Am I experiencing a false memory, and how to differentiate it from reality?

False Memory?

I deal with false memories, I’ve had a few that have been pretty bad, but normally I’ve been able to tell myself “hey, this is false.” I remembered something a few months ago, and a genuinely don’t know if it’s false? When I first remembered it, it never crossed my mind at all that it could be false. I just assumed it was entirely true. But now that I’ve been thinking about it, there is a possibility that it could be false. It supposedly took place last year during the fall or winter, I remembered it last august. It’s an extremely extremely specific scenario, and the memory is kinda complex. I also vaguely remember remembering it earlier, but it now affecting me that much? Although that could have just been having intrusive thoughts related to the subject. With my confusion on whether or not this memory is false of course comes my ocd shoving it’s way into everything. Something my brain has been telling me recently is “if the memory could be false then maybe only parts of it are and you’re actually just a terrible person” (that would make more sense if I explained the memory). And now I have to keep reminding myself that it’s either all true or it’s all fake, because our ocd would not produce the “better part” of the memory without producing the “worse part”.

Username: LillyXLillyX

Date posted: 41w ago

Hi personally with my experience with this I find that I can have a false memory and start to obsess over it so much that I start to remember real details of things that actually happened and mix it into my false memory if that makes sense? So you have mixed in real details & I sympathise as it makes it feel as real as it can possibly get. Would you say you have quite severe ocd?

Username: MarsPepper612MarsPepper612

Date posted: 41w ago

@LillyX Yes, my ocd is severe. Your explanation makes quite a bit of sense actually.

Username: xokyaxoxokyaxo

Date posted: 41w ago

My ocd has taken a real memory and added false things into it. It seems so real but I know it isn’t. Ocd can do so many things to mess with our minds.

Username: MarsPepper612MarsPepper612

Date posted: 41w ago

I did not mean to put a TW on this, but there is one anyways? Weird.

Username: FreaRogers22FreaRogers22

Date posted: 41w ago

Hey there, I'm really sorry you're going through this, but hang in there! 🌟 I've struggled with similar OCD challenges, and what was a game-changer for me was this free AI OCD therapy tool called "unstuck" that my therapist recommended. Check it out at unstuckmyocd.com/try. It's designed to help with exactly what you're describing, by providing personalized, step-by-step support when your OCD tries to take over with these false memory concerns. It's like having a guide right there with you! I totally understand how tormenting it can be to deal with false memories and the uncertainty they bring. It's like your mind is a maze and every turn feels like a dead end, right? I remember spending hours trying to dissect my own thoughts, only to end up more confused and exhausted. It's so tough, but remember, your OCD is like a bully trying to trick you into a debate you can't win. Just know that you're not alone in this fight, and it's okay to seek out tools and support to help you along the way. I'm not a fan of promoting stuff either, but I truly believe that "unstuck" can make a difference for you as it did for me. You've got this, and I'm here for you! 💪

Username: deputydean

Date posted: 5y ago

Question for you guys, Those of you who suffer from HOCD or POCD and have vivid memories that contradict who you feel you are, how do you manage those memories? I had an OCD/anxiety attack that clinged on to the memories around me being curious after being bullied in school. My OCD keeps telling me that I enjoyed those experiences more than I should have. Even though it ended in tears and me knowing that that's not who I am, my OCD keeps telling me that it's an indication of my being gay or bi. I realize that some of those memories may be fake, but in the scope of acceptance of uncertainty let's assume that everything is right. My therapist tried to calm me down by saying that this is really normal and expected in young children and that it has nothing to do with who we are, especially since I was interested in girls and always fantasized about chased after them from a very young age.

Username: myocdstory

Date posted: 4y ago

"pOCD and zOCD false memories" I'm so sorry for venting... I need help... Or just someone to lend me an ear. I'm suffering from really serious, really bad false memories that are not only illegal but also make me feel like a monster. Basically, my false memories are extended to these two topics only and are always of a sexual nature. 1. That I used my pets as tools to obtain sexual gratification. (and or touched them) 2. That I touched a child (during an actual real event) inappropriately. I don't have images for these false memories... It's more fears than anything else! I feel like I forgot about them or I'm just in denial. The 1st one comes from a situation where I masturb- near my cat. (she was in my bed but I can't recall where she was standing). There's also another situation that I have also masturb- near my dog but in this case, she wasn't near me. Just in the same room as me, in separate beds. The 2nd is from a real event where I played with this child in the pool. I can only remember one physical interaction that was giving her a piggyback ride. In conclusion, I'm so afraid these are real and if they are real, then I should be punished! I don't want to go to jail because I'm terrified of that place so the only option is to kill myself. I don't deserve to be happy or even alive...

Username: Anonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

POCD/False Memory Episode

POCD has become the most exhausting and disturbing intrusive thoughts to me. It’s so frustrating because I would never do anything related to that in my life but now I can’t even look at my brother/his wife’s pictures of their kids because of the intrusive thoughts. I recently had an exhausting intrusive thought that I still haven’t completely gotten over since last Wednesday. I was at a restaurant with my friends, and I went to the bathroom and was waiting for a stall/urinal to open up. A kid walked out of one of the stalls, I did not say anything, I did not do anything at all but of course my intrusive thoughts started spiraling out of control saying “what if you just inappropriately touched him or grabbed him or said something messed up” and all sorts of stuff. It definitely did not help that we smoked weed before which I know made my anxiety spike even more with the intrusive thoughts. But I know I never did that and would never do such a thing, plus my friend was in the bathroom in the other stall and another random person was at the urinal so obviously if anything were to happen they would’ve been aware. But I made the mistake when I got home with going through my usual disproving process and listing all the reasons why I did not do that and why I never would do that and recalling all of the people who were in there with me and how they would’ve known if that happened and recalling small details like joking with my friend about “being that guy” because he was not about to wash his hands and him saying “usually I am that guy but since we’re about to get food I’ll wash my hands.” And then me holding the door for a random guy plus my friend and then my friend saying “see he’s that kind of guy” because he did not wash his hands. I know I wouldn’t be able to remember small details like that and just completely forget or be uncertain with something as serious as those intrusive thoughts. But the OCD keeps saying “how do you know for sure, are you certain, what if you’re suppressing it”? Does anyone else deal with this? If so, how do you get through this?

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Am I experiencing a false memory, and how to differentiate it from reality?

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