What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that can affect children and teenagers. They experience unwanted thoughts, worries, or impulses called obsessions which are upsetting and hard to control.
Children with OCD develop repetitive actions called compulsions to calm the anxiety caused by their obsessions.
These compulsions are not connected to the obsessions in a realistic way.
For instance, a child might be afraid their parents will be in a car accident, and they turn a light on and off five times to deal with this fear. Professionals call this “magical thinking,” believing this ritual will protect their loved ones from harm.
A child with OCD will usually experience both obsessions and compulsions. They use compulsions to control the anxiety that obsessions cause.