Fake Memories and Recurring Guilt

[Guest TamingMyBrain]

Hello All,

I'm new to the forum, and have been diagnosed with OCD for a year, although I suspect I've suffered longer!

I just wanted to make a quick post to see if I could find any like minds, I suffer from constant fake memories almost. It's like when I try to recall an event, my OCD spins it so the event proves/disproves what my OCD is torturing with me with. For example, when I'm obsessing that I will be sick (one of my frequent themes), and I think, "no you've not been in contact with any ill people," my OCD spins it so I think that I have? It's complicated!

Also, I suffer severely from recurring guilt and I will feel guilty for things I did years ago! For example, I took a £1 coin out of a trolley when I was probably 5 years old, and up until I was 6 I obsessed that the police would find me for it! This is recently too!

I'd like to quickly mention that I'm fourteen, and a female, in case the affects any replies!

Thank you all,

T.M.B

[PolarBear]

Welcome to the forum taming. OCD is sneaky, isn't it?

Are you seeing a CBT therapist? Will you?

One of the keys to overcoming OCD is learning to not respond to the thoughts. So if you get a thought like, I'm going to get sick, you say to yourself, yeah whatever, then refocus onto something else, not going over the possibility that you might be sick. Just leaving it alone.

[Guest worriedmum]

hi and welcome to the forums

I too was wondering whether you are receiving any help in the form of CBT for your OCD? What you have shared sounds very familiar but as PolarBear said, not responding to the thoughts is key. When you respond with fear, panic and worry it gives the thought more power and it grows. Like a bully... if someone bullies you and you respond they see you are fearful and upset, it makes them feel more powerful and they come back for more. Ultimately, although it takes time, the less attention you give the thought the better as it will get smaller and more insignificant until you get to the point it no longer bothers you. CBT helps teach you some of this and my son has seen it work for him, even though he thought he'd never get free from it.

Please let us know how you get on.