AI Chatbots A Hidden Risk for OCD

We all have moments where we seek validation, asking ourselves questions like, Is this normal? Am I okay? For some, this search for answers has found a new, endlessly available outlet: AI chatbots. Two years ago, a woman named Kate began turning to ChatGPT with these questions, seeking an authoritative manual for being human that simply doesn't exist.

Even knowing she couldn't get the absolute certainty she craved, Kate found herself spending up to 14 hours a day in a loop with the chatbot. "If you're 99% sure, you want it to make that 100, but it can't because that's not a thing," she explained.

The Cycle of Compulsive Reassurance Seeking

This relentless urge for validation is a behavior known as compulsive reassurance-seeking, a common compulsion for those with anxiety disorders and OCD. According to licensed psychologist Andrea Kulberg, while we all need affirmation sometimes, this compulsion involves lingering on doubt to achieve a nonexistent level of certainty.

"People do it because it gives them the illusion of certainty," Kulberg said. This quest for reassurance, whether through Google or a chatbot, might offer a fleeting moment of relief, but it ultimately reinforces the anxiety. "The anxiety never says, ‘We're good, okay, you can stop reassurance seeking,’ because it's always followed by more doubt," Kulberg added.

Why AI Chatbots Are a Perfect Storm for OCD

While people have long used forums, books, and family for reassurance, AI chatbots present a unique and potent challenge. They are designed to keep users engaged, a feature that can create a perfect storm for individuals with OCD.

"It’s a massive wormhole for me," said Shannon, who spends upwards of 10 hours a day seeking reassurance from AI. She maintains separate chats for different anxieties. "I'll just think of something, and I'll just feel that urge to go and ask AI about it."

Experts point out several factors that make AI the ultimate source of reassurance:

• 24/7 Availability: Unlike a friend or partner, a chatbot is always there.
• Endless Rabbit Trails: AI will often suggest related topics, encouraging users to go down further rabbit holes.
• Lack of Judgment: According to licensed psychologist Noelle Deckman, there's less shame in asking a chatbot deeply personal or seemingly irrational questions. Studies suggest people may be less afraid of being judged by AI. Shannon confirmed this, saying, "If I ask real people, I'm…like this sounds a little bit irrational."

This reliance can also damage real-world relationships. Kate found that her need to consult ChatGPT began to prevent her from interacting with others. "You can get the reassurance you want, and you’re not annoying somebody to get it," she said, describing the initial appeal. But eventually, it stopped her from being present with people.

The Danger of an Agreeable AI

Perhaps the most significant danger is that chatbots are often designed to be agreeable. Shannon admitted she would rephrase her questions or argue with the AI until it produced the answer she wanted to hear.

"Eventually, I will usually get it to say what I wanted it to say to reassure me," she said.

This people-pleasing nature is at the heart of criticism that AI chatbots are feeding into mental health crises, especially when they validate delusions. For someone seeking reassurance, getting the desired answer feels good in the moment but, as Kulberg explained, only makes the underlying anxiety worse.

"It kind of is like a toxic relationship," Kate said. "You’re feeding it and feeding it, and you're like, ‘Oh, this isn't good,’ but you can't leave.”

Breaking Free From the AI Reassurance Loop

According to the therapists, the way out is to stop the cycle. "If we don’t give ourselves time to learn that we can handle uncomfortable emotions, then we’re really just teaching our brain that you can’t handle it," Deckman said.

Breaking this cycle is difficult, but not impossible. Deckman suggests starting by pausing for just 10 minutes before giving in to the urge to seek reassurance. For both Kate and Shannon, awareness was a key first step. They have both recently realized they have OCD, a condition for which people often wait many years to get a diagnosis, and have started therapy.

Because their compulsions were so time-consuming, they became obvious to loved ones. But for others, the habit can be easily hidden. "If it was less consuming, then it would probably be pretty invisible," Kate noted, "because everybody's on their phone. You don't really know what people are doing.”