I’ve already tried the yale ocd test and it says i have severe ocd. I always wash my hands or face because i feel like its dirty or i missed a spot. sometimes i get these random thoughts like i did something bad in the past, honestly it feels so real but whenever i think of it, it just never clicks. i always have the need for things to be even or perfect and it stresses me out when i can’t do it. i’m not quite familiar with ocd symptoms or events but like i’m a bit educated about it and know some basic things. i also get these dreams or sudden thoughts of me accidentally posting something weird or things that i don’t want to post online. ( sorry for messy writing and bad grammar ) i don’t know if this is a symptom but i’ll add it to make sure. whenever i go outside or any time actually, i get this feeling or i think that someone might break in our house at any time making me always check the doors, windows and locks. the reason i do that is because i think that if i don’t, something bad might happen to the things i value like my family and other stuff. thats all i know based on my research and stuff. theres this one time where my mom showed me a cooking recipe video from facebook, but i couldn’t even focus on it because there was an uneven spot and it genuinely triggered me so much. my mom doesn’t know what ocd is and i’m too scared to ask for a psychologist. (i’m 11)
Dear @rootedantler1144,
Okay, first off, don’t worry about the messy writing or your grammar. I hear what you’re going through, and it sounds incredibly exhausting to deal with all of these heavy thoughts and rituals at this young age. The symptoms that you’re describing (e.g. the constant handwashing, the terrifying “what if” thoughts about making past mistakes or accidentally posting the wrong things online) are classic ways that high anxiety and obsessive thoughts show up. It makes sense that you felt triggered by the uneven spot in that video. When your mind is already on high alert, tiny imperfections can feel like a massive deal. It takes a lot of courage to share all of this, and I want to validate that the stress and fear you are feeling right now are very real, and seem quite heavy to carry by yourself.
At the same time, I kinda feel that I need to talk straight about how you are handling this. You are already 11 now, and you are definitely old enough to understand that taking an online test is absolutely not a replacement for real medical advice. Online quizzes can give you a general idea of what you’re facing, but they cannot provide an official diagnosis, and trying to figure this all out by being “Dr Google” won’t fix the problem. I’m also quite sure that your teachers and parents have taught you about how to fact-check what you see online, rather than believing it outright.
I know that you are terrified to ask for a psychologist and that your mom may not understand OCD, but keeping this a secret will only make the anxiety grow. You deserve real support from a professional who knows how to help your brain rest. The Internet (or even AI) cannot fix this for you. I know it’s scary, but you have to talk to a real person about this.
Sorry that the elder sibling persona came out in me, but I felt that it’s better to be frank about how you’re handling this. Please take a deep breath and tell your mom or a trusted adult at school exactly how much you are struggling. Opening up to them is the necessary first step to actually feeling better. If you want resources for finding professional guidance on this, do let us know. 
Hey @rootedantler1144,
I read what you wrote about washing your hands and face repeatedly, checking doors and windows, feeling upset by uneven spots, and getting thoughts that something bad might have happened or might happen if you don’t check.
What stood out is how much time and energy these thoughts seem to take from you. Even when you know something may not make sense logically, it sounds like the feeling stays there and keeps pushing you to check, wash, or make things feel “just right.”
The Yale OCD test can be a useful screening tool, but it cannot tell you for certain whether you have OCD. What it does tell us is that what you’re experiencing is worth taking seriously and talking to a professional about.
Something important to know is that many people experience intrusive thoughts. These are unwanted thoughts, images, or worries that suddenly appear in the mind. Having a thought does not mean you want it to happen, believe it, or would ever do it. The distress often comes from how important or threatening the thought feels.
I also noticed that you’re carrying this mostly on your own because you’re worried about talking to your mum. That sounds difficult and you shouldn’t have to.
Would it feel safer to start by telling your mum something simple like, “I’ve been having worries and habits that are stressing me out, and I’d like to talk to a doctor or counsellor about them”?
You do not need to convince anyone that you have OCD. You only need to let them know that these worries and behaviours are affecting you.
For now, thank you for explaining what has been happening. The way you described your experiences was actually very clear, and it gives a good picture of why you’re concerned. I think this is something that deserves support rather than something you have to figure out by yourself.