OCD in Children & Adolescents

What is OCD?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a type of mental health condition that can affect kids and teenagers. It causes them to have upsetting thoughts that won't go away (obsessions) and makes them feel like they have to do certain things over and over again (compulsions) to feel better. This can make it hard for them to do normal stuff like going to school or hanging out with friends.

Famous People Who Have OCD

Understanding the Diagnosis

Treating OCD in Children & Adolescents

Taking Medications for OCD

Parent Guide: Supporting Your Child with

OCD

Parenting a child with OCD can be challenging, but with the right strategies and support, you can help your child manage their symptoms effectively. Here are some practical tips to support your child in overcoming their mental health challenges and building resilience. Remember, small steps lead to big changes, and your support makes all the difference.

Learn about OCD

Understand what OCD is, including its symptoms like intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Familiarize yourself with therapy and medication options to support your child effectively. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of OCD, you'll be better equipped to provide the right support, dispel misconceptions, and advocate for your child's needs. 

Creating a Supportive & Nurturing Environment

• • Encourage Open Communication: Make sure your child feels safe talking about their feelings without fear of judgement. 
    
    
  • Show Understanding: Let your child know that you understand their distress.
    
    
  • Be Supportive: Assure them that you will help them cope with their OCD symptoms. 

Implement Effective Coping Strategies

• • Encourage Relaxation Exercises:  Encourage your child  to practice relaxation exercises like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation or mindfulness for 20 minutes each day. Provide quiet space and uninterrupted time for these exercises.

• • Use Positive Self-Talk: Encourage your child to replace negative thoughts with positive ones: Review our guide "Understanding Your Child's Thinking Errors: A Guide for Parents" to learn about common thinking errors in children which can lead to mental health struggles. Review our DIY Guide for Kids: How to Learn and Practice CBT Skills for treatment of Anxiety to help them learn and practice techniques to identify and change negative thought patterns.
    
    
  • Help with Problem Solving : Help your child develop coping thoughts or problem-solving ideas. Provide progressively less help over time to encourage self-reliance. 

Avoid Enabling Compulsive Behaviors

• • Support Without Enabling: Encourage your child to resist their compulsions and face their fears. Do not permit or reinforce avoidance of difficult situations, as this reinforces OCD symptoms. Review our DIY Guide for Kids: How to Practice Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD to help your child learn to face stressful thoughts and resist the urges to perform rituals. 
    
    
  • Offer Praise and Rewards: Celebrate your child's successes. Reward your child's efforts to face their stressful thoughts. Focus on praising and rewarding the effort, not just the outcome. Review our guide “Using Praise: A Positive Parenting Skill” to learn how to use praise effectively to encourage positive behavior in children. 

Additional Tips

• • Be Patient and Consistent: Understand that progress takes time and be consistent with the strategies.
    
    
  • Stay Positive: Maintain a hopeful and positive attitude to encourage your child.
    
    

Common questions you may have as a Parent

Have more questions? Check our FAQ section

Resources

In Case of an Emergency or Mental Health Crisis

A mental health emergency occurs when your child's behavior poses a danger to A mental health emergency happens when your child's behavior poses a danger to themselves or others, or when they cannot care for themselves and function normally. Signs of a mental health emergency include thoughts of suicide, severe emotional distress, or a mental health or substance use crisis. In these situations, it's crucial to know who to contact for immediate help.

Here are some essential emergency contacts:

By having these resources readily available, you can act quickly and effectively during a mental health crisis, ensuring the safety and well-being of your child.

Other Resources