Reassurance seeking is a common compulsive behavior in individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), often used to reduce distress associated with intrusive thoughts or uncertainty. This can involve repeatedly asking others for confirmation (“Are you sure I didn’t offend them?”), researching answers online, or mentally reviewing events to feel certain or morally “okay.” While reassurance may provide short-term relief, it reinforces the underlying obsession and maintains the OCD cycle by preventing the individual from learning to tolerate uncertainty. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), particularly Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), targets reassurance seeking by helping individuals resist the urge to seek certainty and instead face anxiety-provoking thoughts without neutralizing them, ultimately reducing their intensity and frequency over time.
