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the NOCD Community

I hate that 2 words can make me spiral downhill. A simple “What if I don’t like girls anymore” or “What if I’m not always interested in looking at revealing photos of Women.” It’s so silly. I’m the type of guy who loves providing and protecting a woman and I don’t do hook ups. As much as I find women in revealing clothing attractive, I find myself constantly daydreaming (non sexually) if I see a beautiful woman that I want to pursue. I love being in love with a woman. It makes me feel really happy and it just feels like OCD is taking that away from me. The more I overthink and ruminate on What If thoughts, the more it feels like I’m turning gay, even though I know that’s not how sexuality works. I want to be with a woman romantically and I want to marry a woman. If I catch myself scrolling too fast on a girl in cleavage, I’ll think I’m gay 🤦🏻‍♂️ or if I stare at a guys face in a video for a certain amount of seconds instead of the woman , I’ll think “oh no I’m turning.” Like I feel I’m the only one who has these ridiculous ocd thoughts

I told a girl to go fuck her dad (he's in jail) because she has hit me over the head with a shoe, told my friends I made up lies about them (I didn't), poured water on me, brought a vape to school and tried to force me to use it, wrote me a death threat letter (which I sadly lost), called me autistic (I'm not), said my parents are related (they're not), made fun of my cousin, said I'm a weirdo and started a big fight at lunch and when I apologised she still shouted at me and made up rumours. She told me she was going to report me to the school for texting her to go fuck with her dad, but I think she deserved it. Our school will take stuff like this very seriously though and I don't want my parents finding out. What should I do?

I’m having a bad episode right now and I’m feeling so depressed and I’m crying like a baby because I’m thinking that if my mom knew the reasons I’m like this she would hate me and what would I ever do without my mom. I’m feeling so alone. I just need my mom but I know I can’t open up to her. Like even if I’m this horrible person my mom would despise me too? I can’t handle that someone please help.

Sometimes im really scared of myself. I get these urges to hurt myself and theyre so intense and i cant Stop Them. For example, when im shaving, then i get the urge to Cut myself and I feel so anxious cause im Just so scared of doing it. Or when im cooking or straightning my Hair, i wanna burn myself. I Know that Sounds confusing but sometimes when i wanna Hurt myself then i already kinda feel the pain without even doing it. And i Know all of this has something to do with my ocd because i dont actually wanna Hurt myself.

I'll be watching videos on Instagram and TikTok and then there's one that pops up that relates to my fears of struggles - fear of losing people (being vague because even typing about it is hard) - and it triggers me because i fear that it will cause something to happen. And like, anytime I tell people about these fears, they're just like "focus on present, you can't stop that from happening" and it's like - i know i can't bro 😭 and i don't wanna accept it but i feel guilty for not wanting to accept it because idk, it just makes me feel ashamed and like i'm taking advantage of moments . like i know i can't stop it and i do wanna focus on present moment but it's so hard to when my brain is fixated on these certain triggers that make me obsess over the future, the passing of time, and those fears so i will find mtself fixated on future dates and numbers, counting down, etc.. and i just hate it because I don't wanna be that way. I just wanna be chill and to not focus on this stuff this much. To make the passing of time feel somewhat decent and to stop focusing g on certain things that hurt me

OCD is so tiring. I’ve been dating this guy for about 3 months. I reallyyyyy like him. However, it’s also been so exhausting because I’m constantly questioning the relationship, and him. “Is this who God want a for me?” “Is there someone better?” “Do I even like him?” “If someone is good for you, you will be at peace” “Is this OCD or discernment” “follow your gut” I’m just constantly looking for answers! I can’t just be present. I know my upbringing may be apart of this. Im Christian, but my walk with Christ is not perfect. Ive fallen short to temptation and I feel like because of that the relationship won’t work or God is punishing me. Im constantly praying or thinking about what God thinks of me. Probably a compulsion. Which hurts as well because I used to be able to pray freely…if that makes sense. However, this has happened before. I leave someone then I start obsessing over something else. My sexuality or my health or if I have OCD or not. This relationship is still essentially new but this is the first relationship I’ve been open about my mental health struggles. And, I didn’t feel judged. But, my mind is saying if we breakup. I will be happy. I also get triggered by Instagram posts about relationships. It’s apart of my algorithm at this point, but I feel like any post I see is a sign?? It’s just so annoying. Sorry I’m all over the place, but that’s how it feels in my mind. I just need to get these thoughts out. I just want to be content with whatever happens.

