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Do you think Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is just about handwashing and keeping things perfectly organized?
It’s actually a complex brain-based condition filled with intrusive thoughts and intense urges kids feel they must neutralize—again and again.
As a therapist and mom who’s helped thousands of families, I’ve seen how misunderstood OCD can be and how much kids struggle because of it.
Let’s debunk those myths so you can support your child with clarity and confidence.
OCD Myth #1: We All have Some Level of OCD
Nope—this one misses the mark.
People often say they’re “a little OCD” when they mean tidy or particular. But true Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is far more serious.
According to Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz, Psychologist at UNC Chapel Hill, “OCD isn’t just about being neat or organized. Its symptoms fall along a spectrum of human experiences and are shaped more by what a person has learned over time than by biology alone.”
It’s a clinical condition that involves:
- Intrusive thoughts(obsessions): Unwanted, distressing ideas that flood a child’s mind.
- Rituals (compulsions): Repetitive actions or thoughts used to try to neutralize the anxiety.
Imagine your child believing something awful will happen unless they blink just right or avoid certain numbers. That’s not about neatness; it’s about feeling trapped in a fear loop they didn’t choose.
OCD Myth #2: OCD is Always Genetic
Although genetics can play a role, OCD isn’t always inherited.
Other contributors include:
- Medical conditions like PANS/PANDAS, autoimmune encephalitis (AE), or Lyme disease
- Off-label use of psychiatric medications, especially during illness or high toxin exposure
- Chronic stress or trauma, which can trigger obsessive fears and compulsive behaviors
- Underlying anxiety disorders or nervous system dysregulation
Even with a genetic predisposition, OCD often develops gradually.
But here’s the good news: lifestyle shifts, emotional support, and stress regulation can make a huge difference.
Your child isn’t doomed by family history. With the right tools, their brain can heal and so can your confidence in helping them.
OCD Myth #3: OCD and Anxiety are the Same Mental Health Disorder
While OCD and anxiety disorders can overlap, they are not the same and should not be treated the same.
Misapplying anxiety treatment to OCD is one of the biggest obstacles to healing.
Using standard anxiety therapy—like talk therapy or distraction techniques—can actually make OCD worse by reinforcing the obsessive-compulsive cycle.
Here’s how it works:
- OCD starts with generalized anxiety about a specific fear.
- The child performs a ritual (mental or physical) to avoid that feared outcome.
- That ritual temporarily reduces anxiety.
- Behavior is reinforced and the cycle strengthens.
It’s like scratching a mosquito bite—it feels good for a second, but it actually makes the itch worse. That’s what rituals do for OCD: they offer a quick fix, but feed the problem underneath.
The good news? These behaviors can be unlearned. And the first step toward effective treatment is an accurate diagnosis.
That’s why we always start with a QEEG Brain Map in our BrainBehaviorReset™ Program—so we can understand exactly what’s happening in your child’s brain (Prichep et al., 1993) and guide you to the right path forward.
OCD Myth #4: Medication Is the Only Way to Treat OCD
Medication isn’t the only path to managing OCD—especially when we address the brain first.
Many children improve without meds when they use proven tools like:
- Neurofeedback: targets brain dysregulation
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy: helps break the behavior cycle (Keleher et al., 2019)
In kids with OCD, we often see:
- Overactive brain regions that perceive stress
- Difficulty switching gears and calming down
- A nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight
This explains why even small things can trigger huge reactions. Their brain isn’t being stubborn; it’s overwhelmed.
At our Ridgefield, CT center and through home-based programs, we use neurofeedback to quiet that overactivation (Barzegary et al., 2011). Once their nervous system is calm, kids gain the brain space to challenge OCD instead of being ruled by it.
OCD isn’t just “in your child’s head”; it’s rooted in brain and body dysregulation. Calming the brain first helps kids regain control without covering up symptoms with medications alone.
OCD Myth #5: You Can’t Have OCD and Still Function in Daily Life
OCD doesn’t always look like complete dysfunction.
Many kids with OCD are successful — good grades, excels in sports, even smiley and friendly — all while silently battling intrusive thoughts and exhausting rituals.
Symptoms can come and go, but when their brain gets stuck in that fear cycle, even the simplest things feel impossible. Focus slips away, connections get harder, and calm feels out of reach.
And remember—just because your child can function doesn’t mean they aren’t struggling. Watch for emotional exhaustion, not just outward behavior.
OCD Myth #6: OCD is Easy to Diagnose
OCD is often misunderstood—and sadly, it’s frequently missed by medical and mental health professionals because:
- Many lack specialized training to explore the complex thoughts and behaviors involved.
