- Date posted
- 4y
- Date posted
- 4y
Please, please listen to this - I can imagine how isolated you feel. OCD singles out humiliating moments in our lives and puts them on a pedestal and makes them so much more big and powerful than they would EVER need to be. I see that you glaze over the fact that you were a child, but that’s really, really important context. Children do all sorts of embarrassing things that most of us just block out or pretend never happened. I baby sit a lot of children, and you would be surprised at the sorts of things I see regularly, so please don’t think that this is a perverse or abhorrent thing because it’s just childhood behaviour. Children navigate the world and understand themselves in ways that, when you grow up, you look back and think, ‘oh my god, what was I thinking?’. You were a child. I promise you, this is normal behaviour as bizarre as it may seem looking back now you’re older. You don’t need to let this define you, dear god! There’s so much more to your history than that moment. If we all defined ourselves by the actions of our childhood self, we’d all be mortified and ashamed. Just look forward and try and focus on what’s most important, whether that’s school work, friends, family! It doesn’t matter whether intrusive thoughts interrupt, you can live your life with these intrusive thoughts. Try some ERP, and avoid compulsions at all cost - whether that’s trying to find things from your childhood that make you ‘normal’, or coming on here! I’m sending my love, I hope you can grow from this❤️
- Date posted
- 4y
@annonymous I’m so glad I could help, even if it was just a bit. I understand, that’s still curiousity I promise you. Trust me, I’ve seen weirder! I understand this was probably reassurance, but it’s important you knew this because I’m sure it was driving you up the wall. Just remember that from now on, letting this memory exist without the need to interfere with it is what’s gonna be most valuable for you! You’re gonna be okay, give yourself time ❤️
- Date posted
- 4y
@annonymous Yes, this is normal. That's why reassurance doesn't work. Try out what i suggested earlier air telling yourself "yup I'm actually a bad person and i knew what i was doing etc" best of luck. Erp really helps
- Date posted
- 4y
you need to just accept the past and move on as hard as it is, there’s no point in living in the past as it’s stopping you from living right now. You need to accept what you done and move on from it, everyone has done stuff they regret from when they were younger.
- Date posted
- 4y
@annonymous I know it’s hard but no one is going to figure out anything unless you were to tell them. You should just forget it and try not think too deeply about it as you said you were young! It would be different if you still felt that way or done it, and if that was the case I’d suggest talking to a therapist but like you said you were a child! You’re not a shitty person
- Date posted
- 4y
Also, i don't think you're bad, we all do stuff as kids that we look back on and are horrified about.
- Date posted
- 4y
You could also try when these thoughts/ memories pop up telling yourself "yup, I'm a terrible person, I'm the worst and should be canceled" and then just trying to let go and not try to ruminate. When it comes back just say it again. That way you're not trying to figure out if you're bad, etc you're letting your brain know that yup you're done with this thought. It's weird but with ocd if you do the opposite of what you think you should do, that's what helps.
- Date posted
- 4y
We’ve all done stupid, horrible things as children. There is freedom in the Lord. Read Romans in the Bible
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