- Date posted
- 25w
Help!
How can I deal with False Memory OCD? I am struggling with ruminating thoughts, and trying to figure out false memories! How can I enjoy my day without figuring it out?
How can I deal with False Memory OCD? I am struggling with ruminating thoughts, and trying to figure out false memories! How can I enjoy my day without figuring it out?
The issue with OCD - you will never actually figure it out. In my years of doing this no one with false memory OCD has ever gotten to a point where they were able to fully trust their memory. I know that may sound triggering, but the nature of OCD will just not allow it. If OCD = Doubt, then how, can you give OCD an answer that it will accept if OCD will doubt every answer that you give it. This is a trick of OCD to just get you to do more compulsions. You will never achieve the level of certainty that OCD demands, and no one ever has or ever will, otherwise it would not be OCD. If you are looking for help in dealing with this, I hope that you will consider reaching out for help from a specialist who can assist. We would be happy to assist here at NOCD at any time.
this is very scary to consider, as someone who also struggles with real events/false memory ocd but is also very sobering and comforting. my brain desperately wants me to figure everything out or one day get to a point where I'll be able to separate fact from fiction (OCD: the doubter). Do you have tips for how to resist mentally reviewing a false memory or real events? It's very hard to resist the compulsion when the thoughts are incredibly disturbing and upsetting.
@moon027097 I understand the struggle
@Tony Davies You get me ha
@moon027097 You ok?
@Tony Davies hey! sorry for not replying, but sort of lol it kinda sucks rn but im sitting with the discomfort
I wish I could give you an answer to that, but all I know is the feeling is extremely distressing. Try and calm yourself down and remember what type of person you are and if what you think you did or have done is actually something you would do as a person. I used to tell myself if I have to question if it happened, it more than likely didnt, you would know. Much much easier said than done because when the thought comes again your body heightens and is consumed by it. I wish you nothing more than peace
@jessmini Thanks, yes I hate false memory ocd it has you questioning and then you believe the false story and make it a reality
@Hi_123 Im here
I would use the phrase maybe or maybe not to not actively engage with the false memory. Try to bring your attention into the present
Hi Tony, the key to "dealing with" OCD is learning to sit with the distressing thoughts without doing anything about them. For example. Try using maybe, maybe not statements of uncertainty vs. trying to figuring the thought out. Maybe I did something like......, Maybe I didn't, I can tolerate the uncertainty. OCD doesn't have to rule your life. If you would like to learn more about OCD and how to deal with your symptoms book a free call at: https://www.treatmyocd.com/
@Darlene Friend Thank you, I am really struggling with false memory ocd, where it’s coming up with false stories
Run away from rumination — that is the best way I can describe it. It feels wrong and uncomfortable because you are not letting your OCD get what it needs to survive. When you notice you are ruminating, physically stop and say, “It does not matter,” then refocus on the present and continue with whatever you are doing. I once read a metaphor in an OCD workbook that compared your mind to training a puppy. When the puppy strays from the path, you would not yank the leash and hurt it. You would gently guide it back and redirect it. You have to treat your mind the same way. It is going to stray and go wherever it finds importance, but you just have to gently guide it back. It is hard, and it is going to feel like the opposite of what you want to do, but just do your best. What helped me the most was thinking of it as running away from compulsions. It feels wrong not to do them, it feels like avoidance, but I eventually realized that I should not be doing them anyway. Running away from them is what I should do, so keep running from compulsions.
Really good advice and help Thanks much
How do I get out of the false memory by not replying it to believe it?
I am diagnosed with OCD, ADHD, and mild depression. But my OCD symptoms are so prominent in my daily life where it feels debilitating. It comes in waves, there will be months with very minor symptoms and other times where it comes in random hitting me like a truck making me rethink life. I grew up having intrusive thoughts of all types, and a lot of them sent me over the edge because I couldn’t understand why things of such sort would cross my mind, things that I’m sure to this day that I’m incapable of or would never want to actually do. Yet I find myself in a constant cycle of trying to dig deep in the past and trying to figure out if I ever acted on any of the intrusive thoughts I can remember, yet ofc have no recollection of acting on them because they most likely didn’t happen. However, not having concrete proof of these things makes me not want to see another day sometimes. It is so hard to move into daily basis like this. I’m also in a happy healthy relationship and sometimes I get these thoughts of “what if I’ve done something awful during the relationship (for example, cheat, dishonesty, etc.) and can’t remember?” I know I would never do anything intentionally to harm my relationship and I think that maybe the idea of not having my partner sends me down a rabbit hole to think all these things. This mental fight is getting harder and harder. It feels unbearable. Does anyone have some fruit for thought, relate, or have any tips?
Hey all, I've been okay for a while, but today I'm having a hard time with my sexually-themed false memory thoughts and the compulsion to try and "figure it out". While I've learned enough over time that "figuring it out" doesn't work, I'm just feeling extra overwhelmed today. Stuff that happened over 7 years ago is really getting to me, I'm in this limbo state just sitting here with it all but... ...anyone have any general tips for false-memory OCD?
False memory OCD is such a pest. It’s really hard to deal with the feelings of certainty and anxiety, trying to discern if things are false memories or real memories, what if they’re real memories, what if my OCD is right, what if because my OCD was right about one thing it’s also right about this thing, what if it knows something I don’t or haven’t realized yet, what if the real memory it’s taking from is actually false and the false memory is true. And it’s worse because the theme and false memory is so high stakes and it’s terrifying to consider what if it’s actually true and the consequences, but that only feeds the OCD, and it doesn’t help that I keep mentally prodding at it to see if the feelings of certainty are still there. It makes the false memories seem so real, and it’s like it wants me to admit the false memory actually happened when I don’t know that it did, and I’ll never know. I try to sit with the uncertainty but my OCD makes this feel so real and it creates so much certainty that this did happen that it’s so hard to keep telling myself that I don’t know, that this could be a real memory or it might not be and I’ll never know, and to remember that this came up a few days ago and I was pretty sure it was a false memory and I was handling it. Like remembering the false memory made it an actual memory. I have no idea if any of this makes any sense - it’s getting so meta lol. Reading all of this, it’s no wonder it’s so hard to sit with the uncertainty about if it’s a real memory or false. It’s been on my mind over the last week, too, which probably doesn’t help things, because the deeper I try to delve into it, the more complicated it becomes, and trying to point out that logically, it doesn’t make any sense, doesn’t help because my OCD comes up with scenarios and what-ifs and ways that this could have happened. It’s really tough to sit with when my OCD is so convinced this is true and it wants me to be convinced, too. I could really use some support, validation, encouragement, anything. If you made it this far, thanks for reading - please take care of yourselves. ❤️🤗
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