How to Identify Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Your Child

Thrive Wellness • July 18, 2023

Does your child seem to have an intense fear or obsession with topics like death, germs, organization or any other topics? Does it seem like these thoughts are frequent and uncontrollable? Does the fear of these topics seem to affect their home, school and social life? 

Does your child seem to have ritualized or repetitive behaviors that often take up most of their time? Are they unable to just “let it go” when they are completing these rituals or behaviors?  

Your child might be experiencing OCD. 

How Common is OCD in Children?

In the United States, half a million children suffer from experiencing OCD. To put it in perspective, every one in two-hundred children, or four to five children in an elementary school setting, or 20 teenagers in a high school classroom are affected by OCD. 

Although the root cause of OCD for individuals is never the same, there is effective treatment available for these persons to achieve a life less riddled by their OCD. 

What is OCD?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is attributed for its intrusive, uncontrollable thoughts and fears, otherwise referred to as obsessions, present in one’s mind. These obsessions are extremely difficult to cope with. This results in individuals suffering from OCD to partake in behaviors that “alleviate” the intense emotional reactions that come with obsessions, otherwise known as compulsions. They’re defined as compulsory due to the nature of frequency in which individuals with OCD deem it necessary to complete their compulsions, which further impacts their everyday life. OCD has the ability to negatively affect an individual’s perception of reality, their relationship with themselves and others, sociability, and other co-occurring mental health conditions like anxiety.  

The exact root cause of  OCD also remains undetermined. Research displays that in some cases OCD can stem from a lack of serotonin in one’s neurological system, genetics, trauma, or even streptococcal infections, but these are not exact diagnoses for all. 

Signs & Symptoms of OCD in Children

OCD takes a unique form per child, and can begin to develop as young as four years old, so it’s important to note that these signs and symptoms are the most common, however are not the end-all be-all to OCD prognostics.

  • A severe fixation on dirt or germs.
  • Intrusive thoughts about violence, causing harm to others or oneself..
  • Preoccupation with order, symmetry, or precision.
  • Persistent thoughts concerning engaging in offensive sexual acts or prohibited behaviors.
  • Disturbed by thoughts conflicting with personal religious beliefs.
  • Intense desire to remember even the most insignificant details.
  • Excessive focus on minute particulars.
  • Excessive worrying about potential negative events.
  • Aggressive thoughts, urges, or actions. 

Signs of OCD in compulsions and behaviors in children could look like this: 

  • Engaging in frequent hand washing ( exceeding 100 times daily)
  • Repeatedly verifying and rechecking, such as ensuring a door is securely locked.
  • Adhering strictly to established rules of order, such as dressing in a specific sequence each day.
  • Accumulating and hoarding various items.
  • Engaging in repetitive counting and recounting.
  • Categorizing objects or arranging things in a particular order.
  • Iterating words spoken by oneself or others.
  • Repeatedly posing the same questions.
  • Persistently using offensive language or making vulgar gestures.
  • Reciting sounds, words, numbers, or music to oneself repeatedly. 

These actions are typically done multiple times in one day, enough to disturb and interfere with one’s everyday life. 

Camp Courage

Your child deserves the best quality care possible to them, and at Thrive we’ve developed a program specifically designed for children struggling with OCD. Camp Courage for children and adolescents with OCD are specialized and intensive, aiming to immerse patients, their families, and support systems in a comprehensive treatment experience. The objective of these programs is to equip patients and their support systems with the necessary tools and assistance to establish a path towards lasting recovery. 

Read more about our program and how to sign up.  

About Megan Meaney

Megan Meaney earned both a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) and a master’s degree in social work (MSW) at Roberts Wesleyan College in New York. As a therapist at Thrive Wellness Reno, she provides play therapy and outpatient therapy for children and adults dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), and perinatal loss and grief, among other mental and behavioral struggles. Megan loves the career path she’s chosen as she finds fulfillment in fostering healing in a safe and supportive environment. She believes we aren’t meant to move through our lives alone and enjoys lifting others up as she actively listens to what clients are going through and provides an outside perspective on how to process their experiences and emotions.

