I’m scared that a memory I have is real BUT I want to try and remember it as good and nothing happened Worried I’m suppressing something and that’s why I can’t remember What should I do? Anyone relate?
You’re not alone in that either, I promise. The reason we get stuck is because OCD can be SO convincing! It makes us believe that what it says is important because it feels so real. OCD will always tell us that our false memories may have actually happened, because that’s what gets our attention and makes us engage with the thoughts. The key with OCD, no matter what the content or theme is, is accepting uncertainty. I know this is of course easier said than done, but once we accept not knowing, OCD loses its power. If you try to argue with it or disprove it, OCD will just fire back with more scenarios and doubts. The best way to respond here is to treat the OCD for what it is and not get caught up in the content, no matter how real it seems. Maybe the fear is true, maybe it isn’t, but it’s not your responsibility to torture yourself trying to find an answer that will never be enough for OCD anyway!
@cr2857 Thanks so much for these. Can we ever figure out what was real and what wasn’t??
Yes I can relate to this so much, and everyone dealing with false memory OCD can too, so you’re definitely not alone! OCD traps us by telling us we need to check our memory to make sure remember every detail perfectly to prove that we did nothing wrong. The truth is that we will never get complete certainty because there’s no way to go back and check, and the more we give into compulsions we are actually feeding the OCD. It seems so difficult to disregard the thoughts when they come, because it feels like we HAVE to do something to figure it out. The truth is that we DON’T have to figure it out, which is good because we ultimately can’t anyway. Try to respond to your ocd with, “maybe, maybe not” instead of trying to argue with it. When we aren’t fighting with our OCD, it will eventually quiet down and your anxiety will drop. If rumination and other compulsions worked, they would have solved the problem and none of us would be suffering with OCD. You got this!
@cr2857 My fear is that my mind has created a false memory that DID happen. What should I do? Also, thanks sooo much!!!
Of course! I know how tough it is, and these are the things I’ve been trying to remind myself of as well. I think the best response to that question would be I don’t know, but it’s not our job to figure it out. In my experience, no amount of compulsions have ever given me certainty about what is real and what isn’t. Any time OCD is telling you to “figure something out”, it’s a trap!
@cr2857 Love this. Thanks for a great new year :)
Glad it helped! Happy New Year!
I have had the same false memory/instrusive image of me doing something horrible to someone when I was 12 and they were younger. It is a memory based on a real event. I truly don’t know if it’s real or not but obviously, the more I think about it the more I think it’s true. This has led my mind to become slightly paranoid. I worry that if this horrible image in my head is true then one day the person I might have hurt will come and k*ll me. I’m really scared I feel like I won’t feel better as long as this “memory” is in my head. Does anyone have advice?
can a false memory feel very very very real? because i literally don’t know if something happened or not. absolutely no clue but it feels so real
Idk how to caption it other than that. My whole life I’ve had an issue with memory hoarding and the upside has been that I have a really vivid memories of my childhood and I get to remember my best days, the main downside has always been I have a lot of childhood trauma too and I remember every detail meticulously like I can relive and reanalyze them which has caused issues in my healing. However as much pain as it is to remember bad things so well it’s always been a bit of a comfort bc at least I know for sure even if other people don’t know or don’t believe. But as of lately I I’ve been forgetting things, whether it’s what time I’m supposed to work (and I have compulsions when checking my work schedule bc I’m always scared of reading it wrong so I usually open it up read it close it and open it up again 2-3 times so I usually KNOW) or what day it is, or just small things that I don’t remember saying or doing that other people swear on. I just have always felt like I know at the very least I know and lately I don’t and I’m so scared of going crazy and losing myself like literally my biggest fear. So I hate this. Today is Friday I was convinced yesterday was Friday and I woke up today for my Saturday shift completely convinced today was Saturday. I hate being wrong and making those small mistakes because it’s terrifying to think about what else I’m remembering wrong, or what else do I not “know” that isn’t actually the truth? I’m just so scared of losing myself mind. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this?
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