I have been ruminating on why I have been having intrusive thoughts on a specific topic. Anyone know why? Where do they come from? It freaks me out and makes me think that it came from a real memory (I struggle with false memory OCD)
I think that if we feel very guilty and bad about having a specific thought, it gains magnitude in our brain. Now isn't that so unbelievably inconvenient? The thought decides it wants to stick around, and so as you are doing now, we try to understand why. But you need to realize that you can't solve it, because the more you dwell on that thought, the more importance it gains. You can't win, because by definition Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) makes you obsessive, so even once you get to a "conclusion", the thought will be irresistible (because it's gotten used to being important) and it will come back, and that'll stress you out a little. My experience is that they gain magnitude when you think about them in a judgmental way. So the same ones come back? So what? It's just the OCD in its cycle, your brain has gotten used to this thought and wants to do the little ritual of redecrypting it. But you need to get out of that cycle, by not engaging, and not being judgy, and don't panic (panic is so flammable). Just let them drift by, don't try to solve it, and slowly slowly they will drift by faster and faster until they become a normal sized thought : )
I don't have false memory ocd,but I will say ocd attacks what you care about and with ocd you will never be 100% certain your memory didn't happen because ocd is the doubting disorder and for every logical answer you give it, it says but what if ,are yousure ,that's why you accept uncertainty, maybe ,maybe not and if x happend learn to be okay and move on with it ,easier said then done
Hey, thank you so much for sharing this - I know how scary and confusing it can feel when intrusive thoughts latch onto something and make you question your own memory. You're not alone in this - False Memory OCD can make things feel incredibly real, even when there's no factual basis. Intrusive thoughts are ego-dystonic, which means they go against your values and identity. They’re not a reflection of who you are or what you want - they’re just the OCD latching onto a topic that causes distress, and then convincing you to seek certainty or find a “why,” which leads to more rumination. These two videos explain it really well and might offer some clarity and reassurance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXIllLvRUZE&t=1s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EEriK-0VGk&list=PLJwbxpxualYpcX3SPEgNVbTEOI7gXeA5x You mentioned you're ruminating on why these intrusive thoughts are showing up - that’s such a common trap OCD sets, pulling us into trying to find a deeper meaning or explanation. It's totally understandable to want answers, but it’s often OCD’s way of keeping us stuck. How have you been managing when those thoughts come up? Happy to talk it through or just sit with you in the uncertainty.
It sounds like you're going through a challenging time with your intrusive thoughts and rumination. It's common for people with OCD, especially false memory OCD, to question the source of their intrusive thoughts. The thoughts themselves are often random and meaningless, but the distress comes from the importance we place on them. Remember, thoughts are not facts, even when they feel very real. If you’d like additional support, feel free to book a free call with our NOCD team. We’d be happy to share more information and explore ways to help. No one has to live in fear of their own thoughts. Also here are some helpful resources: https://www.treatmyocd.com/what-is-ocd/common-fears/what-are-intrusive-thoughts-and-are-they-normal https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/intrusive-thoughts-normal/ https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/why-talk-therapy-typically-isnt-effective-for-treating-ocd/
Has anyone had this fear that they were abused in childhood and just don’t remember? And that’s why you have harm related thoughts? Like, I kept thinking if my mom abused me in childhood even though I had not ever thought or felt that way before, it came up a few months ago when my therapist was talking about complex PTSD which then freaked me out thinking something super horrific happened in my childhood and I just don’t remember it. My mom and I are super close, always have been. My mom was protective of me, but never in an abusive sense. She would just worry whenever I went out with friends and such, and wanted me to text her every now and again to let me know what was going on. Even in adulthood she sometimes wants to check in on me if I go out somewhere (even though we live together) and she even tells me to not worry about it and she knows it’s just her anxiety that gets the best of her, thinking something bad happened or what not. Anyway, I kept thinking about this and I thought is this abusive behavior? My mom wanting to check in on me? And I think of course not, it shows she cares and loves me. It’s not like she’s a hounding my phone every second or what not, just a text or a call to see what’s up. But my mind takes it further and thinks this is controlling behavior or something. So it goes back to the was I abused in childhood and I just have repressed memories, and that’s why I get harm thoughts towards my mom. I’m always thinking there is a deeper meaning. I never even thought that before in my life, about the abuse part, but it has become stuck in my mind and I’m scared it will ruin my relationship with my mom.
Hi all, my ocd has been flaring up lately and I’m not sure why. I think it may be due to stress and anxiety involving school and the hurricanes (I live in Florida) anyways I keep having random intrusive thoughts involving my real event and a lot of false memories are popping up, they feel so real it’s like I can feel everything in them even though I haven’t actually felt them. It’s so weird, like sometimes I will watch a movie and be able to feel the texture of snow or a piece of clothing even though I’ve never felt it before. I have noticed when I get those “phantom” ? touch feelings that they cause a lot of false memory intrusive thoughts. I’ve also been having intrusive thoughts that because no one interacts with my posts on here that everyone hates me and knows about me and thinks I’m horrible and disgusting or that someone is talking about me behind my back and telling people to stay away from me and then I’m a horrible person. I hate OCD so much, I hate that I ruminate constantly on little things and mistakes I’ve made and things I can’t let go. I just hate it so much. Does anyone else struggle with these thoughts or even the “phantom feelings/touches” I’m not sure what to call them sometimes I also get them with certain foods or smells even if I hadn’t had them before or smelt them before. It’s so weird
I struggle so bad with intrusive thoughts. They can be so bad that I'll cry because I KNOW that's not how I feel or want to do. (Too embarrassed to say what they're about) I'll constantly try to figure out why I have them, and constantly figure out what they mean, causing me to constantly circle around and around. I had to get on anxeity meds, which helped a little but the thoughts still happen. How do you help yourself with this? How do you know that you're just not some physcopath? 😅
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