What’s your real event theme?

@A im me Hii! Now that I read the comment above I noticed that it might come off as a compulsion, but I’m just looking for someone to relate to as you mentioned. But it’s so nice to see that you guys try to help :). Also, what you’re saying is pretty much text book to me. Real event themes are really really frightening to me because I feel like I’m the only one with these problems when it turns out that it’s quite the opposite. So you saying I’m not alone means a lot to me xx

@A im me Hi I read your comment and I can’t relate more. I obsess over my college self and the stupid things I did and the mistakes I made and my ocd just latches onto it. It makes me feel so much guilt and like I’m a horrible person because of what I did. I’m not anything like that now. If anything I’m the complete opposite but it’s just so frustrating

@Anonymous4445 I feel you, I also feel guilty all of the time, and this current cycle has been going for weeks now. You’re not alone.

@anonymous_purple💜 I just have a hard time because I feel like the person I was I should feel guilty about it and the things I fear could be true so like yes it’s ocd but how do I get over it when it’s so real

@Anonymous4445 Hi. I feel like this is the scariest part about real event themes. I totally understand what you mean. In my case, my real event themes circle around things that after all did happen. So my mind keeps asking the infamous “what ifs” and imagines one hundred different scenarios where I end up being exposed or similar. I wish I had some advice myself, but I think I need to learn how to sit with uncertainty :(

@anonymous_purple💜 We all want that quick fix because reassurance takes the edge off for a little bit. But we both know it just feeds the addiction or compulsion—and I mean, look, we're not crackheads, we can't keep feeding our addictions, you know? Saying 'feed the addiction' just makes me think of a crackhead, so I had to throw that in there. But seriously, it doesn't actually fix anything long-term. ​Honestly, I applaud you for just sitting with it and allowing yourself to be uncomfortable. That’s really all we can do, and it's exactly how the cycle gets broken. Every time you refuse to give in and just sit there, you're winning. ​Keep in mind, I'm saying this as someone who doesn't have a background in this—I'm not even practicing a plan yet and can't even say my own stuff out loud to my therapist. But from where I'm sitting, I just want you to know I am extremely proud of you.

@Anonymous4445 When you say you feel like you should feel guilty, it makes me think about how some days you can live with it and some days you can't. But hey, you know what? There is no standard rulebook on how or what we should feel—and if there is one, it’s garbage. ​We have all done things, and in a lot of ways, those things helped form who we are. Maybe that guilt made us a little kinder. Maybe it made us more cautious. But what it shouldn't do is consume you. I have done things that I am forever going to feel guilty for, and that's just real life, not my OCD. So just know that statistically, I love you, you love you, and this guilt is not going to consume you.

@A im me That means a lot and is something I needed to hear right now. Thank you!

@A im me Thank you so much, I found that reassurance is never the way for me. It gives instant relief, but it worsens the loop over time as you mentioned. Sitting with uncertainty makes me feel really sick, but I guess it is what it is. Thanks for taking your time and I’ll be here if you need to talk :)

@bluebird27 Heyyy, thanks for worrying, you’re a keeper! I’ll say though that my compulsions around this theme are quite different and I’m kind of resisting them as of now. I’m a little overwhelmed right now so I’m looking for someone to relate to. But thanks for caring! 🫂