- It’s commonly misdiagnosed as anxiety or depression.
- OCD frequently co-occurs with other conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder and PANS/PANDAS, which can divert attention to the primary diagnosis.
Getting an accurate OCD diagnosis usually involves:
- A detailed clinical interview with a trained specialist.
- An exploration of your child’s specific triggers.
- A thorough review of obsessive thoughts and compulsions.
- An assessment of how intensely these symptoms affect daily life.
True OCD is not just quirky habits or casual jokes. It means their obsessions and compulsions:
- Take up at least an hour a day, and
- Significantly interfere with daily functioning.
OCD Myth #7: You Can Never Recover from OCD
Pharmaceutical ads can make OCD feel permanent, but many people successfully manage—and even overcome—it using specialized treatments like ERP and other evidence-based approaches.
The key steps to combating OCD include:
- Working with a highly trained OCD specialist.
- Learning how to take control of your thoughts.
- Developing the ability to tolerate discomfort without giving in.
- Breaking the negative reinforcement cycle that fuels OCD behaviors.
Myths of OCD #8: OCD Is Just Overthinking
OCD isn’t just overthinking; it is brain and nervous system dysregulation causing a nonstop cycle of:
- Anxiety
- Intrusive thoughts
- Compulsive rituals
These behaviors aren’t a choice; their brains are caught in a loop they can’t break alone. Key brain areas involved include:
- Frontal lobe: responsible for decision-making and self-regulation
- Amygdala: controls fear and emotional responses
When these areas are dysregulated, the brain struggles to:
- Filter out intrusive thoughts
- Prevent those thoughts from feeling urgent and overwhelming
This leads to compulsions—actions meant to neutralize fear or discomfort—that unfortunately end up reinforcing the cycle.
Understanding OCD: Separating Myths from Reality
To really understand and address OCD, we first have to bust the myths surrounding it.
Sounds simple but those misconceptions can sneak in and slow down real help.
Here’s how you actually tackle OCD:
- Calm the brain and reset the nervous system.
- Use neurofeedback to regulate brain activity and reduce intrusive thoughts (Ferreira et al., 2018).
- Strengthen brain connections that support calm, focus, and flexibility.
- Use evidence-based therapies like ERP to face fears and tolerate discomfort.
Why calming the brain first matters:
- Gives kids mental space to think differently
- Enables meaningful progress in managing OCD
It’s similar to how you would try to solve a puzzle when the pieces are moving. Kids need mental breathing room to see the whole picture. That space unlocks real change, letting them rewrite the story OCD tries to tell.
Remember, a brighter future is possible with the right strategies and a calmer brain!
Looking for real solutions? If you’re ready to dive deeper and truly understand OCD, check out our Natural OCD Thought Tamer Kit. Find out more here.
Parent Action Steps
FAQs
How do myths about OCD affect your child?
Myths about OCD can delay proper diagnosis and leave your child feeling misunderstood and alone. Clearing up those misconceptions opens the door to real support—and real healing.
Does OCD always require medication?
Not always. Many children improve through therapies like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and neurofeedback without relying solely on medication.
Can kids just “snap out” of OCD if they try hard enough?
OCD isn’t about willpower or stubbornness. It’s a brain-based condition, and managing it usually requires specialized strategies, not just trying harder.
Citations:
Barzegary, L., Yaghubi, H., Rostami, R., (2011). The effect of QEEG- guided neurofeedback treatment in decreasing of OCD symptoms. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, Volume 30. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042811023469
Ferreira, S., Pêgo, J. M., & Morgado, P. (2018). The efficacy of biofeedback approaches for obsessive-compulsive and related disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research, 272, 237–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2018.12.096
Keleher, J., Jassi, A., & Krebs, G. (2019). Clinician-reported barriers to using exposure with response prevention in the treatment of paediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 24, 100498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2019.100498
Prichep, L. S., Mas, F., Hollander, E., Liebowitz, M., John, E. R., Almas, M., DeCaria, C. M., & Levine, R. H. (1993). Quantitative electroencephalographic subtyping of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 50(1), 25–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/0925-4927(93)90021-9
Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge is a mental health expert who is frequently called up to give her expert opinion in the media:
- Insider – What is OCD?
- What to Expect: Why Does My Toddler Keep Pulling Her Own Hair?
- Parade:Olympic Boxer Ginny Fulchs Has OCD—Here’s Why That Term Is More Complex Than Many People Think
Always remember… “Calm Brain, Happy Family™”
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to give health advice and it is recommended to consult with a physician before beginning any new wellness regime. *The effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment vary by patient and condition. Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, LLC does not guarantee certain results.
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