpful explanation: The Worry Gremlin doesn't like being ignored, but it does like being listened to. postpone your topic by appointment.
- Alternative endingsIf the mind imagines catastrophes, help it create a final safe and realistic. Turning "what if..." into narratives where Everything works out train cognitive flexibility.
- Ignoring with humor: responding to absurd thoughts with a shrug"Don't make me laugh!" or a rehearsed gesture. The goal is ignore them.
- Turn the Gremlin into a master: role-playing game where the adult poses persistent questions and the child learns to answer with confidence and cut the chain.
- Anti-worry muscle: “training” courageous and creative responses to increasingly complex concerns, with humor and positive reinforcement for each achievement.
School: how to support from the classroom
- Detect: constant rewrites, late arrivals due to rituals, repeated requests for confirmation.
- To coordinateCommunicate with the family respectfully and, if there is treatment, follow through. therapist guidelines.
- Avoid scams or punishments through rituals. OCD is not a choice; teacher understanding It greatly improves adaptation.
- Reasonable adjustments: to make time constraints more flexible or reduce tasks temporarily, balancing support and autonomy.
When to seek professional help
If obsessions or compulsions They take up more than an hour a dayThey generate anxiety and interfere Whether you're struggling with studies, relationships, or well-being, it's time to consult a specialist in childhood OCD. Appropriate treatment, family involvement, and coordination with the school often result in... significant improvement and increased functionality.
Understanding childhood OCD, responding calmly and consistently, and opting for validated treatments makes a real difference. With support, clear boundaries, and specific strategies, Many children are getting their daily lives back on trackThey learn to live with uncertainty and significantly reduce the burden of obsessions and compulsions.