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OCD - Anxiety and Fear
Hi Sir/Madam,
I am 36 year old woman working in IT sector.
My first child is a 5 year old girl.Currently I am 27 weeks pregnant (second child). I have OCD I feel as I recheck things like locking doors and off lights and all and take videos or photos for reassurance. Now from past one month it became excess like taking video while Cooking in fear that I may mix handwash or any other things in food. Getting anxious if I see any house cleaners, medicines, detergent and I am afraid that I may take or mix it with food. Taking videos and reassuring. I am unable to do things on my own with this fear. Kindly help me to overcome this please I need help to make my pregnancy journey smooth and peaceful.
Answers (14)
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Hi,
I see that there is a persistent worry and anxiety about something going wrong. I can see that this can be a very debilitating experience. Since there is this sense in your mind that something bad might happen which can cause anyone to worry, to counter that your mind is currently coping by checking behaviours. In the short term it might even be providing a sense of relief which may be making you feel that, " oh, this works", and continue the behaviour. That makes sense. And it's important to notice that the same reassurance we are deriving is also maintaining the fear. It's like, when some one tells you your door is unlocked and you went and checked once and you saw it's alright. And they don't stop telling you the same thing and keep alarming you that your door is unlocked even though it's locked. They are getting encouraged because you are listening to them and you are getting more worried because they are constantly telling you this. This maintains the loop. They tell you the door is locked, you check and they feel enabled and tell you again and again. Since your worry increases by constant warning, you listen and comply even more.
The same is true with your mind. Your mind warns you about something being wrong, you check to make sure, that warning gets stronger and so does your behaviour. It's understandable and it's a pattern. And the good news is that the pattern can be changed. Loops can be interrupted. Therapy can greatly help in adjusting unhealthy patterns like checking and replacing them with healthier ones like developing tolerance skills and correcting some unnecessary thought patterns.
Next Steps
consult a psychologist you trust, it can be greatly helpful in your recovery.
Health Tips
you can reach me on instagram: Serenemindplace
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Hi,
Itâs understandable that youâre feeling overwhelmed with OCD symptoms, especially during pregnancy when stress and anxiety can intensify. Your fears about mixing household items with food and the need for reassurance are common OCD concerns, but they can be very distressing and interfere with daily life. Itâs very important to seek support from a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, who can guide you through therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which is effective for OCD. Medication may also be considered if necessary, but this should be discussed with your doctor, especially during pregnancy. Remember, you donât have to face this aloneâgetting professional help can help you find peace and make your pregnancy journey smoother. Please reach out to a healthcare provider soon.
Next Steps
Consult with a psychiatrist and psychologist
Health Tips
seek help
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The concerns described strongly suggest perinatal OCD, a form of obsessive–compulsive disorder that can intensify during pregnancy due to hormonal changes, heightened responsibility, and fear of harm to the baby or family. The intrusive thoughts about contamination and accidental poisoning are ego-dystonic, meaning they are unwanted and distressing, not intentions. The repeated checking, taking videos, and reassurance-seeking are compulsions that temporarily reduce anxiety but maintain the OCD cycle in the long run. This condition is common, treatable, and not a reflection of poor motherhood or personal weakness.
Next Steps
Seek structured psychological support from a clinical or counselling psychologist trained in OCD.
Begin Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which is the gold-standard treatment for OCD.
Consider a psychiatric consultation, especially since symptoms are interfering with daily functioning. Pregnancy-safe medication options may be discussed if required.
Maintain regular obstetric follow-ups, informing the doctor about anxiety symptoms so care can be integrated.
Build a support system involving a trusted family member who understands OCD and avoids excessive reassurance.
Health Tips
Name the problem: Remind yourself, “This is OCD talking, not reality.”
Reduce reassurance gradually: Instead of stopping videos suddenly, delay or reduce them step by step.
Allow uncertainty: Absolute certainty is not the goal; learning to tolerate doubt is.
Separate thoughts from actions: Having a thought does not increase the chance of it happening.
Create safe structure: Store cleaning agents separately and visibly label them once, then resist repeated checking.
Ground your body: Slow breathing, gentle prenatal yoga, or mindfulness can help calm the nervous system.
Be kind to yourself: Pregnancy already demands a lot; seeking help is a strength, not a failure.
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It is completely understandable and very common to feel this way, especially when you are balancing the demands of a career, a young child, and a pregnancy. During pregnancy, your body and mind go through massive hormonal shifts that can naturally heighten your protective instincts, sometimes causing your brain to go into "overdrive" to keep your family safe. This doesn't mean you are doing anything wrong or that you are losing control; it simply means your mind is trying too hard to protect you, leading to these exhausting cycles of checking and reassurance. Please know that you are not alone in this, and many expectant mothers experience similar feelings.
Counseling can be a wonderful, supportive space to help you navigate this and reclaim your peace of mind. A counselor won't judge you; instead, they will provide you with simple, practical tools to help quiet those "what if" thoughts and reduce the need for constant rechecking or filming. Through gentle techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), you can learn how to trust your own memory and actions again. The goal of counseling is to lighten the mental load you’re carrying, so you can focus less on fear and more on enjoying your pregnancy and your family.
