Why Do OCD Intrusive Thoughts Feel So Real?

Why Do OCD Intrusive Thoughts Feel So Real?

Have you ever noticed that when you try to rationalize your child’s OCD intrusive thoughts away it doesn’t help? Even when you tell them their compulsions don’t make sense, they have a hard time not doing them? That feeling of danger, incompleteness, or fear is not in their mind, it’s in their brain. There is a biological reason why they can’t shake off those uncomfortable feelings. Once they understand the science behind their doubt, it will make more sense why it is so important for them to override those feelings and not give in to OCD’s demands. In this week’s Youtube video, I talk to kids, teens and young adults about why those OCD intrusive thoughts feel so real and what to do about it.

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PSP 244: How to Help Our Kids Handle Intrusive Thoughts

PSP 244: How to Help Our Kids Handle Intrusive Thoughts

How to Help Our Kids Handle Intrusive Thoughts It is hard to watch your child being bombarded with intrusive thoughts day and night. No parent wants to see their child suffer, but how are they supposed to help their kids? Unfortunately when it comes to OCD, the answer is often counterintuitive.  In this week’s AT Parenting Survival Podcast I explore the nature of intrusive thoughts […]

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PSP 129: Putting the Spotlight on Childhood Moral & Harm OCD with Aaron Harvey

PSP 129: Putting the Spotlight on Childhood Moral & Harm OCD with Aaron Harvey

A young girl worries she might stick out her middle finger, so she goes around keeping her hands in tight fists. Another boy worries he’ll go to hell if he lies, so he can’t even answer a simple question. A teenager boy is fearful he is staring at his teacher’s breasts, so he looks at the floor the entire day. And the saddest part? No one knows these kids are even suffering. Not their parents, not their teachers, not their friends.

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Ask the Child Therapist Episode 56: Harm OCD in Kids: What it is and How to Help

Ask the Child Therapist Episode 56: Harm OCD in Kids: What it is and How to Help

Your child is starting to talk about “bad thoughts.” They worry they might hurt someone. They worry they might hurt themselves. This behavior is out of the blue. They promise they don’t want to kill themselves, but they worry it will happen anyway. They don’t want to jump in front of a car, but what if they do? They don’t want to stab you, but what if they do? The questions don’t stop there. What if something they do winds up killing those they love? What if they don’t wash well enough, pick up good enough, do things carefully enough. Would that put others at risk? Welcome to the world of Harm OCD. The one OCD theme that has parents running to professionals more than any other OCD theme.

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