5 OCD Symptoms That May Look Different in Children

OCD or obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health condition that is characterized by unwanted or intrusive thoughts or obsessions followed by repetitive behaviors or compulsions. Compulsions are performed as a way to reduce any stress or fear that is caused by the obsessions.

OCD can affect anyone, no matter their age, background, gender, or race. Even though OCD can affect anyone from childhood to adulthood, it may look different in individuals depending on their age.

Here are 5 OCD symptoms of OCD that may look different in children.

1. Obsessions

Adults and children who struggle with OCD both will have obsessions, but the things that they obsess over and fear will differ depending on their age range.

For example, adults who have experienced more of the world, who have their own unique experiences, and who watch the news may be more afraid of violence, death, or disaster, which means their obsessions will relate to these topics.

Children are more likely to obsess over events or experiences that are directly related to them or their loved ones. They could stress over germs, religion, or their own safety and well-being.

2. Compulsions

Obsessions aren’t the only thing that varies between adults and children who have OCD. The compulsions are something else that can look different depending on a person’s age.

A child will partake in compulsions or rituals like arranging, checking, or washing. An order and symmetry obsession could trigger a compulsion to arrange or organize items in a particular way. If their obsession is related to safety, they may check that the doors are locked. A fear of getting sick or germs could provoke excessive handwashing.

3. Difficulty Making Decisions

It can be hard for both adults and children who are struggling with OCD to make decisions. But a child may experience an increased fear of making a mistake, making the wrong decision, or causing harm to themselves or someone else based on their decisions.

This sense of indecisiveness can cause issues in other areas of their life, like their schoolwork, home life, and relationships with peers, friends, teachers, and family members.

4. Checking

Checking can be one of the most common behaviors or compulsions for children struggling with OCD. They may constantly be checking and rechecking things as a way to self-soothe and feel better about any of the unwanted and intrusive thoughts or obsessions that they’re experiencing. These are just a few of the different ways a child can perform a checking compulsion: If a door is locked, if lights are turned off, if an appliance is off, or if homework is done correctly.

5. Magical Thinking

Magical thinking is the idea that a person’s actions, thoughts, or rituals can impact real-life events. This type of thinking occurs even if and even is completely out of their control or there is no realistic and logical connection.

A child who experiences magical thinking will strongly believe that their own thoughts and actions can cause or prevent bad things from happening. Magical thinking includes superstitions like avoiding breaking a mirror or stepping on a crack in the sidewalk. A child may also believe that if they wish for something, it could come true.

Next Steps

No matter if you’re an adult with OCD, a child with OCD, or a parent with a child who has OCD, we’re here to help you. OCD is a fairly common mental health condition. If you’re experiencing some of the symptoms, it’s important to know that you’re not alone.

There’s no replacement for connecting with a licensed and trained mental health professional. They’ll be able to work with you to determine the root cause of your obsessions and help you work through feeling better without performing those compulsions.

It may seem like an intimidating step, but we’ll be there for you every step of the way. Reach out today about child therapy to get started.