Consider this for a moment. We often think we see with our eyes, but in reality, our eyes merely transmit signals to the brain, which then creates the images we perceive. The same process applies to hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling—our brain constructs our perception of reality. This brain also understands your values and the true essence of who you are. In OCD, I believe there's a malfunction in the mechanism that recycles memories. Its primary role is to clear out old memory spaces for reuse. If it encounters a memory linked to something important to you, it brings it to your attention to see if you'll react. If you do, it retains the memory; if not, it's discarded as irrelevant. For someone with OCD, ignoring these thoughts is challenging. They often dwell on them, signaling the brain to keep them and attempt to resolve whether they're significant by creating false scenarios or memories. This process occurs while the person experiences intense emotional reactions because these thoughts clash with their values, leading to feelings of rejection and distress. The awareness that they might be responsible for these unwanted thoughts exacerbates the situation, resulting in a cycle of agony. After many cycles, the person becomes exhausted from anxiety and emotional turmoil. However, the brain is genuinely trying to help by clearing memory space and resolving ethical or moral dilemmas. The key is understanding that your true self remains intact. You are defined by your negative emotions toward these intrusive memories, not the memories themselves. Hang in there; trust me, things will get better. Apologies for the lengthy post—I wanted to explain it thoroughly, and I might share this response with others who could benefit from it.

I feel so defeated by false memory ocd. The reality of it all hits me so hard , I just feel so hopeless.

feel really down like i'll never be able to live my life i feel i'm never truly happy i just have to get by i feel stuck ive had loads of therapy cbt nothing will ever really help me 😞

When I’m not obsessing over some thought I feel weird cause I’m always checking if the thought is there and so scared that I will obsess about the thought again. It’s so scary cause I have no idea. It’s like I’m obsessed over not being obsessed?( if that make sense ). Like my life is basically being obsessed over something and if I’m not obsessed for like couple of hours I feel the need to be obsessed, like wtf is wrong with me. Because when I’m obsessing over a thought it’s like 24/7 and the urge is so big. And when I’m not obsessing I feel the need to be obsessed. I don’t know what going on anymore, is it normal?

I’m not saying any of this to be rude or hateful in any way!! Basically, I like this guy and I really love him, but, everytime I look at this one photo of him, I keep noticing he looks unflattering and it makes me worry, because I’m scared what if he’s ugly? And why does that even matter? Why can’t I just love him in peace without having to check his photo to make sure he’s not ugly? Like that sounds really rude and disrespectful and it hurts even more to know that he’s self conscious and I would NEVER want to hurt him so I don’t tell him I check his photo to make sure he’s not ugly, I get anxious when I notice/feel that he is unattractive/unflattering, so I check till I feel certain that I don’t think he’s ugly, why do I even do this? Why does it matter? Why does my brain make it difficult to even look at a photo without worrying, can I be normal? I say “I think he’s cute/I love him” to his photo and my brain is like “nope cuz he’s unattractive” then I get worried and for what??? I ask myself why do I care and I genuinely don’t know

Ok Hi. This is my first experience ever with rOCD and I think my OCD is flaring up bad because of it. I’ve always been insecure since a young age because of things people have commented about my appearance. Like about my nose or saying I have a masculine jaw (I’m female btw). I know I’m a good looking girl and many people have told me that I’m pretty… but for some reason I just don’t believe them. I know I wouldn’t have a boyfriend rn if I was unattractive but still, I can’t help but feel like he’s lying to me when he said I’m pretty or sexy. I’ve always obsessed about my looks and I feel like I’m always craving reassurance and validation from others. It’s exhausting. I also really do like my boyfriend, I think I’m falling in love with him. But I just don’t know. I don’t know what it feels like. I’m overthinking everything about our relationship and I keep thinking about his exes ughhhh. Comparing myself and his past relationships with ours. I feel like he doesn’t really like me even though he’s done nothing to show me that he doesn’t. I’m just so in my head and I hate feeling like this. I feel like he thinks I’m ugly or unattractive. It sucks. I have this lingering feeling of being undesirable. I need help!!!

POCD has been the worst thing I've ever been through. I feel like I have always sort of experienced it but not to the degree I do now. I used to plan being a mother to a beautiful family. Now I don't know if I'll ever have children at the risk of having a girl. I used to have intrusive thoughts that would make me feel weird but I could just move on from them. That was until I had to babysit my niece and change her diaper. I want to throw up thinking about it. I got a horribly strong groinal response and I didn't know what to do. I didn't understand why it was happening. It bothered me all day that day and later on I did the disgusting deed of testing myself. I regret it everyday. It's a horrible compulsion and it haunts me. I tested if I was getting off to the thought of her. And of course there was stimulation because of the groinal response. But I hated doing it. I just felt like I had to be sure. After that and since then I haven't wanted to be around her. I stopped planning being a mother, I stopped watching cute baby videos like I used to enjoy because they trigger disgusting intrusive thoughts. After a while I stopped being intimate with my boyfriend and haven't done anything with for months because the thoughts take over and make me feel like I may enjoy the deed more if I was thinking of children. I worry that maybe I do enjoy these thoughts and I'm just denying it. I wish I could be sure. I feel so disgusting and ugly, I've never hated myself this much. It takes over most of my days. I wish I had never changed her diaper. Some times in moments of clarity I am so sure that I'm not a predator, but when I am vulnerable OCD sneaks back in and tells me I enjoy my thoughts and that I should think them. Sometimes it gets so overwhelming that I have to test. I wish I could stop. It ruins my entire week. I feel like a monster. I want to love my life again. I miss life before this. I feel so hopeless most of the time and I can't imagine a way out. I'm scared to start therapy because what if I found out I am a monster? I can't live like that. I won't. I want to cry and scream. Am I alone in this?

