How often do you all try to seek reassurance?

Yes, it wants endless control and power

You have to know that setbacks are a common part of recovery. Getting sick is a natural part of life, so you have to be careful not to start making "exceptions" for when you're giving reassurance and when you're not.. if that makes sense?

It's just important not to make too many "exceptions" for when you give into the reassurance. If it starts with giving your son reassurance when he's sick, then all of the sudden you're giving reassurance when he's traveling somewhere, or when he's tired, etc. Although recovery and improvement doesn't have to always be a straight upward arrow, it's important to get into the mindset that you need to be strict and ruthless against the OCD, because we all know how powerful it is and how much control it wants.

Right, I see how that could easily happen. There’s many twists and turns, progress and setbacks. Learning how to navigate it and help him learn to navigate. OCD wants all the control.

Just spotted this. I’m curious as to others answers to this as adults with ocd. I’m struggling with how to handle this with my 8 yr old. As a parent I want to reassure him but as an OCD parent I know I shouldn’t be. Trying to find the balance. He’s had a setback since being sick 2 weeks ago and seeks reassurance just over and over. Had therapy Friday. Hoping he gets back to where he was soon. He has made tremendous progress, I hate takings step backwards.

That does make sense. That could result in a snowball effect. Reassuring more and more and thus making the setback last longer. I’m working at trying to find the balance between when it’s ok to reassure as a parent to a child and when it’s ocd related reassurance seeking. Sometimes it’s crystal clear and sometimes it’s not. But I’m working on it! He’s broken through this bump and is improving again. One moment at a time.

I don’t do it much anymore but seeking/giving myself reassurance used to be my biggest compulsion. I notice it’s kicked a lot!