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Dawn Huebner, PhD

Parent Coach, Author and Speaker

  • Dawn Huebner, PhD
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Not

Does your child compulsively line up her stuffies? Need to be kissed 3 times before bed? Is she obsessed with horses? Or what her friend said earlier that day? We use the words obsessive and compulsive pretty broadly, then worry they might have clinical meaning.

But not every “obsession” is something to worry about, nor is every “compulsion” a sign of OCD. Many children perseverate. That means they get stuck – big time – but perseveration is not the same as OCD.

One key difference has to do with how much time the perseveration takes up. Another is whether or not your child wants to be thinking what she is thinking or doing what she is doing. While perseveration might drive you crazy (and often requires limit-setting; more on that another time), it is generally pleasurable to your child.

OCD, on the other hand, is highly distressing. OCD obsessions are, by definition, unwanted thoughts; compulsions are safety behaviors designed to ward off anxiety or harm. Neither are done for fun, or bring pleasure of any kind. For more on OCD, visit facebook.com/ocd.ocd or the Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation.

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  • Facing Mighty Fears About Animals
  • Facing Mighty Fears About Health
  • Facing Mighty Fears About Throwing Up
  • Facing Mighty Fears About Trying New Things
  • What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety
  • What to Do When Your Temper Flares: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Problems With Anger
  • What to Do When You Dread Your Bed: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Problems With Sleep
  • What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming OCD
  • What to Do When You Grumble Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Negativity
  • What to Do When Bad Habits Take Hold: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Nail Biting and More
  • Outsmarting Worry: An Older Kid’s Guide to Managing Anxiety
  • The Sibling Survival Guide: Surefire Ways to Solve Conflicts, Reduce Rivalry, and Have More Fun With Brothers and Sisters
  • Something Bad Happened: A Kid’s Guide to Learning About Events in the News
  • Sometimes I Worry Too Much, But Now I Know How to Stop

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