Anyone else struggle with prayer? I do it obsessively and I have to do it just right or I think something bad will happen to my loved ones. Ive struggled with it for about 25 yrs. It's makes it so hard for me to pray but if I don't then the fear something terrible is going to happen kicks in I just can't deal with this anymore...

I don't know what to do anymore. I'm going through so much laundry and my parents are mad at me, and my hands are so cracked theyre bleeding. It's actually becoming unbearable. my medications don't help, and therapy isn't helping. I don't know what else I can do or how I can live with this. everyday is hell and I don't know how to manage any of this. I keep getting panic attacks over these things. I'm in physical pain and I can't control it. people are telling me my hands look so disgusting and I need to stop washing/using sanitizer, but no matter how hard I try I can't. I'm lost and I don't know what to do.

so, a celebrity from a band i loved since i was 5 years old died today. naturally, it made me sad. i was crying over it and everything but, this celebrity recently got revealed as an abuser, and i heard he got caught talking to underage girls i feel bad for even being sad over the fact this guy died. my mom and sister also liked this band and we were all crying over it. i feel selfish for crying, feel bad for being sad, i feel so bad for the victims right now because they’re being blamed im just afraid that crying over this guys death makes me a bad person

When im in a relationship, the attention from my partner is never enough for my brain. I always seek attention from other men at clubs or bars. I don’t like kiss them or anything but I always expect to get compliments and it kind of ruins the feelings of genuinely enjoying the moment when I’m at a club or bar with friends. I know I have low self esteem, but what can I do to get rid of this feeling?

I want to love God with my heart, but I’m consumed by the fears of OCD. I’m so scared. I believe in Jesus, but my intrusive thoughts say I don’t.

Hey everyone ... I'd love some opinions on something. Recently I got to see a band I really love and meet them. It was really great, the concert was amazing and I had a good view, and the band was really sweet to me. I wanted to get a tattoo of the bands logo and the date I saw/met them for my birthday which is in a couple weeks. But while I was looking then up I saw that they had a controversy. And that 10+ years ago one of the members wrote a pretty racist parody song or something for another band he was in. I actually met this member and he was sooo nice, he even offered to hug me. So I don't know what to think, and I don't want to excuse it just because he was nice or just assumed he changed or whatever. But I might also be blowing it out of proportion ... ? Should I just avoid getting the tattoo or is this just moral ocd ?? I'm scared I'll regret it or people will think im racist for having it. Or that the band might do something controversial in the future and I won't be able to remove it. Idk what to do.

I don’t exactly know what this post will achieve, but I personally am getting tired of the lack of progress in new pharmacological treatments for OCD. As it is, the medications prescribed for OCD were all developed and intended for other conditions. SSRIs are still the primary medications used, and they’re really meant to treat depression and anxiety. They aren’t even always effective at doing that. Clomipramine is an antidepressant marketed for OCD, but it was partially labeled that way because there were already enough drugs available for depression at the time. Not to mention all its side effects. Anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines are addictive and only treat the anxiety in OCD, not the underlying obsessions, compulsive drives, and intrusive thoughts that really lead to the anxiety. There may be no perfect drug that can directly reduce obsessions, compulsions or intrusive thoughts. That would be a complicated process for one medication to handle. But it doesn’t seem like much focus has ever been placed on ameliorating OCD. And since it affects 1 to 2% of the world’s population, there’s clearly a demand for better treatment. So if not a medication, then other things need to be explored. TMS should already be FDA approved for OCD, so people can actually afford it. ERXP therapy also needs to be regulated better so it isn’t ridiculously expensive. Again, I’m not really sure what I hope to achieve here, but like we need to advocate as a community for our treatment. I don’t know if that means talking to individual doctors or trying to somehow reach out to universities or research facilities, but this is not satisfactory. And it doesn’t seem like much is going to change unless we advocate for ourselves. So like, please help me advocate in whatever way you feel you can.