I always feel like I should tell my mom about my intrusive thoughts. It’s constantly in my head but I don’t really want to as I feel she won’t get it and it may be a compulsion to want to tell her. Has anyone experienced this?
When I was 12 and first started experiencing OCD this happened to me. My compulsion was to tell my mom every “bad” thing I thought. It was a very painful experience but it passed. Sometimes I get the urge but I can kick it. The therapist at the time had me write down all the things I felt I needed to tell my mom throughout the day. I think eventually I just couldn’t be bothered to write it all out and the compulsion slowly died
@Scaredpossum so writing out your intrusive thoughts can be helpful?
@bltpawli If you are able to write it out and put it away. I don’t think it would be helpful to write it down to further ruminate.
My daughter was dealing with this and would want to tell me whenever she had a “bad” thought (which we re-named “human thoughts”). I began to realize that telling me was her compulsion that helped her to feel better. After we talked about it and she started to refrain from telling me, the thoughts started lessening! And now she is not dealing with intrusive thoughts very often. You’ve got this-I believe in you!
@Tten so the main point is to stop telling your loved ones about your “bad” thoughts? and that actually helps?
Hi ! This is a super common compulsion, “confessing” is something that most people with OCD experience. On one hand, with intrusive thoughts, it’s helpful to talk to someone and realise that every thought is ok and that thoughts are not dangerous. In the beginning it’s important to open up, many people are so ashamed that they never seek help. But once you know you have OCD and that all thoughts are ok, you need to stop getting constant reassurance - it will make you become dependent on your mum/other people, and only if they say it’s ok, you will calm down. That signalises to the brain: when you tell your mum, it will be okay. But you don’t have to do that, you have to allow every thought yourself, get through the uncomfortable feeling, and realise, it’s ok.
Yes. Confessing is a compulsion
Ever since my OCD started when I was 14 (I’m 26 now), I get the biggest relief from confessing to my mother. It is getting harder as the years pass to resist the urge. I always feel like confessing all of my past mistakes and sins, even though a lot of it will upset her. But I always get a wave of calm across my body every time I get reassurance or a reaction from her. Idk why at 26 I feel guilty not telling my mom everything. I don’t even know anymore when it is appropriate to vent to her like a daughter and when it’s my OCD telling me to seek reassurance for the wrong reasons. I think of my past mistakes and feel so guilty around my mother.
how do I tell my family I have ocd?? . I'm 20, I see them pretty much everyday and it puts a strain on my relationships with them because they have no clue what's going on with me. My mom (amazing mom but... ) can come across cold it's just her personality, she's had a hard life from many external factors and so she doesn't really understand mental illness and how someone can be 'unhappy' when they have a comfortable life. I come from a family of very very strong women and if I told them I feel like they'd just think it was an excuse/attention seeking. They're supportive people but not very understanding in mental health. I already feel very different to my family just based on my personality/values/view of life - this could potentially make me even more of a distance from them no??? how do I even tell someone I have ocd do I just say it???? pls and insight any1 can give soooooooo appreciated thank you
Part of my OCD is that I can’t share my intrusive thoughts and compulsions with anyone. I can’t say it out loud because then that makes it more true? OCD is weird like that.
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