I have POCD. Does anyone else have this too? I have a son, he’s 8. It started when he was 4. Hasn’t stopped since.

I don’t have it but I do have ocd. it’s normal that it hasn’t stopped, for sadly, ocd can’t be cured at this point in time. But it will get easier! Keep going! I’m glad you found help here. If you haven’t already you should try to set up an appointment with a therapist ???

Is there anything more you can write regarding POCD? I really don’t know much about it, but I’ve heard others who’ve dealt with it and got a lot better after therapy.

@Samantha20 I have intrusive thoughts about molesting children, specifically my own son, but others too. My compulsions are things like avoiding areas where there’s a lot of kids, or checking to see if I’m aroused or just scared. I actually don’t have access to therapy right now but the few times I did get to see a therapist they admit they weren’t comfortable treating something they were unfamiliar with or they suggested CBT which hasn’t worked well for me. I feel like it just gives me more compulsions. Getting to someone who is familiar with POCD and ERT is a challenge for me.

Guys, I work in childcare and have always loved my job but one day I felt like I got POCD overnight! I had a horrible intrusive thought that made me so incredibly anxious. Then it spiralled from there, Hotwheelsandhighheels I had all of the same issues. I wanted to kill my self, hand myself in.. anything to sort out the problem. But I am now in the best place I’ve ever been with it all. It takes time and hard work but you can overcome it. Do I still get random unwanted thought? Yep. But I know what they are.. LIES! If you don’t have access to CBT then go online and do it yourself. I was on Prozac for over a year or so and have recently tapered off and stopped completely. So far so good ??

Yeah, I hear you! What have you done in the meantime to manage living with the POCD on your own?

I’ve always loved children. I dreamt of being a elementary school teacher and a mom of 5 or more lol but after my pocd was triggered I let go of all those dreams. I wouldn’t be able to do it. Were you able to keep working there? Like yours, mine was triggered it seemed overnight and I was next to my child and I couldn’t seem to figure out if I had done something to him or just dreamt it, it was horrible. I distanced myself from him immediately. I went to the hospital because I didn’t want to kill myself but that’s what these thoughts made me feel. I tried Zoloft and CBT. They didn’t work for me. I’ve been on Effexor for about three years and so far I’ve been able to stay positive and like I manage. It could be a lot better but I don’t have access to therapy rn :(

I almost quit working with children, even after I was diagnosed with OCD and it got a bit easier I still thought I should quit to make my life easier but my therapist told that I shouldn’t give in to the OCD. Avoidance only makes OCD stronger. So as hard as it was I stuck at it and I’m so glad I did! Don’t let OCD control you, it’s just messing with you. What country do you live in? I live in the UK, went to the doctors and got put on a waiting list for therapy and managed to get access to free therapy 4 months later. It must be so hard having this type of OCD and being a parent but you have to keep fighting and not letting it interfere with your relationship with your son.

I live in the US, in California. I’ve had health care on and off for the past two years, and before that my health insurance only covered one therapy session a month, so I was mostly just kept on medication. After that I’ve just been bounced from therapist to therapist, having initial sessions where it’s pretty clear they’re not familiar with pocd. I don’t have access to mental health services at the moment, just my meds. I’m glad to hear you stuck with it. My kid was in childcare when my ocd was triggered and I didn’t even want to enter the center to pick him up...that must’ve been so difficult. So props to you. I hope one day I’ll feel comfortable working with children again

Why don’t you have access to mental health services at the moment? I’m sorry to hear about the POCD experiences, I know it can be tough. I believe that Liz Mcingvale from Peace Of Mind has good info on this type of OCD

Do you see therapy for ocd?