OCDsucks111

Date posted: 5y

I need advice on something because I’m freaking out. Anxiety is sky high and I’m on the verge of a panic attack. I was taking my kids to get soMe ice cream and my 3-year old son was being super goofy and silly. He’s in a stage where bathroom humor (poop, pee, butt, pee pee) is just his favorite thing. He said, “Grandpa showed me his pee pee!”and he was laughing and giggling. My daughter is 6 and said, “No he didn’t!” I asked her again when we got home and again she said her brother was just being goofy and it never happened. I immediately spiked because sexual abuse of my kids is my nightmare. Add to that that my dad (their grandpa) is my best friend, one of my biggest supporters with my mental health and just a really decent man. This does not fit into who he is at all; he’s basically the opposite of a predator. I told my husband, who immediately said, “This sounds like your OCD acting up and playing on your biggest fears. This doesn’t fit your dad or his values,” I took my emergency anxiety meds and I’m trying to sit with it and let it go. Should I talk to my dad? Should I chalk this up to OCD trying to mess me up?

"Pure" OCD

OCDsucks111

Date posted: 5y

I should also add that about a month ago, my son made up a story about a teacher at daycare hitting him. This teacher was never in my son’s classroom, and it ended up being a story he totally made up.

ocdillustrated

Date posted: 5y

First, take some deep breaths. It may help to focus on blowing air out rather than on inhaling. Nothing needs to be done or decided until you're calmer. I can understand why you're distressed. OCD aside, that's a upsetting thing to hear your child say. It's clear you love your children deeply. You've already talked with your husband to get his perspective. That's good. If it were me, my next step would be to start or continue conversations with your son about "private parts" using correct terminology so that he understands what is and isn't ok. I've got resource links if you want them- my job is in early childhood mental health and this is something I talk with parents about a lot.

OCDsucks111

Date posted: 5y

We use appropriate terminology with our kids, but he finds pee pee to be especially funny. He even adds it into his singing the ABCs, along with poop and pee. I’ve talked with both my kids about how we keep our private parts to ourselves and how no one is allowed to touch them, and if that happens to tell me or dad right away. I tried talking to my son again, and he just kept laughing and saying it was a made up story and then saying it wasn’t a story.

OCDsucks111

Date posted: 5y

Yes I’ll take a look at your resources. I just feel like I’m spiraling out of control because this is literally my worst nightmare if it’s true.

ocdillustrated

Date posted: 5y

@emy730 These are some picture books that could help teach body safety https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thechildrensbookreview.com/weblog/2018/09/5-books-for-teaching-your-kids-about-body-safety-and-consent.html/amp I find kids, especially preschoolers, need repetition and visuals to help them process. A book makes that easy, when you read it multiple times, the words are the same, so the message is clear

OCDsucks111

Date posted: 5y

@NOCD Advocate - Katie I just ordered a few of those to read with my kids. Thank you for those.

ocdillustrated

Date posted: 5y

@emy730 You may want to read them yourself first, especially if this is a topic that is highly emotional for you

OCDsucks111

Date posted: 5y

The other thing that is messing with me is that my maternal grandfather WAS a child predator (specifically to my mom and her two younger sisters), and a terrible person. My dad hated him, and I watched him go off on someone who tried to say he was a good man. He was so upset he was crying and red faced, which is also outside his character as he’s usually very gentle and kind, rarely raising his voice.

OCDsucks111

Date posted: 5y

And yes, my kids are my whole world. I love them so very much and would literally do anything to keep them safe.

Phoenix1

Date posted: 5y

The tsunami of confusing emotions you are going through is understandable. As there is this “ possible” world claimed by your son which is so scary. And then there is another world which you witnessed all your life where your father is an antithesis of a child abuser. And then you have your parental protective instincts and value where you don’t want to falter as parent. They together are putting tremendous pressure on you. One thing seems to be sure that your son is in ok space as he is laughing and perhaps enjoying the attention. Seems it’s all about holding your horses and not reacting for some more time before your son comes and tells another version. He seems to be happy and safe. I get it another thought would be that kids can be happy in dangerous situation too. But it’s about respecting instincts of your son for some more time. If he was threatened he would not laugh and enjoy at this moment. Unfortunately before you can “rescue “ your kid from this situation ( real or perceived) . You need to rescue yourself by taking some time and support- maybe from your husband and others before handling this situation. It’s not a great space to be in, but it’s seems to be a rational approach at this time. Keep a close eye on your physical sensations. Try and be aware of them , else there is a danger of blowing up. Try to calm yourself down using breathing, exercise or other techniques. Writing everything down would be another excellent technique. Take care

Phoenix1

Date posted: 5y

P.s. I have 2 kids. One is naughtier than other. Have strong value of to be a good parent. Have had troubled childhood. Love my own parents. Wa suspicious of the fact that my father would ill treat my kids as did to myself. So life was challenging as I had this “additional responsibility “ of protecting my kids from this perceived threat. I understand the pressure you are in.

OCDsucks111

Date posted: 5y

Thank you for your kindness

OCDsucks111

Date posted: 5y

My husband thinks this is my son’s natural curiosity about his body and others. Our bathroom doors don’t lock, and he often walks in on one of us using the bathroom. We’ve explained the bathroom is a private place, but he still comes in often. He thinks he walked in on my dad using the bathroom or maybe as he was dressing.

Phoenix1

Date posted: 5y

Very useful understanding of the situation it seems.

OCDsucks111

Date posted: 5y

Regardless of what happened, I recognize that I will never truly know what happened, if anything at all. I am trying to accept that, and also acknowledge that as his parent, I hold the power to protect him. If this becomes something we learn is more devious and he is a predator, I can keep him safe and away from that threat. Regardless, my son is in no immediate danger and is safe and loved at this moment.

Anony1314

Date posted: 25w

I'm seriously depressed. Idk what to do or think.

So I dealt with something a couple weeks ago that's caused me DEBILITATING anxiety. I just want to know if this follows the OCD pattern. I talked with my therapist and she confused me. Just say if follows along the OCD pattern or not. I don't need reassurance per se! My daughter was laying across me and every time I breathed a certain way I was getting a groinal sensation. I kept breathing like that anyways (ugh idk why), and then my mind told me I had hurt her that I might as well do something else to hurt because what's more. So idk why or what overcame me other than the thought of doing it because my mind told me I had hurt her already ("my mind literally made me question what to do and I guess the only thing I could come up with was using my elbow) and causing another feeling but it came across my mind to elbow her, and I elbowed her crotch or side/thigh area. Which caused another very unwanted groinal sensation. Then I began FREAKING smooth out. And I've been stressing since. I feel like as a mom I don't deserve to be hers anymore. I was doing SO well! Is this really the POCD I was diagnosed with?

POCD

hopefulxmess

Date posted: 20w

Pls has anyone been through this?

Let me start by prefacing that I developed ocd as postpartum ocd after having my first child. I had harm and pocd. I had it on and off for years and then it just eventually went away completely for many years until recently after a stressful life event. Now that it’s back it again targets my children but now my grandchildren also. It’s been horrible and makes me pull away from them. Last night my 6 year old granddaughter threw up in the car when my daughter was about to take her home so my daughter brought her back in the house and asked me to clean her up while she cleaned her car. I had some anxiety about it because of my ocd but I couldn’t say no to helping so I opened the bathroom door and my granddaughter was standing in her underwear waiting for me to clean and dress her. Everything was fine and normal but then for some reason, I have no idea why, I looked down at her chest area. I immediately got so upset and didn’t know why I looked there and now my ocd is saying it’s because i’m a monster. I tried to tell myself it’s just normal human behavior when someone is standing there naked that you look where you shouldn’t simply because it’s just there in front of you but I feel horrible. I don’t feel any inappropriate way about her or any child but my ocd is saying it was inappropriate. Has anyone else been through this?

Anony1314

Date posted: 17w

Help please.Be honest please. I'm a struggling mom

Am I the P I was always scared to be? Or am I still the amazing mom I once was? I need support. I just need someone to be up front with me. Tell me the truth. I want to get past it all. My mind is telling me I'm the only one who is dealing with something like this. Idk why I did my biggest BIGGEST fear. I was put on a new medication when this happened which caused me to spiral, my thoughts to be more often, and have insomnia. I have been diagnosed with POCD as well. I woke up in the middle of the night when my child was laying completely cross my chest. I was breathing and having groinal sensations. My mind told me that I assaulted her by this, and I was going to prison for it. My thoughts started going like this, "you're already bad might as well do something else", "no sense in stopping now" "you can finally do what you've always wanted", "what would you do if you could do anything to cause harm" So I had to think of what to do in the moment. The only thing I could think to do was move my elbow towards my child's groin. In the moment it felt like I really wanted to do this. I proceeded to do so, and my elbow touched her groin. I immediately told my child to move off me. I then went back to sleep. When I woke up, I began panicking, confessing to a family member what happened, and crying immensely. I feel like I failed as a mother. I'm in such distress since I started sleeping on the floor to avoid it from happening again, and I got off the medication. I'm so much better OCD wise since I got off the meds. I was the BEST mom months ago before this happened. The thoughts have always bothered me, and I was always scared I would give in and act on them. I'm living my worst nightmare. I feel alone. Felt so wanted in the moment and SO real. Ugh. Could someone just give me some support?

POCD

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