Anyone ever have the horrifying feeling their hands will just act out and hurt someone? It’s this weird sensation. I know I will never do anything but I can’t get the feeling to go away. Anyone ever have this? Seeing violent images in my mind.

A few things that helped me overcome this ocd... “overcoming harm ocd” book by Jon Hershfield!!! Focuses on breaking down harm ocd and using erp techniques to help it.... harm ocd will make you think you want to do something awful to the people you love the most or to yourself if you value life. Ocd does this because we try so desperately to run away from bad thoughts, when in reality everyone has violent, disturbing thoughts... you have to remember that a thought is just that a thought!! The book “ overcoming unwanted intrusive thoughts” also helped me a lot and helped to explain ocd thoughts, and “urges” as well as compulsions. Your brain is just sticky and in stuck in a loop. Erp is hard and makes you think about these thoughts and learn to let them pass without judgement! I worked on erp intensely for 6 months, starting with harm ocd and am 90% better and everyday that passes gets easier, I actually bring in the disturbing thoughts purposely if I notice I’m not having as much ocd, just to keep up with therapy! Erp works and can help big time with harm ocd!! Believe me I am proof, my harm ocd used to make me panic, Shake and cry! Erp changed my life!! Try it out!!

I agree with @deemajical! ERP truly is life changing!

Thank you @deemajical for sharing! I just purchased that book. I have been in therapy for 2 years for my OCD and most recently concentrating on ERP. My OCD wants me to think I’m going to fail but I know better things are coming. Just have to get over this hump. It’s cruel. So cruel. Harm OCD is the most awful type to me. But I know it will get better. ERP is the best kind of therapy! It’s nice to know I’m not alone. Hang in there everyone ❤️❤️❤️

Yes, that’s absolutely common

Even if you know that u would never do something cruel like this, your intrusive thoughts just focus on it.

Thank you all for reaching out. We need to support each other. Deemajical your post is amazing I purchased both books and I’ve just begun ERP with my therapist so I’m on my way and it gives me hope that I can move past all this. My OCD wants me to believe I will fail but I am confident I can beat this and move forward with my life again! Thank you all for being wonderful and reaching out. Open up and love each other and let’s all beat it together!

Wow!! I’m so happy for everyone on here that is working hard with their erp!!! And I am so glad that my book suggestions are helping!!! I remember reading them both and finally really starting to understand what was happening to me! Erp is so so hard! Know that you are alll so brave and keep pushing through it even when it feels like hell!!! I am actually even doing better now since I wrote that response! It’s thanks to erp !!! I have ocd thoughts maybe twice a week now and can live most days free of it! Thanks to erp! When I do get them now I use all the tools I learned against it! I still struggle with an anxiety disorder but am getting therapy for that now too! It’s a battle but one you can all get through! Don’t worry about how long it will take just don’t give up !!!! Xo I support you all and am wishing for the best ❤️

First of all: don’t worry, there are a lot of people feeling the same as you. Thinking about it doesn’t means that you’ll do that!

I felt this many times and never damaged anyone. That’s all in your mind!

I have those thoughts. I just test myself and go up and hug my kids and loved ones. You gotta try and train your brain to let the thoughts be and it will help the feeling go away. It's hard but eventually it gets easier. I try and laugh at how crazy the thoughts my mind comes up with are.

This made me feel less alone. It’s so odd bc ocd is rarely talked about bc we’re all afraid to speak about our obsessions out of fear that others will run away, so we naturally isolate ourselves and are rarely able to interact with people who feel the way we do. This app is a blessing.

I have this. And it’s have small children. I put my hands up wen then walk past me. Or in my pockets. I’m trying to stop doing that. But it’s a compulsion. Just gotta try to ignore it

I just want it to go away. It’s so consuming. Any tips on how to get through it?

I completely understand that for me my homo City centered around hurting other people at the beginning and now it is mainly worries about hurting myself. I know there is a book called overcoming harm OCD by John hirschfield