- Date posted
- 5y
- Date posted
- 5y
I am a parent. I have 3 children. Ocd usually clings onto what you love the most, so, obviously my obsessions and fears revolve around my children, but I know I have been a good parent, you have to challenge your ocd daily, cause you can’t be stuck in your compulsions cause you have little people that depend on you, so in a way it has been helpful to me. You can try therapy before you start your family. But don’t be afraid, you can do this.
- Date posted
- 5y
i’m definitely invested in therapy. thank you so much for the advice. it makes me hopeful!
- Date posted
- 5y
I unexpectedly became a father after being told my ex partner couldn’t conceive by drs.. next thing she was pregnant.. my daughters 2.5 yrs old now an I wouldn’t change it for the world.. yes I do get some horrible obsessions about what ifs maybes an could haves but I see my daughter smile everyday and every night before bed she tells me she loves me and I get a big kiss.. no matter how I’m feelin that turns me around every time, so to answer your question yeah you can be a parent, a damn good one too, but always remember noones perfect and there’s no book on parenting, everyone gets something wrong at some point.. but as long your child is happy and loved, there’s nothing more in the world you could ask for
- Date posted
- 5y
this made me tear up. thank you so much for the advice and kind words. you must make your little girl so happy. ?
- Date posted
- 5y
same question here
- Date posted
- 5y
Its what we’re all here for, to offload and support each other and it’s the happiness she brings me that makes the difference ?
- Date posted
- 5y
Yes of course! But I have a secret to tell. You can actually defeat OCD. Go to the International OCD Foundation website and find a therapist in your area. You can defeat this monster so you can live in peace and take your freedom back :)
- Date posted
- 5y
would love to hear the experiences of folks who have become parents. ?
- Date posted
- 5y
What kind of OCD do you have?
Related posts
- Date posted
- 23w
Please read this. I’ve had ocd pretty much a lot of my life but never knew what it was until my senior year of highschool. I’m 21 with 2 kids and i believe i’ve had pocd a little bit before my daughter was born (which was 8 months ago). It made me start looking at all kids differently and i hate it. But it really started triggering me about 3 months ago. I’ve been thinking if i’d intentionally touched or harmed my kids the wrong way, or any kids for that matter. This started giving me false memories (or at least hope they are). I’ve been having panic attacks, yelling at myself, punching walls, praying, and even thoughts of ending my own life. I grew up in a severe toxic household throughout my childhood and teenage life. I’ve never wished that on my kids since i became a dad. I wanna give them the life i never got. I look back my photos of my children and i feel like i’m a complete fraud of a dad. I cannot look at my kids or be around them a lot of times. I can’t hold my daughter right. I can’t change their diaper when they need it. Even my son came and was hugging on me the other night while i was watching tv and i acted like a stranger to him. I can very little do this stuff sometimes because it’s either i get relief or i push my thoughts as far back as i can. I get scared if i did something to not just my kids, but any other kids in the past. I have such a a great life and such a beautiful family. It was hard and stressful at first being young with a family but i couldn’t be more thankful at all for them. I’m just so lost and stressed right now that i just don’t know what to do anymore
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 22w
Hi everyone, I’m Cayla. I’m a mom that’s lived with OCD since childhood, but my breaking point came more recently after having my son. I was consumed by terrifying thoughts—What if I hurt him? What if I did something awful without realizing it? I was so afraid of my own mind that I couldn’t be alone with him. The shame and exhaustion were unbearable, and I convinced myself I was broken. In 2024, I finally sought help. ERP therapy at NOCD was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it saved my life. Even now, I have tough days, but I know I don’t have to be ruled by OCD. When my 12 year old daughter began showing signs of OCD, I felt overwhelmed with guilt. I never wanted her to go through what I had, but I knew what to do. I told her that I have OCD too and made sure she knew it wasn’t her fault—and that she wasn’t alone. One of the hardest parts of this journey was trusting someone else with my daughter’s OCD. I knew how vulnerable it feels to share intrusive thoughts, and I wanted her to feel safe. Her NOCD therapist was able to establish trust and genuine empathy from the start, and that relationship gave her the confidence to face ERP head-on. Seeing her build that trust made me certain she was in the right hands. ERP has helped both of us reclaim our lives, and it is beautiful to see my daughter managing her condition and making visible progress. Parenting with OCD while raising a child with OCD isn’t talked about enough, but I know so many parents are struggling with these same challenges. If you have questions about managing OCD while parenting, helping your child through ERP, or breaking cycles of guilt, drop them below—I’d love to share what I’ve learned. I’ll be answering all of the questions I receive in real-time today 4-5pm ET.
- Date posted
- 21w
Overwhelmed
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond