Harm

I’m recovering from this where I had a fear of being alone with my toddler, because I thought I would snap and hurt her. This isnt all the time but in high stress moments with work especially I get those thoughts. I was so ashamed because I never heard of harm ocd but researching it, which unfortunately is a compulsion of mine as well, helped me understand that it exists. I’m in therapy now which is also helpful along with medication. I make myself be alone with them to not give in to the fear. But when it’s happening it’s so so scary. I feel deeply for anyone experiencing this.

Yes, I’m 30 and I’ve always wanted to be a mother and when we considered starting a family recently I was diagnosed with OCD. So we put that on hold for now. Just because I’m really in the thick of it at the moment. I don’t want to give you reassurance, as that is a big compulsion of many, myself included, but I will say that the OCD monster attacks what you care about most. It directly goes against your values and it will make your world smaller and smaller if you let it. I let my world get smaller before I realized I had OCD and now I’m working to fight back to where I was before. You’re not alone.

Hi Emma_cool! I second UUCM - This worry can be very common in OCD. Not only is it scary to consider, it’s also impossible to answer with the level of certainty that OCD demands (100%, absolute, unquestionable certainty.) It can be pretty easy to fall into a rumination trap trying to get reassurance around a fear like this, which is why it’s important to get some guidance and support in the process. If you’re not already in ERP treatment, I would encourage you to look into it and see if it sounds like a good fit. You can reach out to the NOCD care team and schedule a call through the homepage of this app :) Here are some articles that may be helpful - https://www.treatmyocd.com/what-is-ocd/common-fears/fear-of-getting-pregnant-ocd https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/what-is-harm-ocd-guide-to-ocd-subtype

Yup! It's actually one of the main reasons I don't have kids (not the right answer because that's avoidance). I'm now at that "older" age of 38 and just genuinely don't want kids and neither does my wife. But if you want kids other than the worrying, then don't let OCD control your life and what you want.

Unfortunately yeah I have had this thought before but it’s the same as the other thoughts you have relating to harm OCD in my opinion.

I have all aspects of ocd and I won’t lie my has been horrific since my daughter for two years it’s really made it angry but please don’t put off having children if that’s what you want . It’s horrific and the guilt attached makes me suicidal but then I come out the other side it does happen lot since her tho x