POCD need help Got diagnosed with POCD 3 years ago and find ERP really hard as it feels like I’m wilfully fantasising. Keep seeing pics of children and I don’t want to harm them at all but I keep getting thoughts that I’m attracted to them sexually / find their bodies sexually attractive and it sends me into a panic but it feels real like I can’t deny it and like I’m a non offending P.

You see...my friend....don’t try to understand something that doesn’t make sense...it makes you think more about it...ocd doesn’t make sense and at first it’s scary and I couldn’t understand it at first..I’d analyse it and analyse it till the point were I thought I was going insane..had I not analysed in the first place the deep psychological trauma would not have took hold...I was suicidle....if it wasn’t that question or this question..this specific thing or that specific thing....it’s the most scary thing that ocd produces..ocd tried to convince me I was the worst human being I could imagine being........ all sorts of horrendous things would pop up in my head..over thinking about the thoughts and trying to think my way out of it just pulls you deeper..it’s like stoking a fire...you will realise by trial and error..you will finally realise one day..all the trying in world just doesn’t help..don’t try not to think ..just let the thoughts be...don’t attach meaning to what doesn’t make sense..you are the opposite of your ocd...

Intrusive feelings are a big part of OCD. You aren’t the only one!

They say you have themes that are usually incongruent with your values. But I get the ERP angle it is awful. It causes even more shame by willingly thinking of these things. I think Reid Wilson said they actual theme of OCD is nonsense because the treatment is the same. But that is easier said than done.

Thanks for your honesty..you’re so brave and honest..a pedo wouldn’t be like you ..you got pocd..your writing like someone who’s struggling with pocd..not sat in some room looking at things they shouldn’t on there own in front of a computer or somewhere looking for an opportunity to abuse a child......it’s horrible experiencing what you go through...your a good soul who’s going through a tough time...things get better when you actually practice not taking the thoughts seriously..this was hard for me at first..because I thought that meant if I wasn’t worried then I was ok with p thoughts..but my reaction was feeding them..so I started going on as if I wasn’t bothered..that’s hard at first...but I actually started laughing at my ocd symptoms..letting experience them...then discovered that It gets easier...gradually as you realise you have nothing to fear..that you won’t abuse any child...that you don’t want to either...underneath you know you don’t want to..so just trust your self ..your heart..let the intrusive thoughts be there they will calm down the more you face them..??

I had POCD for a year and a half and it was absolutely horrible. I deal with HOCD and ROCD off and on now and all my fears have revolved on unwanted intrusive feelings of attraction so I completely understand. I try to remind myself that if I really wanted these things, I would enjoy the thoughts and feelings. Ocd really just target everything you care about and tries to convince you that you want the opposite of what you want. Hang in there. None of you are alone.

Thanks Nafisa don’t some feel disgust though? Or they just “know.” It seems half the time I’m not, half the time I think I am and then I do compulsions replay the thought to see if I actually am until I temporarily convince myself I’m not. Sorry if this is ruminating

Thank you Nafisa

It’s so hard! It feels like I’m trying to deny that I’m sexually attracted to them but next minute I tell myself no I’m not then next minute yes I am just accept it it’s like back and forth I’m trying to deny it :(

My understanding is that it attacks what you value at whatever particular time in your life. OCD causes us to think things that lead us to picture everything falling apart. If I didn’t work like that then you could just move on quicker I guess. Intellectually I can make sense of it but not in practice.

Yes...the worst thing I could ever imagine is ever hurting a child or being sexually attracted to a child....that’s my biggest fear and that’s what ocd tries to convince me I’d do and am....I also get Other bad thoughts ...but the worst things are the pedo thoughts...but I can let it ruin my life...or I can live life...iv had many years of struggling with the theme..it took me years to work out how to move forward....

I think the worse thing in the world is for a split second u feel like u want to do something bad to a child or masterbate over them n then u realise no I don’t it’s bad n then the extreme guilt kicks in why does that happen is it ocd trying to trick u again anyone else experience that??

Anyone find it hard being around young family this Christmas :( it’s like the intrusive thoughts wouldn’t stop at all like constantly questioning myself agghhh hate it

Tbh I have no idea. Some folks say label thoughts as ocd and move on. Others say practice mindfulness and ACT. The idea with ERP is supposed to be habituation. Your brain can’t be anxious and bored at the same time.

I feel like emotional rollercoaster my brain don’t allow me 1 day off from my pocd n I feel kinda sexually frustrated because it is stopping me from being intimate with my bf because thoughts n images always pops up then so I can do it anymore n I can’t stand it making me think I attracted to them especially this little girl I saw on the advert when I had a bad day I thought of fancying her because she’s pretty everytime my brain wanted to put a bad thought in my head about her I would say plz stop but until yesterday I’m really not sure how I feel anymore I’m so confused it’s like I’m so tired of fighting it sometimes I just feel like saying Yh sure brain that’s how I feel n then my brain makes me think I want to masterbate over her it’s disgusting makes me panic I cried n cried has anyone else gone through this or am I the only one in the world n it’s so clear I don’t like it n I’m not a pedo but my brain is playing so many tricks plz what can I do I’m so close to suicide but my brains says stop saying u don’t like it u do n u want to do that n now I feel I’m not sure plz help I’m dying but my brain is convince me that’s my real intentions I really don’t want to be a pedo that’s the worst thing someone can do

Sorry for the essay I just needed to get that off my chest plz help guys I want to enjoy my Christmas for once this year n finally be myself

Thank u so much god bless u ❤️

Why does ocd make us believe we want to do bad things n have bad urges like we actually want it it’s so horrible n scary

@benpeace thanks for ur kind words why does ocd make us think we r genuinely attracted to kids or a specific child n want to do something bad n it targets cute good looking kids n makes me feel I have a type it’s horrible ??

Ok thank u I really needed to hear that does ocd target what u hate the most to make u feel super anxious

Thanks guys I have restored my faith in humanity there r some good ppl in the world n unfortunately they suffer the bad doesn’t feel anything the good suffers ?

Thank u