Why reassurance feeds ocd (even when it feels helpful)
For individuals who suffer from OCD, when anxiety spikes, it can be common to seek reassurance from our well-meaning support network or the internet to put our anxiety at ease. Anxiety, after all, is uncomfortable to sit with and can even lead to distressing physical sensations.
Various forms of reassurance seeking exist, but two common types involve technology and our support network. For example, someone struggling with health-related obsessive-compulsive concerns might repeatedly ask their parents if their symptoms could be a mysterious illness or spend hours googling their symptoms. Similarly, a person experiencing relationship OCD may ask their partner for reassurance about the relationship or constantly read self-help articles to “test” their love.
It’s understandable that people want to reduce anxiety, discomfort is hard to sit with. However, by seeking reassurance, anxiety may temporarily subside but the behavior ultimately reinforces the cycle of anxiety and compulsion in the long run.Here are some things individuals suffering from OCD can do instead:
1. become an information seeker
Within ERP treatment, it’s important for people with OCD to recognize reassurance seeking and instead develop the mindset of an information seeker. Information seekers ask questions to become informed, seek input from qualified sources, and learn to accept uncertainty when appropriate. Reassurance seekers, on the other hand, ask questions to feel less anxious, pursue answers that cannot truly be answered, and continue seeking more information without forming a conclusion.
2. educate friends, partners, and family
Living with OCD can feel isolating and debilitating, especially when loved ones unintentionally reinforce reassurance-seeking behaviors out of care or concern. It’s natural to want to comfort someone and tell them everything will be okay. However, with OCD, reassurance often becomes like a thirst that can never be quenched.
Individuals with OCD can benefit from educating their friends, partners, and family members about reassurance seeking. This helps everyone better understand the condition and work together to develop supportive, non-reinforcing responses.
3. monitor your use of technology
As technology continues to advance, we have more information than ever at our fingertips through tools like AI and Google. For someone with OCD, it’s easy to get lost down an endless rabbit hole of searching or asking repetitive questions.
It’s important to recognize that technology can be one of the most hidden yet powerful compulsions for individuals with OCD. If you notice yourself getting stuck in a cycle of reassurance seeking online, try setting limits on the amount of time spent researching or the types of content you consume, especially if certain sites or pages tend to fuel your anxiety.
Disclaimer
The content on this website, including all blog posts, articles, and resources, is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment.