m205633

Date posted: 2y

Real event/ false memory - “not ocd”

My therapist (not a NOCD therapist) said to me that the real event/false memory that I have been so preoccupied with and have been doing lots of compulsions for eg: mental review, rumination, analysis, replaying the event, neutralising, thought stopping, mental checking… is likely NOT OCD and is just worry. The reason he believes it isn’t OCD is because the obsession doesn’t really change, it’s fixed on the same real event and the uncertainty surrounding it. This feels hugely invalidating to me - I have an OCD diagnosis and this was hugely helpful for me to be able to digest and understand my obsession and compulsions. Because he thinks it’s just worry, it makes me feel like I’m an actually shit person and that I’m worried about it because it’s bad and it means I’m bad. Knowing OCD was part of the cycle helped me digest it and now I feel unsettled. I hope that makes sense and just feel really lost. I know that I’ve reduced compulsions a LOT due to my knowledge on OCD recovery and know how to treat OCD due to all the amazing publications from places like NOCD and OCD Excellence and lots of therapists on social media. So I think this has added to the problem of me not being seen as a typical case anymore. It’s hard because Real event and false memory are already a difficult subtype so this feels just scary and invalidating.

Anonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

It sounds to me like he may not know what he’s talking about. I have been diagnosed with OCD and tend to fixate on one particular thing for great lengths of time. I suggest seeing a NOCD therapist if you’re able, as general therapists often are not knowledgeable enough about OCD.

m205633

Date posted: 2y

@Anonymous My only experience of OCD has been long times focused on one thing. They’ve then passed and morphed into others. I’ve had some times where a number of obsessions go in quick fire succession, but that’s not been the norm for me and it’s usually been a while on one thing.

m205633

Date posted: 2y

@Anonymous I also will try and save to see a NOCD therapist again as it was helpful and I just want to get better

Anonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

Also, I’ve read and been told by ocd experts: “People with generalized anxiety tend to jump from one anxiety to another throughout their day (or have a general sense of being overwhelmed), whereas someone with OCD is more likely to obsess on a particular anxiety (or a few of them) and devote excessive attention to it.”

m205633

Date posted: 2y

@Anonymous That’s how it feels for me. Focused hugely on one thing, maybe with different fears about that one thing, but a big focus on that thing and it taking over my day/life

Anonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

@m205633 Totally. I often get fixated on one major fear for months or even years at a time. It’s very obsessive in nature, and my compulsions include ruminating and reassurance seeking.

Anonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

To me, how you respond to the thoughts — ruminating, etc. is what makes it fall under the ocd category. Whether it’s one obsession or multiple ones shouldn’t change the diagnosis (I wouldn’t think).

m205633

Date posted: 2y

@Anonymous I had always thought I had some kind of anxiety for many years, I reached out to NOCD after about 2 years of being stuck in a cycle of rumination, mental review, checking and so forth and they told me this was mental compulsions I was doing and I was in the right place (finances meant I couldn’t proceed with therapy with them at that time it was £500+ a month for me which was a lot. But I agree, I’m looking for certainty in the uncertain and am responding to the thoughts rituals/safety seeking behaviours to bring the anxiety down/get certainty… so I really felt it was ocd

Anonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

@m205633 Yes, sounds like classic ocd behavior. I’m in the same boat. I’m so sorry NOCD isn’t a more affordable option where you live. :(

plutorem

Date posted: 2y

is he a ocd specialist?

m205633

Date posted: 2y

@plutorem He’s treated OCD patients as part of a crisis team in a hospital but not sure he would be considered a total specialist (unsure) we’ve not been doing ERP yet as the UK recommendation is CBT with some exposures so we’ve mainly done CBT at the moment…

pianno

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

For as long as I know, I was also always fixated on one thing for months or even even years. My last obsession began in 2015. and although it changde a little (got worse/expanded) with time, the basis is still the same.

amelia:3

Date posted: 25w

how to deal with real event + false memory??

im going to be vague here, but basically i did something in the past that i regret and it became a huge point of my OCD but i have talked to my therapist and i have mostly moved past it. i watched a video by an OCD youtuber that really put it into perspective. anyway, i have been with minimal worry for a few days, but now im having worries related to i think false memory? basically it’s like “oh but what if i said/ did this and just forgot that means i harmed this person im a bad person”. to me it sounds like textbook OCD but im just wondering if anyone else has experienced false memory / real event at the same time. i have a really horrible memory which is making it even more stressful. any responses are appreciated!

eb123456789

Date posted: 22w

Real Event OCD v. False Memory

Does anyone have advice on distinguishing between real event ocd and false memory ocd? If my current obsession is whether this intrusive image in my head is a real memory even though there’s no evidence it is, does that seem more like real event ocd or false memory? I feel like I’m getting into a trap of worrying that I’m obsessing over a real event instead of a false image and keep having thoughts that say “you know you did this” even though I really don’t think I did.

anonymous00001

Date posted: 19w

Looking for “proof” that it’s not OCD

Hey all, I’ve been having some ebbs and flows in recovery, but for the most part I’ve really had a lot of improvements in quality of life since starting treatment in 2023. Something that really trips me up is ruminating on my past and looking for “evidence” or “proof” that the things that I’m obsessed with are real and not OCD. I spend quite a lot of time doing this. I wasn’t fully aware I was doing it until recently. Example: that I’m secretly gay and lying to everyone (I’m bi), that I’m a horrible person deep down, that I’ve never actually loved any person including my family, that I have the “wrong” political or religious beliefs. I look for proof in every corner of my past. It makes some sense that I think this way because with my previous therapist, who I saw for 8 years and did not diagnose me with OCD, we would look for evidence and proof that my obsessions are irrational and I learned to deal with them that way. At the time it was a lot of health concern and contamination themes, but I literally learned to ruminate and search for relief. But I just kept getting sicker and sicker until I got diagnosed with OCD. It’s a frustrating compulsion that keeps showing up for me. What if these scary things are true? What if it’s not OCD at all and I’m in denial? Have I lied my way into thinking I have OCD? It’s so hard. Anyway, I’m curious if anyone else has come across this in recovery? Let me know your thoughts and I hope you’re well. ❤️

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Real event/ false memory - “not ocd”

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