So I’ve had some anxiety crop up related to POCD this week. Intrusive thoughts, etc. it’s happened once before but I wasn’t educated on OCD then or seeing my therapist so I’ve never talked about it. I’m terrified to tell my therapist because I’m terrified of being reported. I’ve never done anything harmful or even WANTED to do anything harmful. I am NOT a danger and I know it! I just want help dealing with the thoughts but am scared to share in therapy. Anyone else experience this?

There's the patient confidentiality law. Your protected, and legally your therapist is not allowed to disclose information unless you give SPECIFIC permission too. You can't help these intrusive thoughts! There's absolutely nothing wrong with seeing help. Because your getting help, it shows you don't want these intrusive thoughts. Stay strong! Tell your therapist about this because chances are he has other patients with POCD! Don't doubt yourself. ??

Make sure to find a therapist that specializes in OCD. My first 2 therapists were obviously not at all educated on OCD and they made me so much worse with bad advice. They can't report you though, unless you give them permission to, so you need not worry about that:) especially if you get a therapist who specializes in OCD, they are going to know exactly what you are going through.

I told my therapist and I was horrified. I remember sitting in the waiting room thinking it was going to be the end of my life. Her reaction was so calm and casual, she kind of laughed at how stressed I was to open up about something that is so common.

Not necessarily, but they wouldn’t look into it. They knew I was mentally ill. I’m still getting over these false memories. But it’s a lot better than it was atm!

Lewis I almost did the same thing , Haha. My husband took me to the hospital instead. My pocd is directed at my son and it's really been tough lately. I don't even struggle with the intrusive thoughts anymore. Just the past compulsions where I'd think up the thoughts on purpose to gage my response. It's all so messy.

@marilynbord God I’m so glad to hear another parent! Mine is not “directed” at my son per se but having a son makes the terror of all this 10 times worse.

I had groinal responses a lot but with enough erp I got over that part, thankfully, it was hell

You can trust your therapist then for sure. ? good luck!!

Yeah mine does (only been once). As soon as I started talking she said “That is POCD” so she clearly knew what she was on about. :/ I’m sorry to hear that!! I spent 2 months ruminating, asking for reassurance, speaking to police. I’ve been ‘stable’ for 2 days basically using a new method. Need to stay focused otherwise OCD sneaks in and takes any chance it gets! Even when you don’t realise :/

Trust me, I’ve phoned the police and told them about this because I was so distraught. I thought I could have downloaded something or could have messaged someone under age (no memory of it) They said to go to the hospital...haha

@lewis so the police understand what pocd means? Or did they try to make u sound crazy/like a pedo person for saying that to them?

I’m so scared of being a parent one day with having this. How do you guys do it?! I marvel at you so much, you are defying my biggest fear. I’m most nervous about having groinal responses while with them, I couldn’t imagine dealing with that fear. Oddly enough, my POCD really only exists when I think of myself as a dad. I never really have scenarios where I’m just a regular ol’ predator trolling the streets, lol.

@marilynbord so you were able to talk to your therapist without fear of him or her making a report since you’re a parent? That’s my fear. I want to get help but I don’t want to blow my life up.

Thanks, my therapist does specialize in OCD and has been helping me tremendously with my other obsessions/compulsions, so I should trust him. I know what you mean about bad advice - it took me two therapists to find this one as well.