Always Available, Never Enough: How AI Can Fuel OCD Reassurance-Seeking

AI has been hailed as a revolutionary tool for mental health available anytime, anywhere, and always ready to listen. But for people struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or OCD-like tendencies, that very availability can become part of the problem. In this post, we’ll explore the effects AI use can have on people living with OCD or OCD-like symptoms, and what to do if you suspect you may be struggling with compulsive use of AI.

Psychoeducation: OCD & Reassurance Seeking

OCD is characterized by intrusive, distressing thoughts (obsessions) and the behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) used to try to neutralize or relieve that distress. One of the hallmark compulsions of OCD is reassurance seeking, e.g., repeatedly asking others (or oneself) for certainty or comfort about fears.

For example, a person might be anxious that they are going to get sick, so they seek reassurance from someone else that they don't look or feel sick (hypochondria is a common presentation of OCD). If they ask a friend or loved one, they might temporarily feel soothed by the response, "no, you don't look sick.” While reassurance feels good in the moment, it reinforces the brain’s belief that the feared thought was dangerous and that the compulsion was necessary, and ultimately strengthens the cycle of intrusive thoughts. 

How AI Impacts OCD Reassurance-Seeking Cycles

There are several characteristics of generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT that make it easy for someone with OCD to adopt it as a compulsion. 

• AI is endlessly available, unlike the people around us. A partner, parent, or friend might eventually get tired of repeated questioning, but AI is designed to respond 24/7, without limits. 

• AI is designed to be agreeable and helpful to the user, so it often provides soothing, validating, or “safe” answers rather than gently challenging compulsions like a friend or loved one might.

• Unlike therapy, AI does not set boundaries around reassurance or teach clients strategies to tolerate distress and uncertainty.

These factors create a “perfect storm” where AI can act as an always-accessible reassurance source, reinforcing compulsive loops. Historically, reassurance-seeking happened peer-to-peer, but in the age of AI a person can procure this reassurance instantly without limit about any issue, when a friend or loved one might get fatigued and burnout on providing reassurance. With this limitless reassurance at their fingertips, clients unknowingly reinforce the patterns that make their OCD worse. 

Why Obsessive Compulsive Use of AI Matters Clinically

One of the keys to treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is helping clients practice tolerating uncertainty and feelings of distress through therapy methods like Exposure and Response Prevention or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Clients may unwittingly use AI as a digital compulsion, which undermines this therapeutic work. Instead of practicing tolerating uncertainty, they can fall into an endless cycle of reassurance at 2AM, at work, or any time intrusive thoughts arise. Over time, this can make OCD symptoms more entrenched and harder to treat.

Building Mindful Habits for AI Use

AI isn’t inherently bad for mental health –– it can support psychoeducation, journaling prompts, or practicing guided mindfulness. The key is intention and boundaries: using AI as a therapeutic supplement (like a guided tool), not as a substitute for professional support. 

If you’re struggling with setting boundaries with yourself around use of AI –– or any other technology –– you’re not alone. A licensed therapist can work with you on how to practice mindfulness, set limits, dig deep on what’s driving compulsive behaviors, and find healthier ways of coping. Reach out today to get connected with one of our therapists at ECC.

ABOUT ECC: 

Empowered Connections Counseling is a practice of licensed therapists providing quality, multidisciplinary counseling for adults, children & teens, relationships, and families in Chicago and across Illinois. Whether by in-person session or via telehealth, we work with clients to find the therapist and treatment methods that best suit their needs. Connect meaningfully with your life by booking an appointment today.

Engaging Mindfully with Mental Health Content on Social Media

In this article:

• The benefits of learning about mental health on social media

• The risks of learning about mental health on social media

• How to engage mindfully with mental health content on social media

• Finding mental health care near you

Social media has created new channels for people to discover more information about mental health, which often leads to curiosity about whether a particular diagnosis might apply to them.

This can be a positive thing: knowledge is power, and more people knowing about mental health conditions means that more people are equipped to seek help. Yet there are also risks to learning about mental health from social media, especially if you don’t seek support from a trusted professional. In this post we’ll talk about the benefits and risks of learning about mental health conditions through social media, as well as ways to seek clarity to ensure you’re getting accurate information and the right care.

