Due to common misconceptions, people don’t always realize that intrusive thoughts from OCD can cause serious distress and discomfort. In reality, some types of OCD that affect many people involve thoughts that are violent, sexual, or taboo in nature. In our newest video, comedian Maria Bamford is joined by renowned OCD advocate Ethan Smith to bring awareness to taboo OCD thoughts. They discuss what OCD can really look like, and how it feels when intrusive thoughts strike at the most unexpected times. Watch now as Maria and Ethan share real, everyday experiences with OCD.

Hi! I have dealt with OCD for most of my life. I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 16 and wasn’t treated until I was in my mid-20s. I am 33 now and still battle it. I believe this will be a lifelong battle. When I was young I had severe anxiety that has always stayed with me. My OCD consists of intrusive thoughts-sexual that I don’t want. It makes me uncomfortable around men. My fears become so great, envisioning and fearing I’ve acted on these thoughts. It becomes real in my mind and its completely debilitating. It’s hard to decipher fears from reality. My mind will not let up, I feel guilty for the thoughts plus the worry that I’ve acted on them it takes over my mind. This can last for weeks. I’m on a lot of medicine really my goal here is to help encourage others that experience the same thing. It has caused me depression, sleepless nights, Bad stomach problems and it’s taken away far too much of my life and my family. I know the one thing that helps me is prayer, God listens and he knows. Please reach out to me if you want to know more. The one thing I do know is that I understand and it’s a horrible thing I would not wish on my enemy.

When I talk about my OCD I feel pressure released simultaneously. I have heard the expression that pain is fear leaving the body. I don’t understand exactly why I feel better when I open up about my obsessions, but it is one of the best feelings that I have ever experienced.

Didn't get how this relates to OCD, plus it's using sexualisation in the content. Sorry not helpful

Not helpful at all

I have experienced similar, almost identical, intrusive thoughts. I don’t think the video is using sexualization in a way that is not related to OCD. I am a heterosexual male, yet I used to feel the urge to stare at men’s crotches. I drew no pleasure from that, but I felt I had to do it and then find reassurance that they didn’t think I was gay. It was emotionally draining to say the least! The intensity increased in accordance with how important an individual was in my life. For example, the boss at work was definitely a 10 on a scale of severity, clients, co workers, friends, Etc. It was an extremely painful ritual for me as a young adult who didn’t understand what was happening inside his head. I invented a section in my mind that I called damage control. That was the part that was responsible for finding reassurance that those people, that I had improperly stared at, would still accept me as their friend, coworker, subordinate, supervisor, Etc. Then it started with women. I could not help but stare at their breasts while I was talking to them Again, it was not something that I drew pleasure from and the urge to stare was most severe when it was the bosses wife or anybody that could make or break my life. My life was dedicated 90 per cent to damage control! Those thoughts lessened the moment I said to myself “What’s the worst thing that can happen? Somebody will think I’m gay? Let them think what they want!” As for the female breast staring part, what’s the worse thing that could happen? I was terrified of my bosses wife saying “Honey I caught so and so staring at my breasts”. We’ll, I said to myself “everybody stares at one point or another and for different reasons. There’s no reason to feel scared or ashamed, I will stare if I want to and then turn away. Nothing is going to happen” I have been free of those particular urges for a long time, but they certainly caused me great pain when I was in my teens and early twenties. Fortunately, I learned to accept them as something natural and with that acceptance the OCD Monster inside my head starved to death.

With the help of medication, my intrusive thoughts have decreased. I’m no longer bothered by staring urges and I can function in public, but I still get the urge to do reassurance rituals. There is urge that practically knocks me down. I force myself to feel depersonalization and then reassure myself that everything is real. I do that over and over and then spend a great deal of energy try to avoid it, of course that makes it worse! Recently, I got it pretty bad. With bills to pay me a family with problems of its own, you can imagine how stressful that becomes. Thankfully, I came. across this app! My urges have decreased, simply by being able to talk about them. I am hopeful that I am on the path to a better life.

Ngl they have the right idea lol.

Great video! Appreciate the candid chat.