LONG POST: Can someone help me by answering this? I’ve had intrusive thoughts before but I used to just push them away. In September, I had intrusive thought about life after death and it sent me into a spiral of fear and anxiety. I had trouble falling asleep and focusing during the day. I went to see a therapist a month later. It was a walk-in session and they told me to do CBT. Accept uncertainty and move on. This gave me even more anxiety. Eventually, with meditation, i was able to keep the thoughts at bay. Then in December, I began to have intrusive thoughts about my sister. They were sexually disturbing and I even wished that I could have intrusive thoughts about death again. I then it switched to sexual thoughts about my brother and he’s only a kid so I feel even more disgusted by myself. It’s been like this for three months now. I’ve tried meditating but it’s not doing much. I’m ashamed to tell my parents and I don’t know what to do. I’m afraid I’ll act on the thoughts all the time. Then I wonder if I actually want to have them. It’s so draining. I hate waking up each day to these thoughts. I wonder if I actually want to have them since I have had them for so long. I’m so frustrated with myself.

Hey there! It’s really reassuring to hear brave people like you sharing your thoughts. It means a lot to me, as I have struggled with OCD all my life and also have encountered your similar experience. Getting my parents to agree to therapy was difficult in the beginning. I would recommend asking one of your parents at a time put aside for you both, perhaps in the car or while you are running an errand together. What really helps me cope with OCD is remembering that so many other people have it, and that this is a mental health condition that will be able to pass by me. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

“I hate waking up each day to these thoughts.” Yes yes yes, this was me in my younger years. I’d always hope to take a nap and wake up for it all to be gone. But it was always right there waiting for me, and often even in my dreams. I finally decided that sleep would not make it go away but that it WAS self-care to help me be stronger to cope with it. Peace to you, you’re not alone, so many of us have been there. <3

Hi ? That sounds really frustrating and I have been there before. I would get horrible images flashing in my head, so I can only share your pain. Your therapist was very good at giving you advice about uncertainty. Do you think you could try that again? And are you still taking medication? Those two might really help you out again this time. I understand what you mean by wondering if you actually want to have them. I was frustrated and lost too. And meditation is difficult for me even to this day. Do you tend to analyze these feelings and responses and google advice on this? Sometimes those can be compulsions, and can be very helpful to cut them. ? No matter what the theme is, it doesn’t matter what the content is, treat it as - mental illness OCD. When thinking of recovering, don’t pay too much detail into what the obsession is about, realize that even if you obsess about grapes or oranges or contamination, you should always do your best to respond with ERP and CBT techniques. Things will get better. You might always have uncertainty, but that’s okay. Accept that - life continues ? move along with that uncertainty ?

I would nap a lot too and waking up was so dreadful everytime! I got better after tsking care of myself and no longer avoided thoughts by napping!

I could try uncertainty but I’ve never taken medication for it. How should I tell my parents in order to get help? I’m only 16.

Oops! I misread, I read medication instead of meditation! I think that you should explain in a way that you’re experiencing anxiety and it’s limiting your performance and potential. Telling people your intrusive thoughts is a really scary thing and its natural to feel ashamed. Here’s something similar I wrote to my parents: “mom, dad, I’m going through some really difficult things right now, and I am struggling to balance it with my everyday life. It really limits my potential to be the best I can be and I think getting professional help would really help me get back on my feet. You two being there for me and understanding makes me feel not alone in this.” I hopefully am getting one this month! ps. If they seem strict, its easier to go to the doctor and explain, so they can refer you to a therapist in your area

good luck! ?

Yeah, I wouldn’t tell them the content of the intrusive thoughts. They’re likely to misunderstand. But the umbrella term “experiencing anxiety” is 100% true since OCD is an anxiety disorder. So if they push for details you can just tell them it’s anxiety (but in the therapist’s office I think it’s super important to tell them it’s OCD and to make sure they have training to treat OCD so that they don’t misunderstand your symptoms).

Don’t nap too much it’s going to screw up your sleep cycle. You should only nap 10-40 mins and before 2

Let your parents know that you have a mental health condition- ocd. There is really nothing to be ashamed about. Taking medication to manage this disorder is very helpful too. It's fortunate that there are treatments for ocd now. I had it more than 30 years ago and I didnt even know what I was suffering from then.

Thank you sharing your thoughts!

I get suicidal intrusions all the time and it used to get to me a lot. My intrusions are so random I never know what it is going to be sadly