Do “false memories” start off as an intrusive thought? Mine have always started off like “what if___” then I go back in my past and my brain fills the gaps. You know how it goes. Like there’s no real memories even attached to these thoughts.
Yes, totally. My false memory OCD is acting up again. It kind of blurs the line between what actually happened and what you made up in your head. Try not to ruminate and reply the past. Accept that maybe the thought is true and keep going about your day. No amount of thinking will solve whether it happened or not so it really is a waste of time. Right when you think you figured out a thought, OCD will throw another “but what if ____”. It will keep you stuck in this hopeless cycle of figuring out the thought.
@Greg2 Yeah it’s so weird to me because previously before I started presenting symptoms (or noticing them) I never ever had this intrusive though come across my mind. It popped in randomly one night and since I can’t find any certainty it’s still been eating away.
@La.rad13 Yep my OCD cranked up randomly at some point too. And from a random thought. But just remember- it’s a random thought, nothing else
Hey, yep 1000%!! Any time you say “what if……” then it’s OCD just showing it’s ugly face again. It’s the doubting disorder so it will literally doubt anything it can. Your compulsions will be to try and fill the gaps and create further “what ifs”. Don’t engage, sit with that anxiety and say “maybe I did, maybe I don’t but I’m okay with that”! Your OCD will be like “arghhhhhhhhhh that isn’t the answer I wanted and now I don’t know what to do with this”. Slowly it will creep away and you will start living again. Stay strong and stick at it my friend.
@Billy 1 Yeah some of my intrusive thoughts attach to real events that actually happened. But they add details to the events that I almost certain it didn’t happen but it’s always what it am I right.
@La.rad13 “What if”
I agree they are closely related. Therefore, Best approach would be to treat false memory like any other intrusive thoughts. Remind yourself that thoughts are just thoughts not facts and just thinking something does not make it true. Often the harder someone fights the thoughts or tries push them out of their mind, the stronger they get. Accepting them while not engaging is often more effective. Try to allow yourself to have the thought and respond with a neutral statement like “thanks OCD” or “maybe it’s true maybe it’s not” without engaging any more or less than that. I know easier said than done, but with time and practice it does get better.
@Lisa LeeLou Yeah, I’ve noticed just noticing the thought but not going deeper helps. My first intrusive thoughts around this sub theme stuck longer because I ruminated and engaged with them for hours. I notice the new ones that pop up I can notice they’re just thoughts and they don’t stick as long. My first intrusive thought are still very sticky in my brain.
Mine started out as intrusive thoughts. Then for years I just believed it. Until I got OCD meds and could actually accept that the memories of the inception of those thoughts weren’t just me kidding myself.
@Newb82 I’m starting meds soon. Do they help ?
@La.rad13 SSRI’s helped but I got worse. I take beta blockers too now and I’m much better. I live much less in fear now. I enjoy life.
My false memory is sometimes a fully ocd created fake memory and sometimes it’s based on a real event but something horrible added to it. That’s the hardest kind for me.
@xokyaxo Same here, the uncertainty is the worst part. But remember trying to figure out if the thought is real or not, will just make the thought feel real! By disregarding it, we will feel anxiety in the short term but it will eventually go away.
This sounds familiar for sure, check this out:https://youtu.be/zioi_7c3XeY I think the hard part is to not engage in the compulsions of mentally reviewing the past thoughts and trying to figure out what they mean or why you had them, because we know the more you engage in rumination and trying to solve perceived problems the more confused you can become, the less assured you will feel.
@Stacy Quick yeah I’ve noticed that since not ruminating I feel less anxious about the thought. But that also brings along the back door spike. My intrusive thoughts are POCD themed. They latch onto anyone that comes to mind, I’ve written them down and they seem to be a pattern. It’s hard to accept uncertainty with this specific theme.
@La.rad13 - This can be so hard! For me, when my intrusive thoughts and OCD flare up it will never "feel" certain enough about any of the intrusive thoughts, so instead I sit with the uncertainty that I can't feel certain if that makes sense? For example, rather then sitting in the uncertainty of whether or not I am a horrible or bad or dangerous person, I sit in the uncertainty that I will ever feel certain enough- that's how OCD works- so until I become a horrible person I will not live like I am one, if that makes sense?
@Stacy Quick That actually makes a lot of sense. Thank you!
This is exactly how mine start!! I just spiral until it turns into a complete realness in my head. :( how are you today?
@Ilovedylan20@ The mornings for me are always the worst. The though is just in the back of my head while I continue on with my day. Better than most hbu?
@La.rad13 This is identical to me! Mornings I'm a mess. By the evening I feel relaxed and rational but it's just a cycle. 😢
Does anyone recall a time where intrusive thoughts didnt bother you then all of a sudden they bothered you and you couldn’t tell the difference between your memories and intrusive thoughts.
I get a lot of “what if” thoughts and false memories. How do we determine false memories and real memories ? It’s so hard especially being in a relationship I have “what if” thoughts and false memories about kissing someone else.
It starts off with thinking you’ve done something wrong but it’s hazy it doesn’t say what but it fits with what you’re afraid of. It then starts adding pictures and scenarios and they start to become more and more detailed until you don’t know what’s real or not anymore. I’ve struggled with this for almost 15 years of the same false memories occasionally adding more details. Has anyone else had this experience of false memories becoming so detailed it’s hard to argue against?
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