Ocd and working at childcare

Hello, im feeling very anxious and need someone to talk too. I’m wondering if anyone has experienced this type of ocd. I’ve had many different types of ocd through out my life. I’m a 21 year old female. I am in school for child development and work at daycares in the summer time for my resume. However, my ocd has been based around my work recently and its ruining my life. I constantly have thoughts I will lose a child at work, and they will run off and die under my care. Or I’ll hurt one of the children by mistake or on purpose. I’m scared I will do something wrong and the kids will get hurt because of me. I really love working with the kids, however I feel these daycare jobs are overwhelming for my ocd. But I cant stop working at daycare cause I need the experience for when I graduate and try to find a different job in the field. And I also do enjoy the job to some degree so I don’t want to leave the job, it’s just ocd that makes it harder. Has anyone had this type of ocd and is a childcare worker it would be really helpful to hear from other people?!

Carole7

Date posted: 2y

Unfortunately at the time I was under a lot of distress with other symptoms too and quit. I still awful about it. And I’m hoping that this therapy will help me get back to work.

Anonymous8889

Date posted: 2y

I wish you the best with your therapy I hope we can both get past this, it’s really hard.

Carole7

Date posted: 2y

@Anonymous8899 Thank you that means a lot. You too! We can do this

ProzacAndMe

Date posted: 2y

Hi! I'm so sorry you're going through this. I worked in childcare 10 years and my current OCD theme is Reality OCD and False Memories that are focused on my time there 10 years ago. I ruminate over past interactions (granted, I can't remember much at all since it's been so long) and I wonder if I tried or wanted to harm a child. I do remember going above and beyond for my class sometimes, decorating it, being the fun teacher, babysitting the kids on the weekends, and volunteering at the fall festival. I wrote incident reports, cared for boo-boos, and was a goofball. I never got in trouble and was well-liked by the kids and parents, but I noticed I was feeling burnt out after about a year, so I transitioned into a floater position and then left. Of course, it was a stressful job at times and I would get overwhelmed/frustrated, but my OCD is taking it a step further by making me question if I tried to be mean to the kids or if I hurt them on purpose in some way. It's really distressing, even though I'm married with my own kid now. The feeling that maybe I was secretly a cruel person who shouldn't be around children is hurting me so much. I'm back in therapy and taking Prozac bc even though deep down I know I didn't hurt anyone, the guilt and shame is overwhelming and depressing. I wish you the best, this is not an easy theme and please be kind to yourself. I think because we are so scared to do any harm to anybody, this theme really eats away at us.

Anonymous8889

Date posted: 2y

@ProzacAndMe Thank you for you comment it’s really stressful and it’s good to know I’m not the only one who has had these thoughts.

Holly Hoyt

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

Hi :) I used to have similar thoughts when working at a daycare. I’m sorry that it’s overwhelming and that you have to work there because of school, but you can turn work into an exposure eventually. You just have to start small and work your way up to being comfortable. Does your boss know you have OCD? It may be a good place to start, as well as therapy

Anonymous8889

Date posted: 2y

@dirholly Thank you so much for the comment. It’s helps knowing I’m not alone and other people have had these similar thoughts. And no I haven’t told my boss I’m afraid it’s maybe to personal. Thank you for you advice. I appreciate it very much!! :)

Carole7

Date posted: 2y

I used to work with children as well and yes, I started having similar thoughts. It got very distressing for me. I would definitely work with your therapist about it. Thank you for sharing this.

Anonymous8889

Date posted: 2y

@Carole7 Thank you for the comment! Sorry to ask if this is personal but I was wondering how you were able to move past the thoughts did you see a therapist?

ProzacAndMe

Date posted: 2y

*10 years ago

wiki_xo

Date posted: 24w

A nurse with OCD

I just started my new job maybe a couple months ago and I’m officially off orientation. I had a couple shifts by myself but the anxiety I feel being alone is honestly beastly. I keep getting scared that I’ll end up giving my patients someone else’s medications, keep having thoughts of “what if I give patient A medications to patient C.” My hair keeps falling out, I get such bad pre work and post work anxiety. On my days off all I think about is work. It’s taking a toll on my mental health and my relationship with my boyfriend. I am mad and stressed all the time. I’m just so tired and I honestly feel like I’m getting depressed. I want to stick it out a couple more months so I can get a job somewhere that’s not in a hospital. I just feel so stuck and scared all the time. If anyone else is a nurse with OCD what did you do to help with your anxiety and OCD?

Young adults with OCD

Cara H.

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 17w

Work related OCD

Does anyone have OCD regarding always feeling like you are not good enough at your job? I'm 58 years old now I've had OCD since childhood. Every job I've been at I never felt as good as my colleagues. I am a nurse but I worked at that for 15 years I had a breakdown of sorts in 2017 and went on disability. I now work part time as a a swim instructor for kids. I always was afraid of killing someone when I was a nurse. Then I tried dog grooming but I was afraid I would do it wrong and hurt the dogs. At least now the stakes are lower. But my OCD is the same. I work with colleagues who are about 40 years younger than I am . I am afraid of teaching certain classes bc I feel like I wouldn't do as good a job as someone else. I know I can do it but it's like I have a fear of not giving them their money's worth. I've been at my current job for 2 years . I've gotten very positive comments from my managers but I can't seem to believe them. I feel a lot of shame bc I lost a lot of my life to OCD and I am at an age where people are starting to retire after long and successful careers and here I am working at an entry level job. I'm planning on trying to get out of my comfort zone and teaching some of the classes I'm afraid of .it's really hard. I'm always scared what if I lose my benefits and had to work again as a nurse how would I do it.

roszip-0toMd...

Date posted: 12w

Please help!!!

TW! please someone comment When I was 12 or 13 I used to babysit a little girl, she had a habit of keeping her hand in her diaper and was always touching herself, there was one point I was changing her diaper and noticed she was really red. I had separated her private parts and checked the inner area for signs of infection. She was okay, just some really really bad diaper rash. I know this is what happened yet my brain is trying to convince me that I hurt her, and that I wanted to do it, I know I would never hurt a child but with all the anxiety I feel when I think about it I'm starting to wonder if I did do it because I wanted to hurt her, I don't wanna be a p, I don't wanna hurt innocent children, I used to never have these thoughts but now I do and I'm so scared to tell my therapist as she hasn't diagnosed me with ocd yet. I don't want her to think I'm a p nor do I wanna hurt kids, but my brain keeps telling me that I do and that I'm just lying to myself and everyone around me, ik I would never do something that could harm a child but I keep getting these thoughts and their inappropriate and I just want them to stop, does anyone have any tips on how to help myself? I keep turning to my boyfriend for reassurance but ik that that's just a quick fix and that ill be spiraling about it again.Please help

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Ocd and working at childcare

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