I see people post about how they feel like their thoughts are real. For me personally I deal with sexual intrusive thoughts and they feel real to me because it feels like I enjoy them. And when I say “it feels like I like them” that’s the same for me as saying “I like them” but some people say that’s different. Idk just curious as to what you guys feel!
This is a good metaphysical question. From a philosophical view, our soul has different parts. Some parts deal with reason and choice (like the intellect and will), and others react without our full control (like our emotions and physical responses). So when a thought feels real or even feels like you liked it, that doesn’t mean you actually chose it. It could just be your body or emotions reacting, not your deeper self. What really matters is what your will chooses. God sees that. He knows when you’re trying, even if your feelings or thoughts are confusing. He looks at the part of you that wants what is good, true, and beautiful; even when OCD clouds that over. That’s the part He loves and works through.
@slippery_salad Thank you so much for this comment and for all the help it gave me 🩷
@Anonymousssssss Of course 🙂 God is so good. I’m not sure OCD is something we’re meant to fully comprehend. I’ve come to see it as a kind of evil, not something with substance in itself, but a privation of the good, as Augustine and Aquinas would say. And because it lacks true goodness, it’s not something worth trying to grasp or analyze endlessly. The real path forward isn’t in obsessing over it, but in willing the good for yourself, for others, and most of all, for God.
@Anonymousssssss And this is ironic because this is what psychology says too, through ERP haha. You’re essentially directing your mind towards the good; NOT the noticeable absence of good——>ocd lies
Just generally speaking, feelings can feel very real. But at the end of the day, they are just that, feelings. Feelings aren’t fact. It’s important to acknowledge our feelings, but it can be a slippery slope to act on them. It’s important to recognize and what is true. If I feel like someone might be mad at me after a conversation I’ve had, I need to look and think if any of what I’m basing my feels on is fact. Feelings are a tough one to navigate, but always turn back to what we know is true. Take Care!
I feel like this too but I’m also trying to understand that sexual content is sexual content. Your body is wired to respond.
Hey yall, having a tough time. I’ve been struggling with intrusive thoughts while I self pleasure and it GENUIENLY feels like I enjoy them for whatever reason. And then now about half an hour later it’s like okay it’s a sexual thought but I might not actually like it. Idk I just really hate myself, because I basically genuinely liked it in the moment
Does anyone have any advice for how to know the difference between ocd and real feelings/thoughts? Sometimes an intrusive thought will come in and I immediately know it’s ridiculous and I can just leave it alone and it won’t bother me but other times I really really don’t know. It’s when ocd hijacks and twists my real feelings and thoughts and tries to manipulate me into believing they’re something they’re not or something that doesn’t align with my true morals or intentions. But since it’s twisting and mixing with real feelings I get so confused and scared. Everything gets jumbled and I feel like I can’t trust myself or my own mind. Yet other times and other topics I can laugh off and push away just fine. Make it make sense. And then I start to think well maybe I don’t have ocd at all and I’m just in denial because I don’t want to accept that these scary/concerning things are true about myself. Or maybe that’s just the ocd talking.
Is ocd supposed to feel like a genuine belief ? I see or hear some people saying things like « I know it’s not true but …. » while I personally don’t « know that it’s not true » I feels genuinely real and I even find evidence for it
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