Why do I worry I’ve done something bad in the past when I’m sure I haven’t because it’s something I’d never do The doubt/feeling sometimes is scary and feels real makes me want to look for evidence. Has anyone any advice to help deal with this. Can false memory feel this real and cause such doubts? Is it possible to convince yourself that you have done something bad when you really don’t think you have?
It's possible to convince yourself of just about anything, that's the play ground for OCD. OCD is a doubting condition, a distortion of anything, real or not. The issue isn't the issue. Become a manager of your thoughts, that's what helps. That's the direction of ERP therapy. Believe it or not, you worry because you want to. You need to undue what you've trained yourself to do all these years. It's possible, you can have freedom.
@Mike in PA Hey Mike thank you for replying. I get what your saying but where do I start? How do I become the manger of my thoughts and free myself from the doubts I have especially as they feel so real but at the same time ridiculous. I really do believe that I haven’t done these bad things that my mind keeps trying to trick me in to believing. It’s so scary and upsetting. I appreciate your advice
@caz99 Get a therapist who can help you with the exposures.
Well, ERP therapy teaches us to accept the uncertainty, don't try to figure it out and look for answers by researching, ruminating, etc. Stopping the compulsion, and applying response prevention tools. Positive self dialogue. Sounds like a lot. It took a little time for me to develop and discover what works, and it's different for different themes with me. What do you find yourself doing to respond to these thoughts?
Why? Because you have OCD. Read and learn about OCD here: https://www.treatmyocd.com/ocd-subtypes
Hi Mike I find myself checking for evidence. I believe that is compulsions?
I can’t afford a therapist to help so I’m trying to self help. Along with you kindly giving me advice
Hi :-) has anyone ended up convincing themselves they did something they didn't do? I've been wrestling with wondering if past thoughts were actually memories. For the past month I've reviewed and checked and asked people...nothing point to anything happening and yet as I told myself today, it must have happened, I felt calmer like "okay, well now you know." Part of it is also now wondering what else I may have blacked out. But so far I am more at peace than I have been when I was going through the "what if it did happen?" (Things from 10 years ago).
I keep oscillating between telling myself that a faint memory could’ve been true since it popped into my head in a moment of distress and it was the first immediate memory I had so therefore it must’ve happened, and that I’m just in denial and trying to make it OCD so I can live with the fact that it “might not have happened”. I’m so scared that it did happen and that I’m relying on the fact that I didn’t remember the specifics so that I can have the possibility of it not happening. It’s not something I condone today nor does it reflect who I am nor does it seem like something I would do, but if so, why did it feel so familiar ? I have evidence that my memory is really distorted at times and it combines things and I was in a state of such panic that I might’ve just compiled memories together that is the worse scenario (since it’s something I’m so afraid of happening). But then I keep getting scared that I’m just in denial because I feel a faint familiarity to certain things. I’m honestly so panicked and sad and heartbroken. I keep fearing I did something wrong and faint memories would pop into my head and I would question when it happened and try to remember everything and it would anger me that I couldn’t remember everything. And it feels so wrong for me to just live with the fact that something could’ve happened even though it’s not reflective of who I am today. It feels immoral to not confess. I just want words of comfort and understanding and I just need to know I have hope for the future and I can be happy. Please help.
anyone have any tips to deal with false memory cheating ocd? for example the worry if i did something bad in the past and my brain forgot about it or suppressed the memory. I always feel anxiety and guilt and on edge and always anticipating my next thought, wondering if it’s gonna be a “flashback” of me doing something bad such as cheating. i haven’t had any real evidence, just irrational things and false memories for the most part ive debunked most, but sometimes the false memory gets so extreme and bad and i can end up believing i did it if I don’t find hard solid evidence that I did not do it.
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