- Date posted
- 1y ago
What is Seeking Reassurance?
OCD reassurance-seeking is the need to check in with someone over and over again to make sure everything is OK with respect to a particular worry or obsession. Family and friends of people affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often find to be the most stressful when interacting with their loved ones is this excessive reassurance-seeking. While responding may seem supportive, it only serves to perpetuate OCD behaviors and thoughts. An in-depth example: Donna is extremely worried that she will contract a sexually transmitted disease from doorknobs in public places. After washing her hands, she will often ask a friend, or even a stranger if her anxiety is high enough, whether her hands look clean or whether she should be worried about contracting an illness. Even if they tell her that she shouldn't be worried, she asks a number of "what if" questions until she feels completely confident that her hands are clean. Friends and family now avoid going with her to public places because of her behavior. Full article here: https://www.verywellmind.com/excessive-reassurance-seeking-2510549