At first, the rituals may indeed soothe or reassure a child. But these types of behaviors tend to expand and multiply. They take increasingly more time and energy to perform, and they create a barrier between the child and the rest of the world. The end result is often an increase in worry and anxiety. This can become so severe that children with OCD may develop sleep disorders, become depressed, avoid spending time with other children or adults, and even have trouble leaving the house.