PSP 415: When OCD Looks Like Oppositional Behavior: Understanding Hidden Compulsions
AT Parenting Survival Podcast: Parenting | Child Anxiety | Child OCD | Kids & Family
Natasha Daniels: Child Therapist, Child Anxiety and OCD Expert, Parenting Coach and Parent
4.8 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 22 April 2025
⏱️ 37 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
If your child refuses to shower, melts down over clothing, or avoids homework, you might assume they’re being defiant. But what if it’s actually OCD driving their behavior?
In this episode of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast for Anxiety and OCD, I break down how OCD-driven avoidance and compulsions can look like oppositional behavior—and why this misunderstanding is so common.
You’ll learn:
🟤 How OCD can mimic defiance in kids.
🟤 Key signs that reveal it’s OCD, not oppositional behavior.
🟤 Why traditional discipline backfires with OCD.
🟤 Practical strategies to respond effectively with compassion and boundaries.
If you’ve ever felt frustrated or confused by your child’s behavior, this episode will help you recognize the hidden OCD compulsions behind it—so you can support your child with OCD in the right way.
👉 If you’re looking for more support, check out my online courses for parents raising kids with OCD.
***
This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to
https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parenting
This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.
Parents, do you need more support?
🌸 Here’s are resources I offer parents 👇🏻❤️
Online classes for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD:
https://atparentingsurvivalschool.com
Join the AT Parenting Community (A membership designed to support parents raising kids with anxiety or OCD):
https://atparentingcommunity.com
Take one of my FREE webinars:
www.Natashadaniels.com/webinars
Check out my books:
🌸 Other social places I hang out:
http://www.facebook.com/ATparentingSurvival
http://www.pinterest.com/ATparentingSurvival
http://www.instagram.com/ATparentingSurvival
http://www.twitter.com/Parentingsurvival
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the AT Parenting Survival Podcast, where you get help and guidance through the chaos of parenting a child with anxiety or OCD. |
| 0:12.0 | This show is for educational purposes and is not intended to replace the guidance of a qualified professional. |
| 0:18.5 | Here's your host, child therapist, Natasha Daniels. Well, hello there, |
| 0:23.1 | and welcome to another episode of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast for Anxiety and OCD. Today I want to talk to you |
| 0:30.3 | about when OCD looks like oppositional behavior, because a lot of times it's missed. |
| 0:39.7 | And we see difficult behavior. |
| 0:42.0 | We see difficult kids. |
| 0:43.3 | We see opposition manipulation. |
| 0:45.7 | And really what we're staring at are hidden compulsions. |
| 0:50.7 | So last episode we went into OCD meltdowns. |
| 0:55.3 | And if you haven't listened to that, check out episode 414 first. |
| 0:59.3 | But I thought this was a really good supplement on the heels of that episode to talk about, |
| 1:04.3 | in particular, what oppositional behavior looks like, because that's not always a meltdown. |
| 1:09.1 | It can be just really stubborn opposition. |
| 1:12.9 | And when we have kids with OCD, sometimes those behaviors are misunderstood. And sometimes, and we'll |
| 1:22.0 | talk about this as we get into this episode, they want you to misunderstand it. Why? I'll tell you in a minute. But before we get started, |
| 1:30.7 | I do want to thank NoCD for sponsoring this episode because NoCD offers affordable, |
| 1:35.6 | effective, convenient therapy, and they're available in the U.S. and outside the U.S. |
| 1:40.6 | You can schedule your free 15-minute consultation to see if no CD is a right fit for you and your |
| 1:46.5 | child. Just go to treat myocd.com. That is treat myocd.com. I'll also leave a link in the show notes. |
| 1:55.3 | You also don't want to miss my survival tools for parents raising kids with anxiety and OCD free series. |
| 2:02.9 | That is coming out very soon. |
... |
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