Next Steps
try counselling
Health Tips
consult
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Start your treatment with psychologist do the assessment for ocd and after diagnosis, start therapies
Next Steps
Consultation
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This appears to be contamination-focused OCD, which commonly increases during pregnancy. Repeated checking and reassurance (photos/ videos) are maintaining the anxiety.
Next Steps
Consult with me for focused counselling therapy to manage OCD safely during pregnancy.
Health Tips
Reduce reassurance slowly, label fears as OCD thoughts, and practise tolerating uncertainty.
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Thank you for sharing your concerns so openly. What you are experiencing is pregnancy-related OCD with anxiety, and it is treatable. The fears you described are driven by anxiety, not by actual danger, and the repeated checking and reassurance (videos/photos) are temporarily reducing anxiety but maintaining the cycle.
With the right support—especially CBT with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), along with grounding techniques and anxiety management—you can gradually regain confidence and function independently. Pregnancy can intensify OCD symptoms, so seeking help now is a very positive step for both you and your baby.
I strongly encourage you to work with a mental health professional experienced in OCD and perinatal mental health. With consistent therapy, your pregnancy journey can become calmer and more peaceful.
Health Tips
You are not alone, and recovery is absolutely possible.
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Hi
I can really understand how hard it must be for you going thru a pregnancy with increased symptoms of OCD. OCD always arises based on your value system. Which means in your case that if the safety of your child is your prime concern then you will have related OCD symptoms. However this platform is not for treatment. For treatment u need to consult a professional.
Next Steps
Consult a clinical psychologist asap.
Also consult a psychiatrist who can give u medicines that are safe for your pregnancy if severity of your symptoms hinders your functioning.
Health Tips
Take treatment asap as symptoms may worsen with time if left u treated.
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Hi Ma’am,
Thank you for sharing your concern. I understand how distressing this must feel, especially during pregnancy. What you’re experiencing is commonly seen in OCD with anxiety, where fear-driven thoughts lead to repeated checking and reassurance-seeking (like taking videos or photos). These thoughts are anxiety-based, not real intentions.
The good news is that this is treatable with the right support. Therapy can help you understand these thoughts, reduce reassurance behaviors gradually, and regain confidence in doing daily activities independently—making your pregnancy journey calmer and more peaceful.
Next Steps
• Begin structured therapy (CBT-based approach)
• Learn anxiety-regulation and grounding techniques
• Slowly reduce checking/reassurance behaviors with guidance
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Hi, Consult a psychologist
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It is clear how much distress this is causing you, but please know that what you are experiencing is a recognized clinical condition called Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and it is not your fault. The cycle of intrusive fears and the need for constant reassurance through videos is incredibly draining, especially with the added pressure of pregnancy. The most important thing to remember is that help is available and this can be resolved with treatment; a combination of therapy (CBT/ERP) and safe medical support can help you break this cycle and regain the peaceful pregnancy journey you deserve.
Next Steps
For immediate relief and as you mentioned to make your pregnancy smooth, consult a psychiatrist and start treatment. They might prescribe ECT for now since a lot of medicines cannot be given during pregnancy. Also gradually start with therapy sessions.
Health Tips
Do some deep breathing and relaxation exercises.
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Ms. Komal Singh Parihar
Psychologist
7 yrs exp
Navi Mumbai
Hi,
From what you have described, you are experiencing pregnancy-triggered OCD with contamination anxiety and reassurance-seeking compulsions. Hormonal changes, emotional sensitivity and fear of harming the baby often intensify OCD during pregnancy. The repeated checking, taking videos/photos, fear of mixing chemicals with food and inability to trust your own actions are classic OCD symptoms — this is not a weakness, it is a medical condition and it is very treatable.
Next Steps
is important to consult a psychiatrist and clinical psychologist who handle perinatal (pregnancy-related) mental health. Treatment may include pregnancy-safe medication if required and CBT-ERP therapy (Exposure and Response Prevention) which is the gold standard treatment for OCD. Early treatment will protect both your mental health and your baby’s wellbeing.
Health Tips
• Gradually reduce reassurance behaviors (videos, repeated checking). Do not aim to stop suddenly — reduce slowly.
• Label the thought as “This is OCD, not reality.”
• Use grounding: touch something solid, feel your feet on the floor, take slow deep breaths.
• Keep cleaning products physically separated from food areas.
• Avoid googling symptoms or asking repeated reassurance from family.
• Practice 10 minutes of daily mindfulness breathing.
You deserve a peaceful pregnancy, and with proper support you can absolutely feel safe, calm and confident again. This condition is highly manageable — you are not alone in this
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Ms. Smriti
Counselling Psychologist
18 yrs exp
Bangalore
Connect with ERP trained psychologist
Next Steps
connect
Health Tips
consult
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Ms. Daksha Dhariwal
Clinical Psychologist
1 yrs exp
Bangalore
OCD is a condition that is characterised by obsessions and compulsions that interfere in our daily lives and also cause immense distress.
All the symptoms you mentioned- align with classic symptoms of OCD. These symptoms are unwanted, repetitive, intrusive and unpleasant. They cause extreme distress to the patient.
It’s not your fault you’re experiencing these symptoms. There is a biopsychosocial basis for the problem.
Next Steps
Reach out to a psychiatrist for medical assistance and begin theory immediately from a RCI licensed clinical psychologist
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Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.