Does My Child Have OCD? What Every Parent Needs to Know

Does my child have OCD? What do I do? In this episode of Breaking the Rules, Dr Celin Gelgec and Dr Tori Miller tackle one of the most common and most anxious questions they hear from families - and one that Celin found herself asking about her own three-year-old daughter on a school tour. This episode is for parents. And for anyone who grew up with OCD and is finally making sense of it. They explore the watch, wait, wonder principle — why not rushing to diagnose, label, or rescue is often the most helpful thing a parent can do. They walk through what typical development actually looks like at different ages, why the 7–12 age group is when OCD most commonly begins, and the signs that something has shifted from typical childhood anxiety to something worth paying closer attention to. They also get practical: who to talk to, what to look for, and which resources are worth your time. In this episode you’ll learn: — The watch, wait, wonder principle — and why curiosity beats rushing in — What typical development looks like at different ages — and why so much that looks like OCD is normal — Why the 7–12 age group is when OCD most commonly first emerges — The questions to ask yourself: how frequent? How intense? How long has it been going on? — The escalation signs that suggest something needs more attention — The one OCD-specific sign: when one reassurance is never enough, and it needs to be said in just the right way — Practical next steps: GP, maternal child health, psychologist, and community resources — Why your job as a parent is not to stop what’s happening — it’s to help them with what’s happening Resources mentioned: — Anxiety Recovery Centre of Victoria — International OCD Foundation — iocdf.org — Natasha Daniels — YouTube and parenting community — Eli Lebowitz — resources for families Learn more about Melbourne Wellbeing Group: https://melbournewellbeinggroup.com.au #OCD #childhoodOCD #OCDinchildren #parentingmentalhealth #mentalhealth #ERP #anxiety #melbournewellbeinggroup #breakingtherules www.melbournewellbeinggroup.com.au