OCD Living With OCD How Parental OCD Affects Kids By LuAnn Pierce, LCSW LuAnn Pierce, LCSW Facebook Twitter LuAnn Pierce, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked in the field of mental health and human services for over 25 years. Learn about our editorial process Updated on July 16, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Steven Gans, MD Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Image Source / Getty Images People with postpartum OCD first experience symptoms right before or after childbirth. Some begin to have symptoms during pregnancy. Other parents may develop OCD symptoms when their children are a bit older and more independent. For these parents, the obsessive thoughts may begin when it is time for the child to go to daycare or attend school. Often this is the first time the child has been away from home and the close supervision of the parent(s). Parents may begin to obsess about contamination or their inability to ensure the child is safe or getting their needs met, among other things. For those who had OCD before their children were born, new thoughts or fears may arise. Even people who have been successfully managing their OCD symptoms can relapse if parental responsibilities trigger new intrusive thoughts. During times of high stress or life transitions, breakthrough symptoms can recur with different obsessions and compulsions. Impact on the Family One study found in a two-year follow-up study that children with a parent who has OCD are more likely than others to develop social, behavioral, or emotional conditions. Parents with OCD often experience problems in their own social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. In an article for the International OCD Foundation, authors Jennifer Jencks, LICSW, and Barbara Van Noppen, PhD suggest that these problems also affect family functioning and may impact child development. They explain accommodation in the case of OCD to be ways in which the family intuitively supports the parent (reassurance, avoidance, etc.) that may unintentionally reinforce their OCD. Accommodation is one of the primary factors that predict the severity of OCD symptoms, according to Van Noppen and Steketee. Why Do I Need Constant Reassurance With OCD? Treatment Treatment for parents with OCD is much like treatment for others with OCD. Ideally, anyone with OCD would get individual therapy based on the cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) model. Most people respond well to a combination of exposure and response prevention (ERP), a specific type of CBT, and traditional CBT to address the thoughts that drive compulsions. ERP involves repeated exposure to the fear without engaging in the behavior that is used to decrease anxiety. For example, a parent with postpartum OCD might be asked to observe their child sleeping without placing a mirror by the child’s nose to ensure they're breathing (or any other ritual the parent may use to manage intrusive thoughts that the child might die in their sleep). The goal of ERP is to realize that the anxiety will fade without engaging in the rituals or behaviors one generally uses to calm the fear and/or anxiety. Another component of therapy for parents with OCD is family therapy. It is important for family members to understand the disorder and ways they may inadvertently contribute to it. Children and spouses or partners learn how they accommodate the parent with OCD, and new strategies to disengage in that behavior. By talking about these issues together, children and partners learn how to resist old behaviors and responses and replace them with new ones. The parent with OCD also learns from each family member how they feel when asked to engage in behaviors or rituals that are harmful to the parent. Medication is often used for the treatment of any type of OCD. It is necessary to work with a psychiatrist who can guide and direct your treatment, especially any medications you take. Antidepressants are often effective in the treatment of OCD. Finding the right medication at the correct dose can take a while, so good communication with the psychiatrist and therapist is critical. It is helpful to keep a log or journal of your symptoms to share with the doctor and therapist. This allows them to see patterns over time and tweak medication as needed. The Best Online Therapy Programs We've tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain. Self Help for Parental OCD Self-help and support groups are also beneficial for parents with OCD. Groups allow the members to learn from those who share similar challenges, and to give back to others as they learn to cope with their condition. Relaxation activities and mindfulness meditation are often helpful in managing OCD and daily stress. Many clinicians recommend these techniques for people who have from this disorder. It is also essential to take care of your health, as physical health impacts mental health. Get plenty of sleep, eat nutritious foods, and try to get some exercise most days. It is also helpful to avoid caffeine as it may contribute to anxiety. Coping With a Family Member's OCD 6 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Morgado P, Freitas D, Bessa JM, Sousa N, Cerqueira JJ. Perceived Stress in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is Related with Obsessive but Not Compulsive Symptoms. Front Psychiatry. 2013;4:21. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00021 Black DW, Gaffney GR, Schlosser S, Gabel J. Children of parents with obsessive-compulsive disorder -- a 2-year follow-up study. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2003 Apr;107(4):305-13. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2003.02182.x Jencks, J., & Noppen, B. V. Have we forgotten the children who have a parent with OCD?: accommodation and early intervention. International OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) Foundation. Hezel DM, Simpson HB. Exposure and response prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A review and new directions. Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(Suppl 1):S85-S92. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_516_18 Janardhan reddy YC, Sundar AS, Narayanaswamy JC, Math SB. Clinical practice guidelines for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Indian J Psychiatry. 2017;59(Suppl 1):S74-S90. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.196976 Manjula M, Sudhir PM. New-wave behavioral therapies in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Moving toward integrated behavioral therapies. Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(Suppl 1):S104-S113. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_531_18 Additional Reading Van Noppen B, Steketee G. Testing a conceptual model of patient and family predictors of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms. Behavior Research and Therapy. 2009;47:18-25. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2008.10.005 By LuAnn Pierce, LCSW LuAnn Pierce, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked in the field of mental health and human services for over 25 years. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist for OCD Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.