The Benefits of Learning About Mental Health on Social Media

Social media has democratized information about mental health and made it accessible in unprecedented ways. You no longer have to pay vast amounts of money for college tuition or mental health care in order to learn the basics about anxiety, depression, trauma, attention deficit disorders, autism, eating disorders, personality disorders and other forms of neurodivergence. There are some really important benefits to having access to this information:

• Reducing stigma – Mental health issues have historically been a taboo topic and put vulnerable people at greater risk for abuse and neglect. Social media has brought these taboo topics out into the open and allowed people to connect with and learn from others living with different mental health diagnoses. It has led to increased awareness and understanding, greater acceptance of neurodiversity, and better treatment for those who need it.

• Finding community – As with many other topics, social media has helped people form connections around mental health experiences and feel less alone. We’re able to find people who have had similar experiences and talk openly about it, learn from one another and support each other.

• Knowledge and validation – From learning about symptoms of a mental health diagnosis, to the neuroscience behind different conditions, to how to find the right provider or navigate the insurance system, social media has allowed people to share valuable information that others find useful and empowering.

The Risks of Learning About Mental Health on Social Media

Although there are some incredible benefits to accessing mental health information on social media, there are some risks to be mindful of:

• It isn’t the whole story. Social media content, by nature, is very truncated and therefore reductive. You won’t be able to learn everything about a mental health issue from an Instagram image or TikTok video (or even a whole TikTok playlist.) Even the most credentialed experts on social media are explaining things in ways that are designed for the algorithm: attracting viewers, getting likes and comments, etc. There is always more nuance to an issue than what a handful of social media posts can provide.

• Some of it might be misinformation. For example, a 2022 study by the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry found that 52% of the TikTok videos about ADHD were misleading or contained direct misinformation about the condition. Social media makes it possible for anyone to post about these topics. It could be someone speaking from personal experience with a condition, but there’s no way to confirm whether they’re self-diagnosed or formally diagnosed, or whether the advice they’re sharing from their care provider is accurate. It could be a credentialed mental health professional, but they may have ulterior motives (like selling a product or service) or they may be hiding a questionable professional history. It’s important to treat the information you discover on social media with a measure of skepticism, and research information about mental health issues before sharing it further.

• It might prevent some people from seeking proper care. Accessing a wealth of new resources about mental health available through social media can feel validating and empowering. Perhaps learning about a condition has given you new language for articulating past experiences that you had trouble understanding. This is valuable, but it’s important to seek additional care from a trusted mental health provider if you suspect that you have a diagnosable condition like ADHD, OCD, depression or anxiety, etcetera. Self-diagnosis based on information you’ve learned from social media is not the same as receiving a formal diagnosis and treatment from licensed professionals. Stay open to the possibility that although something may have resonated with you on social media, your care provider may have a different opinion based on their professional experience.

Mindful Engagement with Mental Health Content on Social Media

As mental health professionals ourselves, we support the free flow of information about mental health topics on social media. We want people to be curious, informed, and supported through online communities and offline. Yet it’s important to be mindful about how we interact with the information we see on social media. Here are a couple of tips for mindful engagement:

• Stay curious and seek multiple sources of information. Remember, what you’re seeing in a TikTok video or Instagram story isn’t the full picture, and it may contain misleading information. Pause, reflect on the information you’ve learned, and take a few minutes to research so that you can find out how accurate it is and whether it is as relevant to your situation as you first believed.

• Use it as a starting point for seeking support from a trusted care professional. Especially if you suspect that you may have a diagnosable condition like anxiety, ADHD, OCD, or something similar, it’s important to use what you learn from social media as a starting point for seeking support. The mental health care system in the United States can be difficult to navigate, but a trusted therapist or psychologist can help you take steps to confirm eligibility with your insurance, work with you on a sliding scale payment plan, take steps to seek a formal diagnosis, and other steps in the process. You don’t have to navigate this alone.

Mental Health Care Near You

It’s one thing to learn about mental health care on social media, but actually taking steps to seek care with a therapist or counselor can feel overwhelming. At ECC, we’re here to help you find the right therapy method and practitioner to address your unique needs. Our diverse team of licensed therapists and counselors specialize in a number of different research-backed therapeutic approaches, including Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Diagnostic Behavior Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Narrative Therapy, EMDR, and more. We provide referrals to psychologists and psychiatrists, as needed. We can help you get in touch with your needs, values, and goals and work towards them with a neurodivergent-affirming, multidisciplinary approach. If you’re ready to take that first step to seek support, we’ll help you find the right fit.

ABOUT ECC:

Empowered Connections Counseling is a practice of licensed therapists providing quality, multidisciplinary counseling for relationships, families, children & teens, and individuals in Chicago and across Illinois. Whether by in-person session or via telehealth, we work with clients to find the therapist and treatment methods that best suit their needs. Connect meaningfully with your life by booking an appointment today.