So my harm OCD thoughts have recently changed and it’s making me question what is real and what is my thoughts. Lately I’ll find myself reading news articles about murders etc, and then something in my head will be like ‘yeah but I can understand why they killed that person’ and then I become really shocked and scared that I’m beginning to sympathise with these awful people. :( does anyone else get this? Or have something similar? Thanks x

You're right it is so horrible. As long as you truly believe that, then it is your OCD. You're having obsessive thoughts that you need to combat with positive, good thoughts.

In your case, I don’t know if reading the news articles is really a compulsion, more like an activity that triggers you. Good ERP would be reading those news articles, feeling the anxiety, and embracing the uncertainty. I will give you a little reassurance and tell you that I have harm ocd and have experienced what you have. This is a pretty common thing. Harm ocd will make you question your morals, any time you’re questioning your morals intensely based on a thought you had, you can be sure that’s ocd.

If you're already one of those people which I'm guessing you're not then you are giving in to Satan. Positivity through Jesus Christ can change your ways. If you're worried you're one of those people and need proof that you're not I know you can find it. You seem like you're disgusted by the fact that you're relating to them. That proves that your true heart doesn't believe in being that way. If you're shocked by those thoughts you were having then you are doing good. If you weren't shocked then you'd need help. I'm glad you confessed yourself on here. You're doing good. It could be your OCD but there's always a slippery slope. You don't want your OCD to define you but if you're having obsessions like this you want to eliminate the exposures. Justify yourself by thinking things like there is no justification for murder. Life is precious. Et cetera.

Stop reading the news articles, it’s a compulsion. (Well for me it is) I would read and read and compare myself allllllll day and be so worked up it was awful. It’s OCD, not you. It likes to make you anxious and scared, it loves when you doubt who you are - that’s the whole gig. I am a believer but I don’t think this has anything to do with Satan and being saved - this is OCD and sometimes in this life we are given crappy things to deal with. God can help us overcome our struggles and be with us ? Having yourself think positive thoughts after a ocd thought could also be a compulsion....I’d just let the thought ride. Go do something else and move on with your day! No more news searching ;)

I guess it would make it difficult to stop if you are a journalist :) I just know mine is a compulsion of researching and comparing, maybe yours is just reading whatever the article is and then being triggered. It is a good ERP, but a super hard one! I have had the same thing and struggle with the news, I do tend to avoid it :/ Hugs. I know how hard it is!!

Yes. Satan is capable of tantalizing us all. You're not alone. Try to think positive thoughts. Jesus Christ can save you from turning into one of those people. He loves you.

I’m sorry I don’t really get what you mean about being saved - that means you’re implying I’m at risk of becoming one of those people when I’m really just worried about already being one - which is what I hope is just my OCD

Okay, thank you. I just want to know that this is just my OCD, and I’m not ‘turning’ into a bad person :( it’s so horrible

I’m a journalist so avoiding news articles is pretty difficult though... and also surely stopping reading news is also a compulsion or avoidance? I only see how that wold help for a short amount of time. I agree with being saved, I don’t think that it has anything to do with it either. I just keep getting convinced that I am a bad person. Like even now if I’m angry, violent thoughts come up which makes me think I’ll act violently in the future when I become angry

Yeah I definitely also read something, then read other similar ones to try and find different and similarities within myself and that murderer or violent person. It’s so hard working out what’s a compulsion and what isn’t :(