False memories

I’m having a false memory (at least I think it is) of something that happened 12 years ago. It all of a sudden popped in my head this morning out of nowhere. I’ve never thought of this before so I’m not sure what even caused this to pop in my head! Since it was so long ago I literally cannot prove what actually happened to stop asking myself “did I do that?”. How do you get through these thoughts? I’ve had extreme anxiety about it all morning. I feel like my life will never be the same and I will have to live like this forever! I feel guilt and shame over something I most likely didn’t even do!

AntoniOcd

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y

Aside from seeking to prove whether or not a memory is accurate, is there anything you could do about it now? Like someone who might benefit from an apology, or some damage that you could practically fix? Police to run and hide from? If not, maybe there’s no need to agonize over the possible events of the past. All we can ever DO to be a good person are the decisions we make for the future.

Bossybacon

Date posted: 1y

@AntoniOcd The thing is if it’s true it is so bad it’s not forgivable. I wouldn’t even forgive myself. I feel like if it’s true I deserve to live with guilt and shame. I don’t think it is true but now I am confused and it is making me feel crazy. I don’t know what to do.

AntoniOcd

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y

@Bossybacon Oh okay. Well if someone deliberately does something to significantly harm an innocent person, (if that’s what you’d judge as unforgivable) wouldn’t you expect that to be unforgettable ? If it didn’t leave any obvious lasting harm to even know if it ever happened, and could be forgotten about, it’s probably forgivable. But the more you try to construct this “memory” the more vivid it will seem. But human memory is notoriously unreliable, so I’d care most about what actual effects might have been caused, whether they can be resolved or if anyone is actually in need of you being held accountable. If no one else seems affected, it probably doesn’t matter or didn’t happen.

izabela’socd

Date posted: 1y

Hunny I know exactly where you’re coming from, been there

Newerthannewb82

Date posted: 1y

🙏

No matric ce...

Date posted: 1y

Are you seeing a therapist?

Bossybacon

Date posted: 1y

@KeerenJialal Yes, but this is a new thing I have never experienced until today! I am freaked out!

No matric ce...

Date posted: 1y

Sounds like You have false memory ocd ,your therapist will do erp for that theme its common for themes to change

Twilightprin...

Date posted: 24w

Some advice please- I feel like my life is falling

I went out 2 years ago with some friends and I can’t remember some of the night - we went to a house party and my friends say nothing happened but I’m so afraid that I cheated on my partner and don’t remember it. It’s consuming my every minute and I can’t let it go. I was reading up on false memory ocd the other day and it triggered me into thinking what if something I imagined happening actually happened and I don’t know what to do and I’m scared that because I imagined something a certain way that if it wasn’t the same thing I imagined that it must be true

eb123456789

Date posted: 22w

Identifying Intrusive thoughts / false memory

Without trying to seek reassurance, I’m wondering if anyone has insight on identifying an intrusive thought vs reality. Something that’s always really helped ground me in moments of false memory ocd is clearly remembering the exact moment the thought arose and how it started as “what if I cheated and don’t remember.” Then the images come and are extremely distressing, but I’ve always found some comfort in coming back to that moment of “this started as what if.” It feels like my brain is almost getting more creative with the thoughts now, and I’ve been having probably the worst anxiety of my life the past couple months after another intrusive thought entered my mind. I woke up after a night drinking and thought to myself “did you kiss your friend and don’t remember?” (Didn’t happen, undeniably proved). The rest of the day I stayed anxious about other things I could have done and poured over all my memories of the night. Then the next day I finally had found some peace based on all the evidence from my friends who were with me that nothing bad happened. I then thought “what about when you went to the bathroom,” which I hadn’t really been thinking about before, and then my mind immediately started flashing with images of me performing sex acts in the bathroom with some person who has no name, face, details, or anything I remember about interacting with them. I think I’m just concerned that this was a moment of genuine memory recall since I hadn’t been thinking about the bathroom before, and it was more of a sudden flash of images and “did you do that” vs “what if you did that.” I’m wondering how others are able to identify that something is an intrusive thought vs reality.

dee012

Date posted: 21w

false memory help

any advice for when you get false memories that feel really real? especially something that had JUST happened, it’s like ur brain distorts it. i feel like i do something wrong 24/7 then i get over it and ocd latched onto something new

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False memories

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