June123
- Date posted
- 4w ago
False memory
When you have a false memory, can you actually see it happening in your mind?
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 4w ago
Yes, with False Memory OCD, you can actually "see" the event happening in your mind. This happens because OCD takes normal memory doubts and amplifies them with vivid mental imagery, intrusive thoughts, and emotional distress, making the false memory feel real. Why Does It Feel So Real? Mental Rehearsal: The more you think about the scenario, the more detailed it becomes, making it seem like an actual memory. Emotional Intensity: OCD attaches anxiety, guilt, or fear to the thought, tricking your brain into believing it must have happened. Imagination Filling in Gaps: Your brain tries to "complete the story" by adding false details, creating a realistic but inaccurate mental image. Memory Checking: Constantly replaying the thought to “figure it out” only strengthens the false sense of certainty. How to Respond to False Memory OCD: Stop going over the memory in your head—it fuels the obsession. Recognize that the vivid mental image is part of the disorder, not proof of reality. Refocus on the Present: Engage in another task instead of spiraling into rumination. I hope that this is helpful!
TwilightprincessxTwilightprin...
- Date posted
- 4w ago
@Krista Mooney Is it possible for an image to pop into your head and instantly you think what if that was a memory?
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 4w ago
Yes, absolutely. False memories can feel incredibly real and vivid, to the point where you can actually "see" them happening in your mind like a mental movie. OCD loves to latch onto this, making you doubt whether the memory is real or not. The more you try to analyze or figure out if it really happened, the more real it can feel—but feelings aren’t facts. The best thing you can do is recognize that this is an OCD trap and practice sitting with the uncertainty instead of trying to prove or disprove the memory. It’s tough, but you’re not alone in this!
TwilightprincessxTwilightprin...
- Date posted
- 4w ago
Look at Ali greymond’s youtube videos on false memory - helped me a lot
TwilightprincessxTwilightprin...
- Date posted
- 4w ago
@Twilightprincessx And yes it can I’m experiencing it currently and it’s horrible
TwilightprincessxTwilightprin...
- Date posted
- 4w ago
@Hi_123 I’d really suggest looking at the resource I previously mentioned - I’m not the best person to help right now as I’m still very much battling this myself but avoid doom scrolling because it really doesn’t help. Try to resist compulsion as much as you can
dee012dee012
- Date posted
- 4w ago
Yes!! :(
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hopefulxmess
- Date posted
- 22d ago
Can intrusive thoughts come with false emotions?
I’ve asked this before and got no response but can ocd try to make you feel a certain way that you don’t actually feel? Such as telling you you’re jealous or upset in a situation when you don’t even care or feel that way at all. Can ocd cause you to feel the emotion along with the intrusive thought even though it’s not your true feelings?
ㅤ
- Date posted
- 19d ago
Do I owe a confession? False memory OCD.
TW; 18+, SA I live at home with my mother and my sister. I love them more than I could ever put into words. We have been through so much, and each hardship has brought us closer together. We are a trio. We are three, or we are not whole. More to the point, on one unsuspecting night, I suddenly 'remembered' sexually abusing my sister when she was a baby (sixteen years ago). Four months down the line, I now know that I experienced a false memory. The problem that I have is that I don't have 100% certainty. As we know, we can't have. Therefore, in my opinion, I believe that I owe them a confession. I could be a predator that preyed upon my baby sister. Who am I to hide this stomach-turning secret? Who am I to take the risk? I am monstrous for hiding this from them. They deserve to know, and I'm playing God. I believe that I should confess, and they should decide what action they want to take against me. Why shouldn't I confess?
Anonymous
- Date posted
- 15d ago
HELP PLS I NEED ADVICE
Ii spoke w my bf this weekend and he mentioned that he has thoughts just like me, but his don't bother him like me. I then felt a lot better and he tried dissecting one of his thoughts like I usually do and realized it felt more real for him after. That made me realize that none of my thoughts were ever true and I blew them up. However, yesterday I had a thought ab “wait wut if you liked that one guy? How dare you bc youre supposed to love your bf and not secretly like someone else” and treated it as I usually did bc I accidentally wanted to see if it was true but didn't rlly but I would check to see if it was there and now that thought feels so so so real now and I feel really bad how do Ik it's not real? I feel so bad and guilty bc lividly this makes 0 sense but it feels so prominent. It felt pretty real when it happened yesterday too. And now I feel awful bc how is it possible after my clarity the other day? Why does it feel so prominent 😞😞😞
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