does anyone else have this problem where you feel like ur intrusive thought is a “intuition” thing or something “important” or it “has to mean something that im thinking that i did this” even though when there is clear evidence you never did said thing or no memory of it? and then when i try to get over the thoughts my brain just tells me im a bad person for “ignoring” the problem. or that my brain is going to suddenly remember what happened in the future and im just “repressing it”. im so sick of this, i just want to fucking move on with my life already

oh i see. do you have anyone idea how i can effectively deal with this?

@Duck Have you tried using "maybe" as a response prevention strategy? It's going to feel worse in the moment, but help you get better long term

@NOCD Advocate - Katie like saying “maybe” to whatever thoughts i have? i thought of doing this but the problem is it makes me feel like a bad person if i just say “maybe” to the “what ifs” because if i did do this thing it would make me a bad person. i cant accept the “maybe” because thats like me being ok with if i DID do said thing, which would be a problem. thank you for taking the time to respond to me with suggestions

@Duck Yes, exactly. If OCD jabs back with "then you're a bad person", you can say "maybe, maybe not. I don't need to know" and move on with whatever you were doing. "Feelings aren't facts" is another phrase to keep in mind. Response Prevention feels yucky. It's choosing short term pain for long term relief, instead of the other way round.

@NOCD Advocate - Katie what if this is something i would have to know because my relationship would be affected? like saying “i dont need to know” would be bad of me because whether or not i did said thing would make or break my relationship

@Duck Knowing whether or not you did it won't change the past.

@NOCD Advocate - Katie i know it wont, but im overthinking now on what to do. im sorry

@Duck No need to apologise, at least not to me. Maybe to yourself. It's up to you.

the thing is i dont want it to be real. i feel like it started as a intrusive thought, and then its been months with on and off “what if i did do this thing?” even it i have no memory of it. i tried ignoring the “what ifs” but it feels like im being a bad person by just letting myself move on from it, because of the thought “what if it did happen and im trying to find an excuse” how should i respond to the “what if” thoughts? how do i allow myself to trust myself and my memory? i had NO memory of ever doing said thing so WHY am i not letting myself move on???

@Angel20 Hey, I’m just wondering how are you doing? I’m in a relationship of 2 years and currently experiencing something similar to yours. I realized that I had an encounter nothing bad happen, I did have a thought about being friendly behind my boyfriends back and the day it happened I said that it was about flirting. And now I’m going crazy about it. “What if it was like that and don’t recall or don’t remember”

@katiesosa I realized that ocd really doubts everything, I would be like yes it was about friendly but when I watched a youtube video that you recall a memory best the day of, that’s when I started spiraling. I realized you are doubting yourself too much and realistically if you feel in your gut and heart that you didn’t play out the ‘supposable’ memory ocd wants to give you. Easier said than done but move on. Just learn to trust yourself. It’s all about being single minded and taking a step forward