Need help. I feel like I acted on my Intrusive Thoughts. I’ve been doing great with my recovery from POCD. I’ve been accepting the thoughts, and been on medicine and I’ve had thoughts, but have been able to brush them off. I’ve also been forcing myself to be around the children that are my triggers. I work in child care. But today, a kid brought in a valentines sticker book. He brought one of the stickers over to me and told me it said “you are so sexy” I took it from him, and one of the girls I was with asked what it said. I said it was inappropriate. My OCD then told me to let her read it. And I just handed it to her. And now my mind is telling me I did it because I’m a terrible child predator, and I keep asking myself why I did it, and telling myself I’m a bar person. I feel like I’m 10 step backwards.

I also struggle with POCD and i have done things like looking at children's parts (over their clothes) and I then question myself about it and think that im a bad person. Like I know its wrong but I have the thought in the back of my head saying it's ok. I feel like your thoughts are still pretty much there and your realising that while around children. I don't feel like your a bad person at all. We all make mistakes and some people have different experiences. Your trying to overcome your bad thoughts by doing things your afraid to do, and i feel like that is a huge step. When we think about the thoughts too much it starts to become a reality and its almost like our thoughts are taking over us. Just remember that people make mistakes alot and your not alone.

Thank you for the response. I really appreciate it

OCD sufferers not being able to act on their intrusive thoughts is a myth. We're just as able to act impulsively as any other person. The only difference is that intrusive thoughts cause anxiety for people with OCD. Whatever your OCD is telling you, it isn't true, but that doesn't necessarily mean you won't act on it. There's no need to worry. You're just a normal OCD sufferer just like the rest of us.

Yes - KUDOS to exposing yourself to your triggers! That is SO hard and your OCD is bound to try to find a way to ruin any progress you make with it - but only at first. Just keep at it. Make some mistakes! It’s okay. Things will improve.

Bad person*

Thank you.

You didn’t do anything wrong. Sounds like a great exposure exercise tho, being around kiddos and everything!