- Date posted
- 5y
- Date posted
- 5y
I would focus on the core fear from the situation. For instance, let's say you had a thought about POCD when you were 13 years old and ever since you arel tormented about it and fear that you are headed for eternal damnation after you die for having the thought. The script could be about the worst case outcome that you fear from the incident. Imprisonment, being brutally beaten in prison, maybe even sexually assaulted, hated by your family, and then dying In the joint followed by burning in hell for eternity. That's just an example. Read it again and again until it bores you to read it.
- Date posted
- 5y
Thank you that's really helpful. Also when I get the thought when I'm out and about spiked do I ignore it, bring on the guilt. I'm doing that and I feel bloody awful
- Date posted
- 5y
I approach that kind of situation by simply saying "maybe it will/I am or maybe it won't/I am not" whatever the trigger is at that moment. I definitely do not recommend ignoring it as that will only bring short term relief (if it does at all). Accepting the uncertainty of not knowing is the path to habituation.
- Date posted
- 5y
Once doing the above, go about your day living your values.
- Date posted
- 5y
I've been trying to bring the thoughts on on purpose and I'm finding it hard to be even around my children as its hard to think and talk and not freak out with anxiety at the same time. Really appreciate your advice
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- 5y
I was bringing on the memory of the fantasy whilst with people not sure if that's the correct thing to do, or just respond if it pops up. It's pretty frequent at the moment due to the exposures
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- 5y
I'm happy doing exposures at home and bringing on the guilt. It's harder to function doing it in front of people.
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- 5y
It doesn't sound like you are at the point where you want to intentionally expose yourself to such thoughts, though I am not an OCD specialist. I would try to do a mindfulness approach by not engaging the thoughts as they happen but instead accept the uncertainty of not knowing one way or another and focus on the moment with your children (e.g., what they are doing, saying, laughing, crying, etc.).
- Date posted
- 5y
Thanks really appreciate it and your help
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- 5y
You're welcome. I am happy to be a little bit of support for you during this challenging time. All the best!
- Date posted
- 5y
This article lays out how to do imaginal exposure in detail, along with examples. It's long, but well worth the read https://ocdla.com/imaginal-exposure-ocd-anxiety-4847
- Date posted
- 5y
Thank you!
Related posts
- Date posted
- 21w
Being exposed to taboo p*rn as young as first grade ruined my life and now ocd is making me pay for it. I have so much guilt for being a child/teen and looking at taboo stuff, and it was all fictional or anime or whatever but it was still so so gross. and I didn't realize It because I had been used to it at so young 🫠 I think what haunts me most is when I was a kid/young teen (like 12-14ish) and didn't have access to p*rn I'd imagine stuff similar to what I'd seen in the art. I can't even believe I'd imagine scenarios involving kid characters or whatever because it had been so normalized to me and I assumed it was normal since it was fiction. I'm 23 now so it's been a decade since I've done anything like that and I've never had the urge to since but still. I've NEVER been attracted to kids or had any urges or anything ever, even when I was addicted. The thought makes me want to vomit, I'd rather die than associate anything sexual with kids/minors and I think people who groom or assault kids are vile. But I still feel like the fact that I imagined stuff similar to the things I read sometimes when I was young is proof I'm a p*do. I don't think people would believe me if I said I'm not. I just feel like I don't deserve to live or that if I do, I'm living a lie. I know 'I was a kid too' but even when I was 13/14 I read/imagined stuff with characters younger than me because I thought it was normal. I'm so disgusted. I've had this theme for so long I'm starting to wonder if ocd is right. I feel too ashamed to tell my therapist.
- Date posted
- 15w
How long should I do ERP, so that my brain gets used to it, not to say tired?! I've been working for about three months, but everything still seems vivid in my head, there are even vulgar words in detail... since the sexual topic is both a groinal and a feeling that I want to touch myself. It's mostly related to faces and genitals, so how exactly can that go, if it's emphasized that sex pictures in themselves give that feeling, whoever is in them?
- Date posted
- 12w
Why are things so real the first time they’re in my mind and then when I think about it later it’s easier for me to be like wtf?? I was watching a movie earlier and the young girl had developed more in the chest area than the last movie and I felt the desire to check her out so I did. Then later I let myself imagine her having sex and I liked it. But now looking back I’m like ew. The boys in the movie have also developed as the movie went on and I couldn’t help but think that in their real life they’ve probably woken up to boners and s*men and stuff. And looking back it’s just ugh. Idk if it’s sexual relevance but I genuinely let myself indulge in these thoughts and groinal responses and I remember thinking to myself I don’t want to be attracted to little kids and how do I stop myself (everyone has attractive qualities so in younger boys I see man like qualities). Idk I need help. I wouldn’t type this out if I truly believe I was messed up but I’m still scared
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