How OCD Shows Up Differently in Teens (and What Parents Can Do)

Apr 10

As a parent, it can be hard to know what’s typical teenage stress… and what’s something more. When it comes to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), many teens suffer in silence. Often they feel confused or embarrassed about what’s happening in their minds.

You might not see the classic signs like handwashing or checking locks. Instead, OCD in teens can show up in more subtle, emotional, and internal ways. Let’s take a closer look at how OCD can show up in teenagers — and how you can help.

At Virtual CBT Psychotherapy, we have a variety of OCD experts. Learn more about our OCD therapists and teen therapy. We also offer psychological assessments if your teen is 18 years of age and older. Book a free consultation to learn how we can help. Our therapy fees.

First, what exactly is OCD?

OCD stands for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It involves two key parts:

Obsessions: unwanted, distressing thoughts, images, or urges that keep coming back
Compulsions: actions or mental rituals done to relieve anxiety caused by those thoughts

In teens, these thoughts might be about:

Hurting someone by accident
Catching a disease
“Bad” sexual or violent thoughts
Needing things to feel “just right”
Wondering if they’re a “good” person

And the compulsions might look like:

Repeating things in their head
Asking for reassurance (a lot!) from their friends and family
Avoiding people or places
Mentally “canceling out” a bad thought with a good one
Checking a variety of things (e.g. appliances, straighteners)
Superstitious behaviours (E.g. lucky numbers or colours)

Learn more about OCD themes

Why OCD in teens is easy to miss

Teenagers often don’t realize they have OCD. They might think they’re just overthinking, being “weird,” or that something is wrong with them. Teens often hide their symptoms because they feel embarrassed or fear judgment.

You may notice:

A lot of indecision or asking the same questions over and over
Avoiding school or social events without a clear reason
Getting stuck on homework for hours trying to make it “perfect”
They have emotional outbursts when something disrupts their routine
Extreme distress over their thoughts (but they won’t tell you what those thoughts are)

Parents often say: “They seem anxious but won’t talk about it.” That’s often how OCD hides — beneath layers of shame, fear, and silence.

Does Childhood OCD Go Away?

This is a question many parents ask — and it’s a fair one. The honest answer is: OCD doesn’t usually go away on its own. But with the right support, it can become much more manageable.

Without treatment, OCD symptoms may stick around or even get worse over time. The thoughts might change as your child grows, but the anxiety and rituals often stay.

The good news? OCD is very treatable — especially in kids and teens. With early intervention and evidence-based therapy many young people learn how to:

Face their fears more confidently
Stop relying on rituals
Feel more in control of their thoughts and emotions

So while OCD may not fully “go away” in every case, it absolutely can get better — often much better. Many teens go on to live full, happy lives where OCD is no longer in the driver’s seat.

How to Talk to My Teen with OCD

Talking to your teen about OCD can feel tricky. You may worry about saying the wrong thing, making it worse, or triggering anxiety. The truth is — your presence, empathy, and calm curiosity can make a huge difference.

Here are some gentle ways to open up the conversation:

1. Start with curiosity, not correction

Instead of jumping into advice or reassurance, try starting with: “I’ve noticed you seem really stressed lately. Want to talk about it?” or “I read something about OCD and some of it reminded me of what you’ve been going through. Does that sound familiar at all?”

Teens often respond better when they feel safe, not judged.

2. Normalize the experience

You might say: “Lots of teens have scary or upsetting thoughts they don’t know how to deal with. It doesn’t mean anything bad about you.” or “You’re not alone in this — and you’re not weird or broken.”

This can help reduce shame and make it easier for your teen to open up.

3. Be a calm, steady presence

Your teen may say things that are hard to hear, or they may shut down. That’s okay. Try to respond with:

“That sounds really tough. I’m here.”
“You don’t have to go through this alone.”
“We can figure this out together.”

You don’t need to have all the answers — just being there matters more than you know.

