When Parents Become the “OCD Police” (And What to Do Instead)

Watching our kids struggle with OCD can feel overwhelming, exhausting, and emotionally draining. When we understand OCD and begin recognizing compulsions more clearly, many of us naturally shift from accommodating behaviors… to hyper-focusing on every compulsion, reassurance loop, and avoidance pattern. This is what I call becoming the “OCD police.” In this episode, I explore how parents can unintentionally move from helping to over-monitoring, constantly pointing out compulsions, questioning behaviors, and trying to control OCD at every turn. While this often comes from a place of deep love and fear, hypervigilance can damage trust, increase shame, and create communication breakdowns. I discuss why becoming the OCD police can backfire, how it may cause kids to hide symptoms or shut down, and why managing OCD isn’t about catching every compulsion. Most importantly, I break down what to do instead. You’ll learn how to shift from policing to coaching, how to prioritize the compulsions that involve you, when to push, when to pause, and how to build skills without sacrificing connection. If you are a parent who feels stuck between accommodating and over-correcting, this episode will help you find the middle ground that truly supports healing. Resources Discussed on Episode:When to Push and When to Pause www.childocdtherapist.com/power-of-the-pause/ SPACE Study Course www.atparentingsurvivalseries.com/space/ AT Parenting Community www.atparentingcommunity.com Pulling Back OCD Accommodations www.childocdtherapist.com/pulling-back-ocd-accommodations/ Trust and Communication www.childocdtherapist.com/trust-and-communication/ How to Help Kids with Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors www.childocdtherapist.com/how-to-address-picking-and-pulling-behaviors/ *** This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional. Parents, do you need more support?   🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️ Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD: https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD): https://atparentingcommunity.com Take one of my FREE webinars: www.Natashadaniels.com/webinars Check out my books:  www.Natashadaniels.com/books 🌸 Other social places I hang out: http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival  http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.