Intrusive thoughts (21+ please)

I need advice for intrusive thoughts. I used to feel like I could handle them. They weren’t nearly as bad as the things that related to my actual life. But now, I’m suffering. I haven’t had a sexual experience in over a year that didn’t involve constant intrusive thoughts. Most are somehow related to kids and I keep chasing off the thoughts but it’s so bad. I know you’re supposed to ignore them but I don’t know how I can just ignore that and continue what I’m doing. But they’re coming on stronger. I had one earlier I could not get rid of just as things finished so the thought came on strongly just before my orgasm hit and now I feel absolutely disgusting. I hated the thought and I know it’s not me and it was not enjoyable but it still feels like I was getting off to it. I feel sick. I’m so fucking tired of these thoughts. They’re in my every day life too and it’s all the time. I just want it to stop but ignoring it feels so wrong. What should I do?

BigGyro09

Date posted: 20w

I think in terms of ERP what you have to do is tolerate the thought despite the disturbing context and timing of them. Trying to chase away the thoughts tells your mind that they are a threat and while you try to sit with the thoughts, it's hard to deal with them because the best way you know how to deal with them is shooing them away and not wanting to deal with them. I think if you try to sit with the thoughts for a couple times you will give your brain a new habit that allows you to realize the thoughts are just thoughts. I know this is really really hard though and it feels like this isn't the right thing you should be doing. It can be really difficult to actually go against what your anxiety or intrusive thoughts tell you and it hurts so much. However, you know they aren't you and deep down that's not what you believe about yourself.

I’m Batman

Date posted: 20w

I don’t think ignoring ever really worked for me. It’s like your brain is standing there yelling fire. And you try to ignore it. Brain will just yell fire louder. What works for me is to acknowledge but not engage. Even something simple like “ahah good one brain thanks for that thought” and then go back to what you were doing before. You acknowledge it was there but you did not jump to ruminate about it or solve for anything. This kind of teaches your brain you don’t care. Now your brain is like , “well maybe there is not a fire, carry on human”. Kind of like the poster above said, you are learning you can sit with the anxiety. The goal of this is not to make the thoughts go away. They will always be there. Some days are better than others. The goal is to learn you can handle the anxiety. That ultimately … you don’t care about these thoughts as much as you think you do. They are just thoughts and they don’t define you. Good luck and I hope your day gets better!!

Zephyr1955

Date posted: 14w

I, too, have had this experience, beginning when l was 18. Yes, the thoughts are disturbing but they are not YOU but are the exact opposite to the person you really are. We have these unavoidable ocd-driven thoughts because of the very fact that just thinking about unwanted, intrusive thoughts can trigger them, especially in moments of intimacy. I hope this helps by making you realise you are not alone.

Minnie_2

Date posted: 16w

Anyone have any suggestions?

I have intrusive thoughts about pornography with family, friends or even strangers. I really tried to block them out but it seems they always get triggered.l feel extreme guilt and this massive pit in my stomatach that is just there 24/7 and it WONT GO AWAY! I know this may sound weird but my mum knows about this as she noticed something was wrong, but every time I get a thought I always feel the need to tell her i keep thinking that I have done something wrong and that my guilt will go away if i tell BUT IT DOESN’T It just gets worse and another thing pop in and another. ITS A NEVER ENDING CYCLE and it seems like I just can’t break free. What do I do? Anyone who has also gone through this how did you recover and get your life back?

Anonymous

Date posted: 13w

Intentional intrusive thoughts during pleasure and masterbation

Hey guys today I just wanted to come here and share an experience I have and I generally don't know what to do I feel like a terrible person for having these thoughts and for thinking them I genuinely don't know what to do I don't know the signs behind it and why I think the way I do but it's honestly driving me crazy I don't know what to do I have a pornography addiction for a long time it's where it's like anytime I'm an intimate moment or am masturbating my head just thinks these weird things always the same repetitive thoughts to of family members your younger sibling or a young child I myself am a 17 year old and I feel so disgusted I feel like I can't live my life anymore I feel like I'm a criminal cuz like it feels like I chose this these thoughts like I actively think them I don't know the signs behind it and I just really need professional help if there's any like therapist here that could fill me in that would be nice I would also like to know if you guys had any similar experiences because for me I feel like I have to rewatch pornography and do it right without the thoughts cuz I feel like the thoughts are just like to prevalent anytime I do anything related to masturbation why do I think this way I'm also just trying to be as honest as I can with this I'm not trying to make myself I guess a victim I'm trying to hold myself accountable if I actually am like this because I also have doubts in my head that tells me that I enjoy these things I feel like I'm going crazy someone help because it feels so real like I acted on them or that I was pleasuring myself to the thoughts and not towards the video it's just how can I live with myself you know also during it it felt like I was thinking the thought for a long period of time like it was dominating my head so I couldn't focus it felt l

happygirl15

Date posted: 10w

POCD/ Intrusive thoughts & Images

so I’ve been seeking therapy for my OCD for a few years. The theme that I’ve been dealing with most recently is the fear of becoming a pedophile, which then has led to intrusive images of me doing things to kids.Which now is just causing me so much distress and 24/7 constant thought cycle. I am starting to not be able to tell the difference between thoughts that are wanted/ unwanted- the line has become some blurry and these things are starting to feel like someothing i want to do. My brain keeps telling me to just test these thoughts and the “maybe”or”i don’t know” isn’t working. This has become such a barrier because the second layer is that I’m afraid that if I just let the thoughts be there it’ll make me be OK with doing those things and the fear is what’s keeping me from actually doing something inappropriate. It’s also transitioned into intrusive thoughts and images of me doing something very disgusting to my dog and that when I’m cuddling with him I get the thoughts to just do it or try it to see if i am actually a p*do. it’s almost like the compulsion would be to do the inappropriate thing, even though I know it’s wrong just to see how it would make me feel. I feel like i can’t control these urges even though i’ve never acted on it. At any point i could just do it. I’ve never had these thoughts before up until about a year and a half ago when my friend‘s boyfriend got arrested for soliciting a minor then all these thoughts came to life.Has anyone experienced something like this and have any advice?

POCD

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Intrusive thoughts (21+ please)

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