OCD and reassurance seeking

Reassurance-seeking is a very common compulsion for someone with OCD, where the goal is to try and find certainty or relief from intrusive thoughts, images, urges, feelings, etc. Some examples of reassurance seeking can be: “Do you still love me?” “You’re not mad, right?” “Are you sure this food is safe to eat?” While it's normal to want reassurance every now and then, especially about things we're insecure about, for those of us with OCD, this reassurance-seeking can turn repetitive and compulsive. People with OCD might ask for frequent reassurance from their loved ones or online, often asking the same questions over and over and wanting to hear the same reassuring answer every time. It's also common for people with OCD to engage in self-reassurance through various mental compulsions, or to include compulsive “confessions” as a part of their reassurance-seeking. What does reassurance-seeking look like for you?

Username: anonymous07anonymous07

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 9w ago

This is the story of my life.

Username: ErinDErinD

Date posted: 9w ago

@anonymous07 Mine too. I drive my family crazy at times.

Username: Mackenzie - NOCD Team MemberMackenzie - ...

Date posted: 7w ago

@anonymous07 Trust us… we get it! You are not alone! ❤️

Username: ErinDErinD

Date posted: 9w ago

Mine is always about my appearance. If someone says I look pretty I sometimes make them repeat it in sets of three, and there are many variations on this theme. It’s embarrassing. It makes me avoidant of even speaking to people since I have to pay rapt attention to what words are being spoken. I make my family sometimes replace letters in words or change the sounds of words in case they remind me of “negative” words. No wonder sone people with this problem retreat into a world of silence.

Username: zanne31zanne31

Date posted: 9w ago

Yep I’m stuck with asking someone I really trust are I upset with me.. do u really like me I can’t even say love”

Username: Mackenzie - NOCD Team MemberMackenzie - ...

Date posted: 7w ago

@zanne31 You are not alone! Remember, you are stronger than your OCD!

Username: lilaheffronlilaheffron

Date posted: 9w ago

After years and years of talk therapy trying to figure out why I couldn't express my needs for fear of upsetting a partner/friend/etc and never making much progress, being diagnosed with OCD and recognizing that reassurance is such a big part of it was so validating. I always thought that I was just too needy or anxious attached and that I would have to live like this forever. I have hope that ERP will help me with my cravings for reassurance and I will one day have a healthy relationship where I don't have to constantly ask "Do you still love me?"

Username: Mackenzie - NOCD Team MemberMackenzie - ...

Date posted: 7w ago

@lilaheffron You’ve got this! ❤️

Username: tryingmybestttryingmybestt

Date posted: 9w ago

I’ve been doing this since I was young

Username: Mackenzie - NOCD Team MemberMackenzie - ...

Date posted: 7w ago

@tryingmybestt You are not alone! Remember, you are stronger than your OCD!

Username: SMills79 SMills79

Date posted: 9w ago

I am a mother to a 10 year old daughter with these OCD traits. Is there anything that I can do to continue to support her and keep myself sane? What type of therapy is recommended?

Username: afoldedchipafoldedchip

Date posted: 7w ago

@SMills79 I struggled with this immensely when I was her age, I constantly asked my parents the question “am I going to throw up?” over and over and over again for about a year. The best kind of therapy would depend on other details on your child’s condition, but know that she can get better once she learns to tolerate the reason why she keeps asking.

Username: KalidescopeKalidescope

Date posted: 7w ago

This checks out!

Username: Mackenzie - NOCD Team MemberMackenzie - ...

Date posted: 7w ago

@Kalidescope You are not alone! ❤️

Username: sunflowerjovsunflowerjov

Date posted: 7w ago

I drive my husband crazy with this story of my life 🫤

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