Today I had my first appointment with my new therapist in a clinic and she told me that my thoughts could be because of my past trauma and that it’s what makes most people pedos. I’m so in distress right now, I don’t want to hurt people but she made me feel like I’m disgusting
When it comes to OCD, it doesn't help us to focus on figuring out what came first, "the chicken or the egg," rather, what we want to do differently when those thoughts/feelings/urges arise that OCD wants to hyper focus on or try to figure out. YOU ARE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS, and FEELINGS DO NOT WHOLLY REPRESENT REALITY.
@Gabriel Becerra Thank you so much for this, I truly appreciate it
I’m sorry she said that :( she was right about the first part, ocd can come from past trauma. but the second part doesn’t apply to all people of course. POCD is a real thing sooo?? Maybe try to sit with the thought. Maybe what seems to be pocd is not and I might be a p Maybe it’s actually pocd and I’m so distressed for a reason Not gonna figure it out right now ^that is easier said than done, but it’s better to just sit with the uncertainty. trying to figure it out will only send you in loops. let the thoughts, feelings, whatever just be there and observe them with no judgement but don’t engage with them. “Maybe maybe not, idk” Don’t give ur thoughts too much meaning
Drop that therapist that is insanely messed up to do.
@regretfulrain I will, I’m cancelling every single appointment
Hi Insephy! Welcome. I'm sorry you experienced this. CBT skills can help with reframing thoughts-feelings-and behaviors. What kinds of things make you a beautiful person?
@Katelyn Wamhoff I’m thinking of trying therapy here in this app. I’m so tired of being told different things and how it makes me disgusting. I like to draw, sing, dance, watch movies and tv shows, I like to hangout with my friends and treat them to food but with these thoughts and feelings it’s so hard to enjoy things I usually love
@Insephy - I really do hope you consider the therapy provided by our therapists who are experts in working with intrusive thoughts here at NOCD! Our treatment is evidenced-based, meaning it's been studied and shown to be effective in helping people get better and stay better. We have been able to help folks achieve around 35% reduction in obsessive-compulsive symptoms in their FIRST MONTH of active treatment.. seriously so amazing to see how impactful using the Gold-standard of treatment can be. I also have OCD myself and nothing compares to being in the therapy space with someone who TRULY understands that we are not our thoughts. Hoping the best for you!!
@Jordan Driskell Thank you so much, I’ll consider it! Truly appreciate all the support this community has
Piggy backing on what Gabriel had to say, I'm going to say that OCD intrusive thoughts are just that - thoughts, words, letters, vocabulary. It's not reality. It feels so real doesn't it? That's what OCD wants. It wants to make you miserable, scared and terrified so that you spend all your time consumed in anxiety trying to figure it all out - right now, for sure! Then you lose being present in the moment, in your day, connecting with the world and people around you. Trigger warning: I work with NOCD members everyday who have POCD. It is a real thing. Let me ask you this. What happens when you get an unwanted thought? Does it scare you? Are you terrified you might be a P? What do you think a pedophile thinks when they get those thoughts? Do you think they are scared and worried and terrified? No! They like those thoughts and even work to figure out ways to find their next victim. That's not you. You have POCD and can seek therapy from a ERP specialist who will help you learn to sit in your anxiety, accept how awful that feels and OCD will be pissed! Over time you and your brain will not be so afraid of those words, letters - thoughts. You will be in control of your responses to the unwanted thoughts - not OCD.
@Sydney Johnston Thank you so much for this! I truly appreciate it. My thoughts have calmed down and I have been able to enjoy life a bit better. I still have moments where I’m anxious about my thoughts and feelings. I’ll consider getting therapy here for my thoughts. Once again, thank you!
Hi Insephy, I'm so sorry to hear you're struggling. Unfortunately, not many therapists are knowledgeable on OCD, which makes finding the right treatment difficult. I assure you all therapists at NOCD are knowledgeable on OCD, including POCD, and can provide you with the effective treatment to manage these intrusive thoughts. I encourage you to reach out and see if you have a better experience with someone who understands your symptoms a little better :)
Most therapist can NOT recognise OCD and POCD is not on their RADAR. It is the therapist, not you.
That is really harmful and hurtful of that therapist to say. I am so sorry you experienced that. Have you considered meeting with a NOCD therapist instead? They are all OCD specialists and they know that POCD thoughts are NOT a reflection of what someone actually wants or desires. They know how to help you find relief and peace from the hell of POCD too.
@Andrea Wells I’ll consider meeting with a NOCD therapist. I’ll just need some time to think
@Insephy - Totally valid! I'd probably need some time to think too if I were in your shoes. It really sucks that the therapist said those things to you. Take all the time you need. I'm here to chat if you need to vent or need support. I've experienced POCD thoughts too. I've also been through NOCD therapy and am doing a lot better, and I'm happy to answer any questions about treatment if you have any. Take care of yourself <3. You got this.
@Andrea Wells Thank you so much! I truly appreciate it. I’m so glad I’m not alone🫶
Hi there, I hear your first appointment may have left you with inaccurate information because trauma and OCD is still widely misunderstood. I invite you to find therapy that can help you heal and give you hope. You should not ever have to feel disgusting. Have you considered PE or ERP with an OCD specialist?
So I was on a hat chat gpt and it said that people who are non-offenders experience distress and anxiety and disgust and depression and they feel ashamed of being a non-offender like WHAT like that's honestly terrifying and I'm so scared because that's how I've been feeling like when I'm out I get anxiety too especially when I see a younger person I always been attracted to MEN my whole life can people turn into monsters and I don't even care if they have problems if there attracted to kids then there sick in the head like don't care like this has been sharing me soo much and the worst part about it is that they said some are in denial or suppress their attractions I'm so done...... I can not do this this is too much I would rather be gone from this earth than find out that I might be one like you have to be kidding me if you're attracted to young people and desire that you're sick and dead to me you're a monster I don't care like its disgusting. for this eole some people are suffering from POCD like me are scared to think about that and I'm terrified.
my therapist suggested that some of my less bad rocd intrusive thoughts are actually mine, and not intrusive. She ended up taking it back when she saw the alarm on my face and saw how panicked I got. I feel really freaking anxious. We were only talking about it because I mentioned a lot of doubt surrounding those less bad ones, but it only filled me with more doubt. I don’t want those thoughts to be mine. I really don’t. I feel scared and so discouraged after this session. I feel scared about the worst thoughts, what if those aren’t intrusive. I feel so much doubt.
(20f) I have been dealing with severe OCD symptoms for as long as I can remember. I recently got diagnosed about a year ago, and even though I know that these thoughts are probably my ocd, I still cant shake them. Growing up I was always very sexually curious. I was sheltered from a lot of things, as I went to a private school and things like sexuality and sex were never talked about. I remember doing some weird sexual things growing up (never affecting another person), looking up taboo sexual things, etc. I always seemed to become aroused no matter what the situation was, even if I just saw someone getting changed. I have no recollection of being SA'd, so i'm wondering where this all came from? Was I just curious and wanted to experiment and try different things? Or am I really a pervert, pedophile, etc. I have all these thoughts racing through my head and it's killing me. Everything I did as a kid I look back on and am disgusted, as those don't align with my views at all today. I never thought growing up thinking these things were wrong, or actually realize what they were until I got older. I'd like to think it was just my curiosity, but i'm not sure. What if i'm in denial and actually do like these things? I just need to know if theres something wrong w me, I cant keep going on like this. Could really use some advice.
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