- Date posted
- 1y
False Memory OCD and actual memories
How can you tell the difference between actual memories and false memory OCD? I try to do this but every time I do it my mind wonders off
How can you tell the difference between actual memories and false memory OCD? I try to do this but every time I do it my mind wonders off
The whole point is that you don’t have to be able to. Overcoming OCD is all about being fine with the uncertainty. I know it’s easier said than done but instead of trying to fixate on whether something actually happened or not, just try to get your mind off of it. Hope this helps!
Actually, I can never tell unless I ask the people around me if it actually happend. Also, most of the time I can't distinguish the difference between my dreams and the things that actually happened...
@cassxxx Mine is like different. It involved an online discussion that I later deleted. My mind is telling me that someone said something meanwhile I never worried about someone saying something because i never remembered. It sucks
Does anyone have advice on distinguishing between real event ocd and false memory ocd? If my current obsession is whether this intrusive image in my head is a real memory even though there’s no evidence it is, does that seem more like real event ocd or false memory? I feel like I’m getting into a trap of worrying that I’m obsessing over a real event instead of a false image and keep having thoughts that say “you know you did this” even though I really don’t think I did.
Without trying to seek reassurance, I’m wondering if anyone has insight on identifying an intrusive thought vs reality. Something that’s always really helped ground me in moments of false memory ocd is clearly remembering the exact moment the thought arose and how it started as “what if I cheated and don’t remember.” Then the images come and are extremely distressing, but I’ve always found some comfort in coming back to that moment of “this started as what if.” It feels like my brain is almost getting more creative with the thoughts now, and I’ve been having probably the worst anxiety of my life the past couple months after another intrusive thought entered my mind. I woke up after a night drinking and thought to myself “did you kiss your friend and don’t remember?” (Didn’t happen, undeniably proved). The rest of the day I stayed anxious about other things I could have done and poured over all my memories of the night. Then the next day I finally had found some peace based on all the evidence from my friends who were with me that nothing bad happened. I then thought “what about when you went to the bathroom,” which I hadn’t really been thinking about before, and then my mind immediately started flashing with images of me performing sex acts in the bathroom with some person who has no name, face, details, or anything I remember about interacting with them. I think I’m just concerned that this was a moment of genuine memory recall since I hadn’t been thinking about the bathroom before, and it was more of a sudden flash of images and “did you do that” vs “what if you did that.” I’m wondering how others are able to identify that something is an intrusive thought vs reality.
any advice for when you get false memories that feel really real? especially something that had JUST happened, it’s like ur brain distorts it. i feel like i do something wrong 24/7 then i get over it and ocd latched onto something new
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond