- Date posted
- 5y ago
- Date posted
- 5y ago
I didn't have a choice - I tried to avoid therapists for a long time because I thought they would think I was dangerous and take my child away. But when I started to get suicidal for the first time in my life I knew I had to do something about it so I took a leap of faith and got into an intensive OCD outpatient program. When I opened up to my therapist she almost yawned and said - That's a very common OCD theme nowadays. She was not surprised at all. She knew what to do and it helped a lot. That's why it is important to go to an OCD Expert and not a regular therapists - they won't know how to help you. I bounced around lots of therapists who did more damage because they would scare me more or reassure me.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Avoidance, confessing. Ruminating, checking mentally that I don't really get a body reaction while watching it, self assurance: Like "No, I don't like that", etc.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
I'm not certain so take what I say with a grain salt but maybe volunteer work with kids of some sort or baby sitting
- Date posted
- 5y ago
I have that too and it depends on the levels and the specifics of your obsessions. For example, my obsession is not so much that I will harm a child but that people will think I did and they will accuse me - So my therapist had me started with some imaginal exposures about being arrested or accused. I also had to watch videos on people being accused. It depends on the levels of distress they cause. If you are scared that you may be attracted to children you might start with watching pictures or videos with tons of children playing. Then add up by watching videos of children swimming. The key is not to do compulsions, which is the tricky part.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
What would the compulsions look like
- Date posted
- 5y ago
I know avoidance is one of them
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Whatever we use to check, control or diminish anxiety is a compulsion.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
I tried doing what you suggested, it was really hard..
- Date posted
- 5y ago
It is really hard, I know! That's why it is a good idea to work with an OCD expert on a hierarchy and on recording the level of distress and in how long the level of distress went down. This app has that. For example, if those are too hard you can start with the thought "I am a pedophile" without compulsions. Check your level of distress and how long it takes to diminish (at least in half) without doing compulsions. As you progress it will take less and less time. My first exposure was just to repeat the word "Child molester" without compulsions. That was my level 2 exposure
- Date posted
- 5y ago
I get those thoughts and they are incredibly hard to cope with because I work at a family restaurant. How did you open up to your therapist about your pocd?
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Make sure your therapist is an OCD Expert (Not everyone is) who has treated many people with OCD successfully.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
I feel like I need to do what you did
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Mine tells me avoidance is the answer
- Date posted
- 5y ago
I haven’t told her about my pedophilic obsession but I told her about my harm intrusive thoughts
- Date posted
- 5y ago
I know how awful it feels and I wish I could tell you a lot of things but that would be reassurance only and it makes OCD worse. They only thing I can tell you is that there is hope for you. Don't give into the compulsions even if that leads you to panic. Don't feed the OCD monster anymore.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Your therapist told you that avoidance is the answer?!!!! Wow
- Date posted
- 5y ago
I had lots of harm intrusive thoughts too. Ocd is like a plague.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
My themes switch and I’ve been able to notice, sometimes it makes racist thoughts pop in, and when it sees I won’t give in, it changes it to pedophilic ones
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Oh man - I can relate. Sounds like the podcast I was listening to the other day was saying - It looks like we suffer from the fears of all the taboos in today's society: pedophilia, racism, psychopathy, sexual harassment and aggression, etc. We are so scared of being society outcasts. Hang in there. ;)
- Date posted
- 5y ago
You live in the USA, I assume.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Yes. And I love talking about social justice so I’m not surprised, I have that theme
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Yeap - we fear that we will become what we hate most. Brain's like: "I'm on it"
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Sometimes it even tries to “mix” the obsessions to double the pain
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Yeap. It sounds like you are doing what is called "flooding" and "self-punishing". Lots of mindfulness, my friend.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 9w ago
What ERP or other techniques do you use to combat fear of cancelation? Especially curious about those with taboo thoughts, false memory ocd and event ocd based off of real events where the fear of cancellation may actually hold some validity. I once did my own ERP not under a therapist but just on my own I decided to create an anonymous account on Twitter and defend a friend who was receiving online criticism. I knew that this would be semi-controversial so I was expecting backlash and when I recieved troll replies it actually seemed to be a really helpful low-stakes exposure activity. Is this something that others have done? Low stakes online posts etc. that you know will recieve negative responses? I have had severe OCD as a kid as pretty much every subtype under the sun, and as an adult I pretty much have all the types under control except for this real event and false memory and taboo thought OCD. It seems like a different beast since it's somewhat realistic in the camcellation culture today, and it's confusing to address. Ive shut down almost all social accounts and it's keeping me from progressing in a career where I need to have an online presence :/
- Date posted
- 8w ago
Can I hear some examples of specific parts of ERP that has helped you? I've been doing talk therapy for a few years and the major issue I have with it is that I already have analyzed all of my problems from every angle, so I'm kind of just sitting there yapping about it for an hour. I need solutions and things that make me feel better.
- Date posted
- 8w ago
I’m starting NOCD. I had several years of cbt as a child (well over 20 years ago) and I see a trauma therapist. But now I’ll be seeking further help for OCD and just really scared. CBT wasn’t helpful for me. How has ERP been helpful for you? Do you feel like you’ll finally get your life back? I’m consumed by my obsessions 😢 Would love others feedback if ERP helped you ❤️
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