#16: How to Manage Reassurance Seeking in OCD and Break the OCD Cycle

Hello Therapy: Mental Health Tips For Personal Growth

Reassurance seeking in OCD is part and parcel of the OCD experience, but it is a symptom that does not get talked about that much.
This episode seeks to rectify that. In it, I discuss not just the 'what' of reassurance seeking but also the 'how' of responding to it without feeding the anxiety and getting stuck in the reassurance trap further. I explore how consistency and flexibility can transform interactions with loved ones into stepping stones toward recovery and offer some ideas on how to respond to a loved one with OCD when they are seeking reassurance. Episode highlights include:
- What is reassurance seeking in OCD?
- The difference between self-reassurance and seeking reassurance from others
- How shame and guilt interact with reassurance-seeking
- Impact on relationships
- An alternative to reassurance seeking: seeking support
- Example scripts on how to manage reassurance-seeking
**FREE DOWNLOAD** Am I reassurance seeking or gathering information? A simple guide to help you decide. Download here.
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DISCLAIMER - The Hello Therapy podcast and the information provided by Dr Liz White (DClinPsy, CPsychol, AFBPsS, CSci, HCPC reg.), is solely intended for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute personalised advice. Please reach out to your GP or a mental health professional if you need support.

Chapters

1. Two forms of reassurance seeking (00:01:40)

2. What is reassurance seeking from others in OCD? (00:02:10)

3. Perceived transfer of responsibility (00:02:57)

4. What is inflated responsibility in OCD (00:03:33)

5. How the reassurance trap get set up (00:04:00)

6. Guilt and shame in OCD (00:05:23)

7. The impact of reassurance seeking on relationships (00:06:06)

8. Suffering alone (00:06:42)

9. Confusion about how to manage reassurance seeking in OCD (00:07:20)

10. The impact on family (00:08:00)

11. What is self reassurance in OCD? (00:08:22)

12. Example of self reassurance (00:08:40)

13. Escalation of compulsions (00:10:00)

14. Relationship OCD - how reassurance seeking can show up (00:10:53)

15. Harm OCD - how reassurance seeking can show up (00:11:39)

16. Traditional treatments for reassurance seeking in OCD (00:12:15)

17. An alternative approach - seeking support (00:13:10)

18. Example scripts for seeking support (00:14:05)

19. Being consistent and flexible (00:15:53)

20. Joining a therapy session (00:16:56)

21. Free download (00:17:28)