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When Emma was 8, her parents noticed her food choices shrinking. At first, they assumed it was just picky eating — “She’ll outgrow it,” friends said. But by 10, Emma would only eat crackers, cheese, and chicken nuggets. Family dinners became nightly struggles, her growth slowed, and she skipped birthday parties to avoid “strange food.” Her parents felt powerless, her brother grew frustrated, and outings dwindled. What began as food avoidance soon reshaped the rhythm of the entire household. When children avoid food, most parents expect it’s a passing stage. But when restriction deepens, shrinks to only a few “safe foods,” and begins affecting growth or health, families suddenly find themselves in unfamiliar territory. This is often where Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) emerges — with effects that extend far beyond the plate. As providers, we need to be attuned to these patterns. It’s tempting to dismiss them as “no big deal,” yet for many families, they are life-altering. Sadly, Emma’s story is not unusual. Mealtimes as Battlegrounds Families living with ARFID often describe mealtimes as emotionally charged, exhausting, and unpredictable. What should be a chance to connect around the table can feel more like a negotiation or even a standoff. Parents wrestle with whether to push their child to try a new food or give in to the same “safe foods” again and again to avoid tears, gagging, or complete meltdowns. This ongoing tension can make mealtimes dreaded rather than cherished. Siblings, too, are affected. Some may feel resentful when family meals are limited to what only one child will tolerate. Others may act out in response to the constant attention the child with ARFID receives. Over time, the dinner table shifts from a place of nourishment and bonding into a stage for conflict, anxiety, and guilt — a pattern that can erode family cohesion and resilience. Social Isolation and Missed Experiences ARFID impacts more than what happens at home; it influences how families engage with the world around them. Everyday events — birthday parties, school lunches, vacations, even extended family dinners — become sources of stress. Parents may pack special foods to avoid confrontation or, in many cases, decline invitations altogether to protect their child from embarrassment or overwhelm. This avoidance can lead to an unintended consequence: isolation. Families miss out on milestones, friendships, and traditions because of the unpredictability surrounding food. The child may feel left out or ashamed, while parents grieve the loss of “normal” family experiences. This social withdrawal can compound the anxiety already present in ARFID and deepen its impact across generations. Emotional Toll on Parents The emotional strain on parents navigating ARFID is significant. Many describe living in a constant state of worry — Will my child get enough nutrients? Will they ever grow out of this? Am I doing something wrong? This worry often spirals into guilt and self-blame, particularly when outside voices dismiss the disorder as mere “picky eating.” In addition, the pressure to “fix” mealtimes can strain marital relationships, creating disagreements over discipline, feeding strategies, or medical decisions. Parents may also feel emotionally depleted, pouring all their energy into managing one child’s needs while inadvertently neglecting themselves or their other children. Without support, this chronic stress can lead to burnout, depression, and disconnection within the family system. The Role of Providers For clinicians, ARFID must be viewed not only as an individual diagnosis but as a family-wide challenge. Effective care requires attention to both the clinical symptoms and the family dynamics that shape recovery. Parent Support: Educating caregivers that ARFID is not their fault, offering psychoeducation, and helping them reframe mealtime struggles as part of the disorder — not a parenting failure. Family-Based Interventions: Coaching families in structured meal support, communication strategies, and gradual exposure work so parents don’t feel powerless. Holistic Care: Involving therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, and medical providers ensures that the family does not shoulder the weight of treatment alone. When families are validated, supported, and given practical tools, the entire household can begin to heal. Treatment is not only about expanding a child’s food repertoire but also about restoring peace, resilience, and connection at home. Moving Forward ARFID may begin with one individual, but its ripple effects are felt across the entire family system. By addressing both the psychological and relational dimensions, providers can help transform mealtimes from a source of conflict into an opportunity for healing and connection. For those who want to go deeper, we invite you to join our upcoming training on ARFID , where we will explore practical strategies for supporting both clients and their families.
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