A common compulsion for those with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is seeking
reassurance. Seeking reassurance is a behavior we engage in when we feel uncertain or fearful
about something, and are hoping to gain certainty that the feared thing isn’t true or won’t
happen. Reassurance is different from asking a question to get information. Here are some
questions you can ask yourself if you’re not sure if you’re getting information or seeking
reassurance:
Is the question I am asking actually answerable by the source I’m asking? If not, I am probably
seeking reassurance.
Example: Asking my loved one if I will get in a car accident is seeking reassurance because
there’s no way for them to truly know the answer to that.
Will I accept the answer fully if it is given? If not, I am probably seeking reassurance
Example: If I ask if I have a disease or sickness, and someone reputable tells me I don’t, will I
believe them or will I continue to ask?
Am I asking the question once or am I asking it many times and in many different ways? Asking
once is usually information seeking.
We are living in a world with technological advancements that allow us to have access to
information at a speed faster than at any other time in history. The usage of Artificial Intelligence
is something many people find helpful professionally and personally. So how can using AI turn
into a compulsion? Well, if we take two of the biggest forms of seeking reassurance: googling
for answers and asking people for answers, AI combines them both to create something new
and unique. While we are not talking to a person, we are getting conversational feedback that
can temporarily reduce feelings of distress from a compulsion. Similarly to googling answers,
the use of AI can be accessed anywhere and at any time with very few restrictions.
What does this mean for someone with OCD? AI usage can quickly and easily slide into
compulsion territory if we aren’t aware of the difference between seeking reassurance and
information. Unlike asking a person, there isn’t fear of burdening others with questions and
fears, meaning that we are more likely to use it, and unlike googling, we have to put in very little
research and effort to get what we are looking for.
It is important to remember that reassurance seeking can show up in a variety of forms, and all
of them are perpetuating the OCD cycle that leaves you stuck, scared, and overwhelmed.
Whether it’s AI, a person, reading dozens of books on the same subject, or excessive time on
Reddit, the reassurance you get will only last temporarily, and ultimately grow to needing more
and more until it is severely disrupting your life.
If you’re ready to kick reassurance seeking and other compulsions that leave you scared and
stuck in the OCD Cycle, check out the other resources on our page, and, if you’re in the state of
Pennsylvania, inquire about scheduling an appointment with me here.