Obsessions — or repeating, unwanted thoughts — are a symptom of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Children and adolescents with OCD may have these common obsessions:
Contamination Worries
- Dirt, germs, bodily fluids, or illnesses
- Taking on personality traits of others
- Animals or insects causing illness
- Household cleaners, solvents, or environmental wastes leading to sickness or injury
Fear of “Bad Things” Happening, Aggressive Thoughts
- Not being able to control impulses
- Harming a loved one
- Environmental disasters
- Excessive doubt about possessing a stolen item
- Violent images of harm coming to self or others
Need for Symmetry, Precision (“Just Right” OCD)
- Not tolerating items out of place
- Not tolerating the texture of clothing or food
- Overwhelming feeling that something must be fixed or finished
- Extreme discomfort when something feels uneven
- Difficulty making transitions
Urge to Tell, Confess, Ask, Know With Certainty
- Need to confess every detail about the day
- Uncertainty about understanding directions perfectly
- Not tolerating responses that are vague, such as “I don't know” or “maybe”
Saving, Hoarding
- Overwhelming need to acquire objects, even if not needed
- Need to collect or carry items in pockets of no value (e.g., lint, pieces of paper from the floor)
Moral Dilemma and Religious Preoccupations (Scrupulosity)
- Extreme fear of telling a lie or having an “impure” thought
- Excessive concern about being right or wrong, or morally acceptable or offensive
- Excessive worry about offending religious figures or objects
- Rigid preoccupation with rules
- Distressing images or thoughts about what happens after death
- Preoccupation with making the “right” decision
Sexual and “Forbidden” Thoughts
- Worry that he or she has sexually assaulted a stranger
- Worry about behaving in a sexually inappropriate way toward a loved one
- Doubts about sexual orientation
Magical Thinking
- Associating certain numbers, colors, words, or personal behaviors with other people's actions or the outcomes of events
Make an Appointment With the Pediatric OCD Program
To a schedule an evaluation of your child's symptoms to see if they meet the criteria for an OCD diagnosis, or to discuss OCD treatment options, call 412-235-5354.
