Reassurance-Seeking: The Compulsion That Keeps OCD Going
“Are you sure I’m okay?” feels helpful in the moment — but it can quietly feed the anxiety cycle.
The short answer
Reassurance-seeking — repeatedly asking others (or Googling) to confirm you’re safe, okay, or not a bad person — works for a moment, then the doubt returns stronger. It’s a compulsion, and it teaches OCD that certainty is required.
What helps
Learning to sit with uncertainty instead of neutralizing it, with support. It feels counterintuitive, but reducing reassurance is one of the most powerful ways to loosen OCD’s grip.