Obsessive‑Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Recognizing When Compulsions and Rituals Become Chronic and Disruptive

Understanding When OCD Goes Beyond Typical Childhood Behaviors

Repetitive or quirky behaviors can be common in childhood, but when your child is trapped in repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and actions (compulsions) that take up hours each day, interfere with school, family or friendship life, and seem resistant to change, you could be looking at pediatric Obsessive‑Compulsive Disorder (OCD) rather than a phase.

At Alexander Youth Network, we provide intensive, specialized care for children and teens whose OCD is severe, persistent, and affecting every part of life.

What Parents Should Watch For

Obsessive‑Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in youth may look different than typical anxiety or perfectionism. Some key warning signs include:

Repetitive, unwanted thoughts or images that cause intense anxiety (for instance, fear of contamination, fear of harming others, fear of something “bad happening”)
Compulsive actions performed to reduce anxiety (ex: hand‑washing, repeated checking, counting or arranging, excessive need for symmetry) that consume significant time and interfere with school or family life
You notice your child can’t stop certain tasks even though they “know it doesn’t make sense” or they become upset if prevented from carrying out these tasks
Avoidance of situations, places or people because of their fears
Declining school performance, frequent tardies or absences, inability to complete homework or engage in class because of repetitive behaviors
Withdrawal from family or friends, irritability, mood swings or explosive behavior when repetitive behaviors are blocked
Family accommodation of repetitive behaviors (you find yourself changing your behavior, repeating things because of your child’s fears)

If these behaviors are ongoing, escalating, and interfering across home, school and peer life, your child may need high‑level intervention rather than just outpatient therapy.

How Common & Serious OCD Is Among Children and Teens

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is among the most common mental health conditions affecting children and teens, with early-onset cases impacting an estimated 1% to 3% of youth.(cited from NCBI)
Community research shows that up to 41% of youth with full OCD continue to experience the disorder long‑term; and up to 60% with full or sub‑threshold OCD continue to struggle into adolescence/adulthood. However, these studies also show the severity of the disorder is significantly lower after treatment and in later follow-up. (cited from PubMed)
In a 2019‑2024 clinical study of youth with OCD (ages 7‑17), 21.6% had partial or no school attendance at intake, and 59.8% of youth reported significant school impairment due to their OCD symptoms. (cited from SpringerNatureLink)

These figures show that OCD is neither rare nor mild—and when the symptoms are severe, they can persist and severely affect education, relationships, and daily functioning.

How Alexander Youth Network Treats Severe OCD

For children whose OCD is resistant to lower‑level care and is disrupting home life, schooling, friendships and wellness, we offer a full continuum of intensive treatment:

Residential Treatment

When OCD is so intense that the child cannot function safely or effectively at home or school, our therapeutic residential setting offers 24/7 support, specialized cognitive‑behavioral and exposure/response prevention strategies, psychiatric management, and family involvement to stabilize and rebuild.

Intensive In‑Home Services

If your child is still living at home but the repetitive behavior, school interference or family conflict is overwhelming, our in‑home team implements safety and structure, teaches coping and ritual‑management strategies, supports you as caregivers, and aims to restore routines and connection in the home setting.

Day Treatment

For children whose OCD significantly interrupts academic participation, our Day Treatment program integrates therapeutic intervention with academic support in a school‑based therapeutic environment. This allows your child to receive intensive treatment while remaining engaged in education.

If your child’s obsessive‑compulsive behaviors are consuming time, disrupting school, damaging relationships, or causing you significant concern, Alexander Youth Network is here to help.