What does a false memory feel like? I have an actual event, but my brain always tells me lies about it and makes it feel worse and I know what its saying is not real but it scares me. Is this a false memory?

ocdillustrated

Date posted: 5y

I'd be wary of getting stuck on labeling thoughts. "False memory" could easily also be called a "daydream" (or "daynightmare"). As with any thought, you get to decide whether it's worth responding to.

Russ1989

Date posted: 5y

I will continue to use the stop sign technique

ocdillustrated

Date posted: 5y

@Russ1989 I think it's worth reconsidering whether it has helped or hurt. Here is an article with more detailshttps://iocdf.org/expert-opinions/ineffective-and-potentially-harmful-psychological-interventions-for-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/

MJocd

Date posted: 5y

I dont know what a daynightmare is. I have an event, which wasn't as bad as brain made it out (catastrophized), I'm my rational moments I completely understand that. But when anxiety is rampant, my brain says all those false things to make the event seem more worse than it was. I know they're lies, but it scares me and it gets a reaction out of me.

ocdillustrated

Date posted: 5y

@MJocd Your brain is imagining variations on what happened. If it was imagining enjoyable variations we'd probably call it a daydream and not worry about it. It is no more meaningful just because it is distressing imagination

Russ1989

Date posted: 5y

I will be more knowledgble once i speak with a ocd specialist. But what i struggle with daily is when i wake up i have immediate fears that i posted a violent harmful dangerous threatening Youtube comment before turning off my youtube tv app. This happens cause i smoke medical marijuana Often daily And i forget turning off my youtube tv and immediately or in the morning when i wake up i get sudden real feeling fear that i posted a harmful online internet comment and forgot doing it and that i will be sent to prison for the internet threats posted on the comments online. Very painful ocd theme. I refuse to check my internet cell phone history to see if i actually posted something threatening cause that would be feeding into the ocd demon

MJocd

Date posted: 5y

What would be the best way to make this end? It's not like I can go back and not live that day. I've sought so much reassurance since and no one thinks I'm a bad person for it. It's so hard to get over it, especially when OCD makes it 100000x worse with random untrue things it says

MJocd

Date posted: 5y

I mean, make the intrusive thoughts end . Just to clarify. Most days I'm fine but then it just randomly hits me

ocdillustrated

Date posted: 5y

Unfortunately, you don't. Recovery is never about eliminating thoughts. In fact, the more you try to get rid of a thought, the more frequently you'll have it. The point of therapy is to disconnect the obsession from the compulsions. And often, once compulsions are eliminated, your brain will learn to not have as strong an emotional reaction to them

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