.webp)
OCD is one of the most common psychiatric conditions, affecting 1-3% of adults worldwide. Amongst this population, one of the most common behaviors is known as “checking”.
OCD consists of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive thoughts and sources of rumination or worry. Compulsions are mental or physical behaviors used to negate these worries.
For example, checking to make sure the stove is off seven times before leaving the house, or counting to four every time you’re at a stoplight to make sure you don’t get hit. These compulsions are irrational but persistent.
Checking OCD is a common subtype of OCD.
What is Checking OCD?
Checking is the most reported example of a compulsion in people with OCD. 80% of people with OCD will have checking behavior.
Checking in OCD means mentally or physically checking to make sure something was done completely or correctly. People who engage in checking behavior do so without any real reason to do so.
For example, a friend was with them when they locked the door and confirmed that they locked the door. However, they still feel the need to go back and check to make sure the door is locked.
Checking OCD Examples
Compulsions can be both mental and physical. A mental example of a compulsion is counting. A physical example is straightening or organizing.
Some examples include:
Body checking - repeatedly checking your body for perceived flaws or signs of illness.
Repeatedly checking that doors or locked or appliances are turned off
Re-reading emails or texts excessively before sending
Frequently checking for symptoms of illness online
Stopping or driving back to make sure you didn’t hit someone
Asking others for constant reassurance
Checking bags or wallets
Watching security cameras or monitors repeatedly
Returning home to confirm something was done correctly
Checking the religious or moral “correctness” of thoughts/actions
Re-reading instructions multiple times because of fear of misunderstanding
Repeatedly checking social media or messages to make sure you didn’t send anything you didn’t mean to
Going through trash to make sure you didn't throw away anything important
Checking OCD can come in many, many different forms. These are just some examples. If you find yourself repeatedly checking to make sure something was done correctly, you aren't in trouble, or that nothing bad is happening, then you might have OCD.
Checking OCD is also common with the "just right” feeling of OCD. As in, you have to check something until it feels right. You can’t quite explain what that feeling is, just that it feels right and you’re able to let go of the obsession.
Why Do People Check for OCD?
Checking OCD is made worse by anxiety, uncertainty, and inflated responsibility. For example, people in high-stress jobs, parents, or those under a lot of stress might engage in checking OCD more often.
Many people find that their checking OCD gets worse when they’re more stressed, and stress management techniques can help manage checking oCD symptoms.
Checking OCD can negatively impact memory confidence, self-esteem, and higher-level cognitive functions. Treatment is recommended for people struggling with Checking OCD.
Medication Options for Checking OCD
Medication is commonly prescribed for people with moderate to severe OCD. Medication can help reduce the intensity of symptoms, which allows people the time, space, and energy to address the root cause of their OCD.
The most commonly prescribed medications are:
SSRIs: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are the first line of defense. They are generally considered the safest and work for many people with mild to moderate OCD. Medications like Zoloft, Prozac, and Luvox are common.
Clomipramine: A stronger medication with potentially more side effects, clomipramine will be prescribed to people who have not had success with other treatments. It has been shown to work well for OCD, but usually has more side effects.
People with OCD often need a higher dosage of SSRIs for the treatment to be effective than people with anxiety or depression. This is something a psychiatrist will keep in mind when treating OCD.
No Waitlists. No Rush. Psychiatry On Your Time.
Book in less than 10 minutes, and see your psychiatrist within 14 days! Insurance accepted.
Best Therapy Options for Checking OCD
Regardless of what medication is prescribed, almost every OCD treatment plan will also include therapy. Therapy will help you identify obsessions and compulsions and put a stop to the OCD checking cycle.
Some of the best therapy options for checking OCD include:
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): Exposure and Response Prevention is the most effective therapy for checking OCD. In ERP, a person gradually faces situations that trigger checking fears (such as leaving the house without rechecking the stove) while resisting the urge to perform compulsions. Over time, the brain learns that anxiety decreases naturally without checking.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people identify and challenge distorted beliefs that fuel checking compulsions, such as overestimating danger or feeling overly responsible for preventing harm. Therapy focuses on changing unhelpful thinking patterns and developing healthier responses to uncertainty and anxiety.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Acceptance and Commitment Therapy teaches people to accept intrusive thoughts without trying to eliminate or control them through checking behaviors. Instead of seeking certainty, ACT encourages acting on your values. It removes the moral pressure to think “right” and instead encourages people to judge themselves based on their actions.
Therapy is a highly effective method of treating OCD, especially when combined with medication. Talk to a Lifebulb therapist about starting therapy for OCD today.
