Advice for a POCD sufferer? I know I would never harm a child in any way. The thought of being capable of doing that disgusts me. Am I asking for reassurance? Probably. But you know what, I need it and I’m being honest about it :( this “uncertainty” thing is very weird for me especially bc it’s POCD . I just want the thoughts to stop

I think it’s hard to “accept” the thoughts because (for me, personally) that makes it feel like you’re accepting being a predator. That’s something that has made me very s**cidal in the past. I understand how you feel, in fact I struggle with this on a daily basis, even today so much so that I will hit myself to distract myself from a disturbing thought. (I don’t recommend that tbh, it’s probably not healthy) When I have a better wrap on my mental health and a thought like that crosses my mind I do not even think about it at all. I treat my mind like an etch a sketch and shake it away as soon as it pops in. When you invest in the thought it feels more real, and more deliberate. When I am not doing as well mental health wise I struggle to not feel upset, and if I do feel upset of course my first instinct is to immediately stop that, I’ll repeat certain words, talk out loud randomly to drown or distract the thought, sometimes hit myself or pinch myself. It’s a horrible thing to experience because it really feels demoralizing but just remember those thoughts ARENT you. If they were you wouldn’t be turned inside out about them, this is a real subcategory of OCD, you aren’t making it up. My best advice as someone who’s been normally functioning with this and also deeply s**cidal about it is if you can help it do that think even a second further about the thought. It enters your mind and you etch a sketch dissolve it right away and promptly do something afterwards that makes you feel like you. Listen to your favourite song, text a friend, make your favourite snack etc. You got this ❤️

I know it’s awful, I have the worst accusatory voice in my head any time I’m anywhere near a child or look at one and I start questioning why I looked at them. So I try to act like they don’t exist and I feel like that makes it worse, it feels like I’m trying to be in denial. It doesn’t even make any sense. I’ve never harmed a kid, wouldn’t get anything out of it and really I KNOW I’m never going to. It’s the loop of questioning myself and my memories and the stigma which is really causing the trouble in my mind I think. And it’s disgusting because I feel like I have to think about it vividly so I can check that I definitely still don’t like it, or watch documentaries or Hanson vs predator just to try to “check” and make sure, but it just makes the stigma part feel worse which makes it all worse. I’ve had it about other intrusive sexual stuff I shouldn’t have which makes me spiral the same way. Idk if I have much advice to give other than resisting the thinking about it and ‘checking’. I have other OCDs and once I move onto one of them, the sexual ones seem unimportant and unrealistic. So that’s the gauge I try to go by. Remember how you felt in the times when you have felt/known that it’s not true and is kinda cray.

Accepting the uncertainty is the only way to get better.

You have to accept the thoughts. And get used to them.

What else would you be uncertain of? Generally speaking it's about aether or not you are or aren't, but it can manifest in other things to do with that. Man I wish there was a PM, although I get why there isn't, I can tell you wanna say something but don't feel comfortable to in the forum, just remember you are in a safe place here.