- Date posted
- 2y
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!
any advice for when you get false memories that feel really real? especially something that had JUST happened, it’s like ur brain distorts it. i feel like i do something wrong 24/7 then i get over it and ocd latched onto something new
Hi, I’ve had ocd since I was 12 but the hardest theme I’ve ever encountered was false memory ocd and POCD. I’m convinced I’ve molested children and people and it disgusts me to my very core. Is there anyone else going through this? I really need to talk to people who are going through the same thing as me and can share their story because I feel so along in this false memory cycle because it feels like a real memory and I feel like I’m tricking everyone around me into thinking it’s false. Please help
Hey all, I've been okay for a while, but today I'm having a hard time with my sexually-themed false memory thoughts and the compulsion to try and "figure it out". While I've learned enough over time that "figuring it out" doesn't work, I'm just feeling extra overwhelmed today. Stuff that happened over 7 years ago is really getting to me, I'm in this limbo state just sitting here with it all but... ...anyone have any general tips for false-memory OCD?
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