- Username
- hellomynameis
- Date posted
- 1y ago
False memories
Can someone please explain false memories related to OCD? I feel like I have had these but have never realized it’s related to OCD
Can someone please explain false memories related to OCD? I feel like I have had these but have never realized it’s related to OCD
False memories in OCD is basically like picking up on any doubt. For example, let's say you said something mean to someone once as a little kid, and one day you encounter a person you went to elementary school with. From there you start wondering, what if I said something mean to that person I encountered when I was little because I said that mean thing to that other kid? and you keep and keep on ruminating without having any evidence that that actually happened. Of course, false memory doubts can be much worse than that. For example, you could wonder if you ever killed someone without remembering. Ya, it sucks.
this might trigger someone so pls read with caution - - - it’s like going back in ur memories and being like “wait but what if this actually happened and ur just purposefully forgetting that it did to make urself feel better” it’s so annoying 💀
That is a great question. When our intrusive thoughts cause us to compulse, we are trying to figure out the answer , so our brain will proceed to give us a scenario of how something might have happened. And the more we compulse, the more the brain tries to “fill in the blanks” and hence false memory occurs. For example, if I think I hit someone with my car, and I compulse by checking my car for damage or blood, and I don’t find any - then I am ok - or am I. Ocd then says well maybe you barely hit them - so they fell over but there is no damage to your car. And then there are more compulsive behavior until I have many scenarios in my head. That is how false memory happens. I hope this helps.
@Jeffrey I am so unbelievably late to this post but I’ve been dealing with this this morning. Exactly how I feel!
Question for you guys, Those of you who suffer from HOCD or POCD and have vivid memories that contradict who you feel you are, how do you manage those memories? I had an OCD/anxiety attack that clinged on to the memories around me being curious after being bullied in school. My OCD keeps telling me that I enjoyed those experiences more than I should have. Even though it ended in tears and me knowing that that's not who I am, my OCD keeps telling me that it's an indication of my being gay or bi. I realize that some of those memories may be fake, but in the scope of acceptance of uncertainty let's assume that everything is right. My therapist tried to calm me down by saying that this is really normal and expected in young children and that it has nothing to do with who we are, especially since I was interested in girls and always fantasized about chased after them from a very young age.
Anyone else struggle with real event type OCD (OCD latches on to a real life situation you’ve experienced)? How can we know the difference between what actually happened and if it’s just my OCD making me feel like a horrible person? Specifically with harm/pedophile OCD. Anyone ever experienced this before?
"pOCD and zOCD false memories" I'm so sorry for venting... I need help... Or just someone to lend me an ear. I'm suffering from really serious, really bad false memories that are not only illegal but also make me feel like a monster. Basically, my false memories are extended to these two topics only and are always of a sexual nature. 1. That I used my pets as tools to obtain sexual gratification. (and or touched them) 2. That I touched a child (during an actual real event) inappropriately. I don't have images for these false memories... It's more fears than anything else! I feel like I forgot about them or I'm just in denial. The 1st one comes from a situation where I masturb- near my cat. (she was in my bed but I can't recall where she was standing). There's also another situation that I have also masturb- near my dog but in this case, she wasn't near me. Just in the same room as me, in separate beds. The 2nd is from a real event where I played with this child in the pool. I can only remember one physical interaction that was giving her a piggyback ride. In conclusion, I'm so afraid these are real and if they are real, then I should be punished! I don't want to go to jail because I'm terrified of that place so the only option is to kill myself. I don't deserve to be happy or even alive...
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