I’m a teenager and so at the moment, the people I’m attracted to are also teens. But I worry that as I grow up and become an adult, I’ll remain attracted to teenagers (and not necessarily 18 year old teens). I’m petrified of growing up now!

OCD is so creative I swear haha! You are not a predator. Older people who prey on teenagers are attracted to the power differential. You are attracted to your equals. You are almost certainly going to remail attracted to your equals.

You won’t know for sure what you’ll be attracted to when you grow up until you grow up. If you can work to accept that uncertainty, you can definitely overcome this OCD theme. Like whatever you like right now! No use worrying about that bridge until you come to it.

I'm a teen too, i understand. That thought always crossed my mind!

Are you still interested in little children things? Do small children make good friends for you, do they have the same interests, problems, maturity? They do not, and this is a MAIN reason you are neither good friends with not attracted to children. The same will be true as you get older. Teenage problems, interests, maturity, most of it, will no longer interest you intimately. You may still cate about problems teenagers face, as you probably still cate about the problems children face, but you are not in it together. A major part of intimacy is being on the same level, having the same value and passions and interests, etc. You are not just attracted to the physical fearures of teens, though I know thats part of it, but you are attracted to the fact that you share something ELSE. This is why when I say only predators are attracted to minors (when they are not minors), because something besides all that you can share turns them on. They like how easy they can take advantage of younger people. Thats a MAIN selling point. I know I sound like im talking out my ass. Im 29 years old. I remember being attracted to other teenagers, and I remember no longer being attracted to the. Their problems and focus and values and interests and drives were no longer my own. We dont share anything important in common. I did have friends who were teenagers just a few years ago, but the power and maturity differential was easily felt, and I had no attraction to them. I know you all are facing OCD and these thoughts are because of OCD and are not rational and wont respond much to rational argument, but I remember SO WELL having a fear similar to this, I just wanted to share some knowledge and experience. Sorry I talk so much, and this is your space to talk, not ancient ass me hahahaaaa god I feel old

That’s because reassurance never lasts. You’re going to have to sit with the uncertainty you feel right now. Be unsure and scared! It’s okay! It’s seeking certainty and safety over and over again from your fear that’s actually feeding it. If you let yourself just feel the fear when it hit and let it naturally subside every time, you’d notice in a few weeks that it would diminish dramatically, as would the thoughts.

Sit with that feeling! It’s okay to feel that! Let it in. And don’t look for reassurance or certainty that your fears won’t come true. Realistically, they probably won’t, but you should stop looking to be sure and take the risk.

I really hope so! But what if I like the way they look and their ‘baby faces’ and their lack of beards and all that? What if I never change or remain attracted to my equals?

I know :// I’m just so scared! I don’t want to grow up now!

I’m so glad I’m not alone with this! Do you fear growing up?

It’s so nice to know that you got over this sort of fear! I appreciate you taking the time to write all that so thank you so much :) I just worry that I’ll grow old and miss being young and stupid and excited. So I’ll fall in love with someone who possesses those qualities? If that makes sense! Like, I’ll be 40 years old and see a cute teenager and find him exciting... ahhh I don’t know!

I’m stressing out a lil again :(

You’re right. Compulsions only add fuel to the fire and I need to stop. I just keep thinking my whole life is now ruined. I don’t want to age anymore!