# OCD in School | Emotional Dysregulation in Children | E174

An episode of [Dysregulated Kids: Science-Backed Parenting Help for Behavior, Anxiety, ADHD and More](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1661843985), 25 Mar 2024, 11 min.

Audio: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/79e7a002-a968-4c9e-a2ff-d9c3539ad8ce.mp3

OCD in School: Supporting Learning and Emotional Regulation OCD in school can quietly sabotage your child’s focus, confidence, and learning. If your child struggles with intrusive thoughts, compulsive urges, or perfectionism at school, you’re not imagining it and it’s not bad parenting. This episode explains how OCD in school hijacks attention and what parents can do to calm the brain, support regulation, and help children thrive academically. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How OCD in school affects learning, focus, and classroom performance • Why attention may be hijacked by intrusive thoughts rather than ADHD • Practical strategies to support Emotional Dysregulation in Children • Helpful accommodations and interventions for Parenting a Dysregulated Child Why smart children struggle in school OCD steals mental bandwidth, leaving even capable kids behind. Intrusive thoughts and rituals take priority over learning. Signs in school: • Slow work completion • Avoiding tasks that feel overwhelming • Rewriting or checking excessively • Freeze or shutdown moments Parent story: A teen who rereads every sentence takes double the time to finish homework but understands the material. Their attention is hijacked by OCD, not a lack of ability. How perfectionism impacts learning Perfectionism in OCD is fear-driven, not about excellence. Even small tasks feel emotionally loaded. Patterns: • Excessive redoing of assignments • Reassurance seeking • Freeze-and-shutdown reactions Behavior is communication from a dysregulated child. Distinguishing ADHD from OCD in school ADHD and OCD can appear similar, but the root cause differs: ADHD: difficulty regulating attention OCD: intrusive thoughts or compulsive urges hijack attention School accommodations that help Accommodations should support learning without feeding compulsions: • Extended time for assignments and tests • Reduced homework during flares • Chunked tasks into manageable steps • Access to quiet spaces • Check-ins with a trusted adult How to support regulation at home • Calm the nervous system first • Model regulation and positive coping • Reinforce micro-wins consistently • Teach one small skill after the child is calm Listen + Take the Next Step Get your FREE Regulation Rescue Kit to handle meltdowns and support regulation: 👉 www.drroseann.com/newsletter FAQs Q1: Can OCD affect school performance? Yes. Intrusive thoughts and rituals interfere with attention, task completion, and learning. Q2: Do kids with OCD need an IEP or 504? Supportive accommodations tailored to the child’s needs help reduce compulsions and improve focus. Q3: Will therapy alone fix school issues? Therapy works best when combined with nervous system regulation and structured accommodations. Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge helps parents understand Emotional Dysregulation in Children and teaches practical Nervous System Regulation in Children and Co-Regulation Techniques through her Regulation First Parenting™ approach.

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