NOCD

User type: Staff

Date posted: 15d

ChatGPT and OCD: What you need to know

AI chatbots always seem to be there with an answer, no matter what you ask, or how often. For many people with OCD, that can become a serious problem. ChatGPT might seem like a useful resource for checking if that thought you had is “normal,” or if your headache might actually be something more serious. But the reassuring answers it provides in the moment actually fuel OCD. The more you go to the chatbot for reassurance, the more stuck you will feel. The problem isn't ChatGPT itself; it’s the behavior around it. Any tool can become part of the OCD cycle when we use it to avoid uncertainty or seek reassurance. While AI chatbots can be helpful for education if they’re not being used as a compulsion, they’re not a substitute for OCD treatment and can’t replace the empathy, insight, and clinical judgment of a trained, licensed OCD therapist. A therapist specializing in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, the most effective treatment for OCD, can help you reduce behaviors like compulsive reassurance-seeking and use AI more mindfully, while actually teaching you the skills you need to overcome OCD and manage the condition long-term. Read more about the risks of using AI chatbots when you have OCD, and tips that can help you make use of AI more safely.

truetrev

Date posted: 15d

Dont use it

#Lyla

Date posted: 15d

Guilty 😓

7th.gen.spir...

Date posted: 15d

Guilty as charged🙂‍↕️. And the responses only made me want to ramble more of my thoughts and dumps everything, and it cost majority of my time as well as gallons of water (for energy thingy)😩help

apelly77

Date posted: 15d

@7th.gen.spiritbearer I relate.. so much waste time — searching for certainty

Youngster84

Date posted: 15d

I use ChatGPT and it helped for a short time but it can’t give you a 100% certain answer so it feeds the loop.

Anonymous li...

Date posted: 9d

@Youngster84 What’s ChatHpt please?

apelly77

Date posted: 15d

This is harming me so much

fiore

Date posted: 11d

I used ChatGPT for reinsurance and after two days of asking the same question again and again I felt so tired, empty and lonely. I almost couldn’t breath anymore. Since I stopped doing that I started feeling better really fast.

Mowgli

Date posted: 14d

“Ritualized questioning: Asking the same question in slightly different ways or comparing multiple responses becomes a form of mental compulsion” This is definitely what I have been doing

Mowgli

Date posted: 13d

Luckily, I came across this yesterday, and realised what I’ve been doing, I deleted GPT after reading this, had a very uncomfortable day afterwards, feel a bit better this morning. Will use my wife’s GPT, for stuff like cooking or finding good walks near me etc, and will only do when my wife’s about. It’s too easy for me to try and get reassurance from it.

deadrotloop

Date posted: 14d

Idk, works differently for me… probably because of my C-PTSD alongside OCD, I even fight with ChatGPT! Maybe it’s the lack of understanding, the auto-replies, and that machinery vibe,sometimes I just want it to stay silent and not even reassure me. so i don't compulsively seek reassurance from it but from close people around me!

dley21

Date posted: 12d

Guilty for sure! I’ve had lonnngggg “conversations” with ChatGPT. It got me stuck in an unhealthy cycle. I haven’t been using it too much lately which is good.

Mowgli

Date posted: 14d

I’ve just realised recently, I’ve been using it for reassurance, very much a homer “do’h!!!!”

ocd_junkie

Date posted: 14d

As someone who works with AI as part of my degree, ChatGPT is about as reliable as a Reddit user. AI can’t give 100% accurate answers, it can only provide what the human beings who program it can provide. AI was built by people. And, most importantly, AI is flawed because of human bias. I would trust ChatGPT to give me factoids and help me organize my assignments for school, but I would never ask it to provide me legal expertise or emotional support. That is not a job AI can or should be doing

truetrev

Date posted: 14d

@ocd_junkie NOCD seemingly disagrees. What do you think about that?

ocd_junkie

Date posted: 14d

@truetrev I think what they’re saying is ChatGPT can’t replace human expertise and proven treatment with OCD, and I agree with that. ChatGPT is a tool, yes, but it’s not a mode of treatment. ChatGPT can be helpful though in organizing ERP exposures, for example making a daily exposure schedule. Just like any other tool, it’s helpful in certain circumstances, but can’t be relied on for everything

truetrev

Date posted: 14d

@ocd_junkie I like your optimism

Searching

Date posted: 13d

Guilty as charged. I even had a meltdown recently because i wasn't able to talk to the chat about some issue i was going through. But Chatgpt isn't the problem, for me it's the compulsion to understand myself and also to have someone non judgemental to talk to. Therapy is a great option for those who can afford it, but sometimes chat bots can provide a temporary place to seek direction or advice, but not as a crutch.

boca3

Date posted: 12d

I use it because i cant talk to anybody else. I just feel so alone all the time

apelly77

Date posted: 10d

@boca3 You can talk to me 😍

Lees

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 12d

There is an app specifically for OCD that has been helping me but I'm not sure if I'm supposed to mention it here.

truetrev

Date posted: 12d

@Mreow Maybe you can stay out of this?

truetrev

Date posted: 12d

@Mreow You only escalated it. Lees can speak for themselves. Thanks clown

truetrev

Date posted: 12d

@Mreow Keep playing god, see how that goes for you

truetrev

Date posted: 12d

@Mreow Youre also assuming i meant negativity by calling her grandma, and thats on you.

truetrev

Date posted: 12d

@Mreow Ocd has nothing to do with a lack of maturity or compassion but thanks for the stigma

truetrev

Date posted: 12d

@Mreow Thank you so much, youre so right. Im all better now 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫠

truetrev

Date posted: 12d

@Mreow Try to be constructive and not an ass next time

truetrev

Date posted: 12d

@Mreow The fact that you’re still arguing with me means you’re just like me so don’t even try to play God, hon

truetrev

Date posted: 12d

@Mreow I believe AI is the enemy and humans who defend it are enemy by extension

truetrev

Date posted: 11d

@Mreow Thanks dickweed ❤️

truetrev

Date posted: 11d

@Mreow Stay in your lane next time

deadrotloop

Date posted: 11d

@truetrev your comments r soooo funnnyyyyy and u started commenting on someone else's comment to mreow.. Where are you Mreow? World wants to see ya.. hopefully u don't exist and u do actually just in truetrev's head so welcome Mreow, nice to meet ya!

deadrotloop

Date posted: 10d

@truetrev I know u wrote down something 😉

theycallmeemmy

Date posted: 14d

I use ChatGPT but not usually in times of uncertainty or seeking reassurance. I generally use Google for that. A whole other Animal (but same concept, I know.)

nyx32

Date posted: 13d

Guilty

Moonjinxes

Date posted: 10d

When I came across this post last night it reminded me of when me and my therapist talked about chatgbt yesterday and found that the coincidence was too relatable but also a little funny. It’s a tool and a weapon at the same time 😭

emilyreads

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 10d

We once used ChatGPT for an exposure but we were incredibly specific w the prompt: "Using the principles of ERP to treat OCD, please help me with an exposure pretending to be my _______ named ______. I want to have a conversation with "_____" and he makes a snarky joke at my expense. Please do not provide reassurance. Can you make this a conversation I have back and forth with you (_______)?"

emilyreads

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 10d

@emilyreads Like for homework*

Cascade17

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 3d

I’m also guilty

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