Did you know OCD isn’t just about handwashing and checking things? Here are some OCD themes most people don’t talk about: ✅ Moral OCD – “What if I’m a bad person?” ✅ Existential OCD – “What if none of this is real?” ✅ Sensorimotor OCD – “I can’t stop noticing my breathing/blinking.” ✅ Harm OCD – “What if I hurt someone, even though I don’t want to?” These thoughts feel very real—but they’re OCD, not truth. And no, they don’t mean your child is dangerous or broken. Recognizing these symptoms is the first step to helping your child break free. For more support get my Free PDF: ? 15 Common but Of ..read more

It must be a requirement that if you live in my house you have to have an anxiety disorder. Even the dog has major anxiety ??‍♀️ #anxiety #childanxiety #anxiouschild #anxietytherapist #childmentalhealth ..read more

?Get my PDF on OCD themes you might be missing at natashadaniels.com/ocdthemes Moral OCD themes center around the fear of doing something bad or turning into someone bad. It can make children with OCD overanalyze every thought and behavior they do and have done. One compulsion parents raising kids with OCD often miss is the inability to answer a question directly. A very common concern with Moral OCD is centered around honesty and lying. OCD makes them doubt what they are saying and so they fear they could be lying. The compulsion centers around softening answers so they aren’t “lying.” After ..read more

If your child could just stop, they would. OCD is a brain disorder, not a habit. It creates intense anxiety and forces a person to do compulsions to feel safe—even when they know it doesn’t make sense. Instead of “Just stop,” try: • “I know this is hard. Let’s sit with the feeling together.” • “You don’t have to do that compulsion—I believe in you.” • “Let’s talk back to OCD instead of listening to it.” OCD isn’t about willpower. It’s about learning to tolerate uncertainty—and your support makes all the difference. For more in-depth support on OCD check out my free webinar: ? 5 Things Every Pa ..read more

If you’ve ever struggled to create and stick to an exposure plan for a child, teen, or young adult with OCD, I have something that will make the process so much easier! ✨ Introducing the OCD Exposure Planner! ✨ This digital planner helps you: ✔️ Develop and organize a full month of exposure exercises ✔️ Identify the OCD theme and core fear to target ✔️ Ensure exposures are effective (including response prevention!) ✔️ Create a structured schedule to track progress ✔️ Build a reinforcement plan to keep motivation high ​ Whether you’re a parent, therapist, or caregiver, this planner gives you th ..read more

I accidentally said something bad?” That’s OCD creating doubt—over and over again! OCD is sometimes called the “doubt disorder” because it makes you question things you don’t need to. The more you try to be certain, the more uncertain you feel. But here’s the good news—you don’t have to solve every “what if?” to feel better! In this video, I’ll explain: ✔️ Why OCD makes you doubt even the things you know are true ✔️ How your brain’s “false alarm” system keeps you stuck ✔️ A step-by-step way to break the cycle and take back control If OCD has ever made you second-guess yourself, this episode is ..read more

Does your child worry a lot? It might be more than just anxiety. Here’s how to tell the difference: Worry thoughts: • “I hope I do well on my test.” • “I’m nervous about a new school.” OCD thoughts: • “If I don’t tap this 5 times, my mom will get hurt.” • “What if I secretly want to hurt someone?” OCD isn’t just worrying—it’s intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety, followed by compulsions to feel better. And it doesn’t go away with logic alone. If this sounds familiar, don’t ignore it. Early support makes a huge difference! To learn more about OCD take my free class: ?Misperceptions About OCD i ..read more

This is why it is so hard for kids with anxiety and OCD to leave the house ? So many of our children with OCD and anxiety have a hard time leaving the house. It can be for so many reasons, but here are a few: Anxiety: ? Worried over how they look ? Worried about where they are going ? Worried about separating from you ? Worried they’ll throw up or get sick ? Worried they’ll have an anxiety or panic attack OCD: ?️ Worried they’ll get contaminated or spread contamination ?️ Get stuck in compulsions ?️ Needing things to feel just right ?️ Worried their OCD will be triggered This can lead to BIG ..read more

If your child has OCD, you might be making this mistake—and it’s actually making things worse. The #1 mistake? Reassuring them! When your child asks, “Are my hands clean?” or “What if something bad happens?” it’s natural to want to comfort them by saying, “You’re fine, don’t worry.” But here’s the problem: OCD thrives on reassurance. The more you give, the more their brain demands it. Educate them on OCD and how it grows. And then instead of answering, try saying: • “What do you think?” • “I believe you can handle this.” • “Sounds like OCD talking—let’s not give it power.” OCD isn’t about logi ..read more

Is your child with OCD using a TON of toilet paper? Over wiping is a common OCD compulsion, but why kids do it depends on their OCD theme and the core fear driving it. Here are some common OCD themes and core fears around over wiping: ? I need to wipe to not get contaminated with pee or poop. ? I need to wipe until it *feels* just right ? I need to wipe to not harm other people with pee or poop ? Pee and poop are disgusting and I need to make sure it is all gone Contamination, just right, harm and disgust are all common OCD themes. As parents we need to look past the symptom (over wiping) and ..read more