4. Avoid giving too much reassurance

It’s so tempting to say, “That won’t happen,” or “You’re fine.” But OCD feeds off that quick relief. Instead, you can say: “That sounds like your OCD talking. What do you think would happen if we didn’t answer that thought right now?”

This helps your teen start building the skills they need in therapy — and shows them you’re in their corner.

5. Offer support, not pressure

Let your teen know that therapy is available when they’re ready. You might say: “There are people who understand this really well — and there’s therapy that works.” or “We could talk to someone together and see if it helps.”

Give them time to think about it, and remind them that asking for help is a sign of strength.

How can parents help?

If you think your teen might be struggling with OCD, here are a few steps you can take:

1. Stay calm and curious

OCD can feel terrifying to your teen. They might believe the intrusive thoughts mean something awful about them. Reassure them that having scary thoughts doesn’t make them a bad person.

Let them know you're there to listen — not to judge.

2. Learn about ERP and CBT

OCD is treatable. The gold standard treatment is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). ERP is a type of CBT that helps your teen face the scary thoughts without doing the rituals.

With the right support, your teen can learn to manage OCD and feel more in control of their mind again.

3. Get professional support for OCD

You don’t have to figure this out alone. A therapist who specializes in CBT for OCD can help your teen (and you) . They can help you understand what’s going on and develop a treatment plan that works. Learn more about parent consultations and coaching. Learn more about our OCD therapists and therapy. Book a free consultation to learn how our team of specialists can help.

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25 Tips for Parenting Your Child with OCD and Anxiety (Source: OCD & Anxiety)

Treatment Options for Teens with OCD

If your teen has OCD, the good news is that there are effective treatments. Many teens make real progress with the right support.

Here are the most common and evidence-based treatment options:

1. CBT with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

This is the gold standard treatment for OCD.

What is it? ERP helps your teen face the thoughts or situations that trigger their OCD. It helps them to stop doing their rituals or avoidance. Over time, their brain learns that the feared outcome doesn’t actually happen. They also learn that, anxiety gets smaller if they leave it alone.

How it helps:

Reduces the power of intrusive thoughts
Builds confidence to face fears without rituals
Teaches flexible thinking and emotion regulation

ERP is not about forcing them into scary situations. Instead, it’s collaborative, gradual, and always at their pace.

2. Parent Coaching and Involvement

Parents play a huge role in helping teens recover from OCD.

A trained therapist can help you learn how to:

Avoid unhelpful reassurance cycles
Set healthy boundaries around compulsions
Support your teen without accidentally feeding their OCD

Many families feel empowered once they understand how OCD works and what they can do to help. Learn more about parent consultations and coaching.

3. Medication (in some cases)

Sometimes, a doctor may recommend medication, like an SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor). These can help reduce the intensity of obsessions, especially when combined with therapy.

Medication isn’t always needed, but it can be a helpful tool in more severe cases.

4. Virtual Therapy Options

If in-person therapy feels hard to access, online CBT therapy is just as effective. It also gives teens the comfort of getting support from home, which can help them open up more easily.

The Bottom Line

Your teen isn’t broken or doing this on purpose. OCD is a real condition — and it’s treatable. With the right therapy and support, your teen can learn to manage their symptoms of OCD. Hopefully, they can start feeling more like themselves again.

You’re not alone, and neither are they.

Final thoughts on OCD in Teens

OCD in teens often hides in plain sight. It can look like perfectionism, indecision, anger, or even silence. But behind it all is usually a teen who’s overwhelmed by thoughts they don’t understand — and who desperately wants relief.

The good news? OCD is treatable with ERP (a form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).

With the right help and a lot of compassion, your teen can learn to manage their OCD and feel like themselves again.

Need OCD Therapy or Parent Coaching?

We offer confidential, virtual CBT therapy for teens across Ontario.

Book a free consult to get started. We have a variety of OCD experts to choose from. Learn more about our therapy fees. We have a variety of therapists to choose from including social workers, registered psychotherapists and clinical psychologists.

* Must be an Ontario resident.