:(((

@Love1another<3 Yeah I’m just like I should trust he’s an adult but I get this feeling he’s a minor

@Idontknow Right :) “What if”= OCD, which is the doubting disorder. So unfortunately Ocd makes us question everything valuable to us. But the way to beat it is with ERP and sitting with the uncertainty ❤️‍🩹

@Love1another<3 Sometimes I feel like I actually have it and sometimes I feel like I don’t because I have intentional thoughts

@Idontknow Understandable! Do you have obsessions (reoccurring thoughts) and compulsions (reassurance-seeking, rumination, avoidance, etc.)? And were you diagnosed with OCD in the past?

@Love1another<3 Yes, but it’s just how can I have it if I have intentional thoughts too and it’s taboo

@Love1another<3 I have it all but when I get these thoughts I just think it’s not Pocd

@Idontknow Oh okay perfect :) So you meet the criteria for OCD so you have it and that’s great that you already have that explanation. Because sometimes it takes people manyyy years to get a diagnosis so I’m happy you got one 🙏 Your distrust of your diagnosis is relatable because OCD is the doubting disorder. There’s a theme about this called “Meta OCD” where you doubt that you have OCD. I relate to you because I also had intentional thoughts about my unwanted obsessions. 1. Because I was ruminating a lot so I was intentionally thinking about my thoughts. 2. Sometimes we just think about things and it doesn’t have any concerning reason behind it

@Love1another<3 😞 I wake up and feel like I r a kid I don’t know why Yeah, I agree with you and I be thinking it and it’s pedophilic and it’s just what person with POCD thinks that intentionally you know and that’s where my doubt comes from and then when I get these urges

@Idontknow Totally understandable and relatable ❤️ Many people on here have struggled with this so you’re not alone :) Are you able to attend an IOP or do ERP therapy (on your own or with a therapist)? ERP can be a fast treatment, which is really impressive. For example, you could feel soo much better two months from now or even earlier if you consistently resist compulsions. ERP is truly a lifesaver <3 I’ve had POCD before just like you and the only way I got better was with ERP. I no longer suffer from POCD. It’s been a few years since then 👍

@Love1another<3 They were actually looking for an IOP for me but they took too long to respond :((

@Love1another<3 Do you mind telling me your symptoms?

@Idontknow Aw I’m sorry to hear about the IOP. And sure I never mind sharing :) Back when I had POCD, I remembered ruminating, seeking reassurance from online and from my family, seeking reassurance from my therapist, avoiding kids, I had intrusive unwanted urges to do inappropriate things, I kept doubting wether it was OCD or I was a real p*, etc. I had much of the same symptoms as you did. I did ERP which felt horrible but it recovered me in only a few months. And it’s been years since and I’ve never dealt with a bad flare up of POCD like that ever again 👍 ERP was scary I won’t lie but I knew I had to do the hard work quickly or else I’d continue to suffer daily

@Love1another<3 I'm sorry you went through that. POCD is the worst theme ever, and I would not wish it on my worst enemy. How does ERP help?

@Idontknow Thank you so much :) Yeah it was a rough time for sure. It’s okay though because it made me stronger and my POCD is gone 🙏 Also, that’s a great question! I believe Google says that ERP has about a 70% effective rate. The more work and consistency you put in, the more success you will have. It’s like working out. If you only go to the gym 3 times in a few months, you won’t see any results. But if you go to the gym everyday for months, you will see progress. ERP works the exact same way. Our brains can be re-wired so it can physically change. ERP re-wires our brains to teach us that our imaginary threats aren’t actually real or as scary as we thought they were. So years ago when I was ruminating and asking my mom for reassurance everyday, it made my POCD stronger and I believed the lies OCD was telling me. There was no chance I was gonna recover if I continued all those compulsions. So when I started resisting compulsions, it felt terrifying at first but over time my anxiety and intrusive thoughts decreased dramatically and I no longer felt intense fear that I was a p*. Because the compulsions caused all that fear and when the compulsions were gone, the fear left too 👍

@Love1another<3 I wish mine would leave if I even have it because why do I feel like thinking about them in a inappropriate way and it feels like I’m attracted that’s where it confuses me What about brain surgery? Like if ERP doesn’t work or medication

@Idontknow I understand you completely 🫶 You have an OCD diagnosis from a therapist which is an amazing starting point :) About brain surgery, that’s a super invasive procedure so it should only be used as the last resort if all other treatments have led to no success. Have you given your all to trying to do consistent ERP?-Meaning, have you been trying your best to resist ruminating and seeking reassurance? If not, please attempt that first as ERP treatment comes with great success and brain surgery comes with high risks

@Love1another<3 I’m worried I was having bad urges and was watching a video of a man and I think he’s attractive and I tried to fantasize about him and I couldn’t and now it feels like I would think of something taboo on little girl and I feel a tightness and no disgust I’m so scared that means I’m a p because I would think that and like it?

@Idontknow So sorry to hear about your experience :( Have you been trying your best to resist compulsions around this? It’ll help you ❤️

@Love1another<3 No because I keep trying to see if it’s actual a#### I’m so worried that’s why I’m so confused sometimes like how is this Pocd

@Idontknow Thanks for being honest because that’s a great step :) I’m not supposed to reassure anyone on this app so I will try to refrain from that but I can give OCD advice in relation to ERP. I’d love to give you more advice when you are ready to try out resisting compulsions in the future. I can give you advice to help you through that process because I know it’s a difficult journey. Feel free to reach out to me whenever it’s best for you to begin 🫶

@Love1another<3 How can you help 🙂‍↕️? I am upset

@Idontknow A core part of Obsessive compulsive disorder is the compulsions. So when we remove the compulsions, the disorder starves and gets weak. It will no longer have a big impact on your life. The OCD sufferer has to find the strength and motivation to try out ERP but on this app the rest of us can still serve as a support system to you to help encourage you through the tough process of resisting compulsions. We can try to help motivate people and we can give tips and tricks that work for us such as response prevention messages, self-compassion, healthy lifestyle habits, etc.

@Love1another<3 I’m so scared So I was eating in the kitchen with my brother and there was a k#ife because I was cutting the pizza and I kept looking at the k##e and at him and I’m just like does he think I’m going to do something because he picked it up and I told him to put it in the sink I’m sorry I have nobody to talk to and I feel like an abu##r omg

@Love1another<3 I’m so upset right now I just feel dangerous and I have bpd too so I might end up in prison