sometimes i can disregard my false memories for weeks on end but then they’ll come back and seem even more real which sends me into doing compulsions and seeking reassurance, what i’ve read about false memories is that if the thought starts with “what if i......in the past” it’s a false memory cause if it was real you’d 100% remember it but i’m scared that i might’ve done something inappropriate to my sister ( when she was 2 ) like held her in a wrong way or put my hands on her in a wrong way in the past, i can’t remember doing this i just have really vivid images and high anxiety which makes it feel real, i fear that i might have done something inappropriate but like not seen it as inappropriate at the time? but that also doesn’t make any sense because i definitely wouldn’t touch a child that way because i feel no attraction towards them at all i’ve always been attracted to people my age so there would be no reason for me to do that. Then i also have thoughts like “maybe you saw it as funny or as a joke” but that doesn’t make any sense either, i know that i’ve patted my sisters butt when she was younger and used to crawl because i found it so cute. I wish i could remember everytime i’ve been affectionate with her so i’d know for sure if i ever did something bad but no matter how hard i try i cant, everything is so fuzzy. i just started my last year in high school and i really want to enjoy my last year with my friends and i’m also taking a lot of courses that i like this year but OCD makes it impossible. i feel like i can’t just disregard these thoughts as false memories cause what if they’re real? or what if i’ve just convinced myself that they’re ocd and they’re actually real? i’m sorry for the long post but can someone please help me i feel hopeless i don’t know how much longer i can put up with this, i’m anxious all the time.

Well if they are real, wouldn’t we need to turn ourselves in for touching someone inappropriately? Wouldn’t we go to jail, be disowned by our families and looked down upon by society? Lose all of our friends and our families and freedoms? Be punished in the after life for such heinous actions? Feel immense guilt and remorse every time we’re around that particular person?

@Freemeofocd those are exactly my thoughts :(( i feel like if they were to be true i’d never be able to allow myself a moment of peace and i’d hate myself forever, like even just thinking about the false memory makes me feel like i’m undeserving of life

@Freemeofocd No. You wouldn't need to do any of those things. You'd love your life to the fullest while doing your best to behave ethically and lawfully. Perhaps you'd get caught, but if you hadn't been so far, those chances are slim. Eventually the statute of limitations would run out.

@NOCD Advocate - Katie Another false memory ocd (hopefully) suffer here.. If your memory isn't something that would be illegal but there is this fear of you being a bad person undeserving of love and life what than? What can we do? The idea of my memory being true would mean I ruined my life beyond repair... Like how could I live with myself and allow people to love me and enjoy life knowing I did something totally against my morals? What about my family and friends? If I tell them there is a possibility of them leaving me... If I don't I am basically lying because they love a version of me that is not real because they see me as a good person but I am not. What about when I find a partner and they fall in love with me? How can I let them love me if they don't know my true self.. (the monster I might be). Do I tell them or do I live knowing they love a version of me that is not real? Those are the questions that are making me crazy... That's why I always say to people it's not that easy to treat false memory ocd.. how can I wake up in the morning and take care of myself and be nice to myself not knowing if I did something bad in the past?