Whosthatgirl

Thank you SO much for such a long and detailed response. It is a comfort to know that other people experience the same kind of thoughts - although saying that, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone and it sounds as though I’m glad that others are suffering. I’m really not. Yes, I certainly have a preoccupation with crime - that I have done something wrong when I know, deep down, I haven’t. When I see a police car in my rear view mirror, my first thought is ‘what have I done’. I have visions of turning up at home and there being a police car. I don’t know why. I overthink everything to the extreme - things I have said or done. Things pop into my head randomly from years ago and I wonder how my innocent actions (or what I have said to someone in a conversation) may have affected someone long term - altered the trajectory of their life etc. I read somewhere that the most difficult prison to escape is our mind - and that is so true. Most days I feel absolutely fine but when I don’t feel fine, I feel absolutely awful. I’m not sure if hormones trigger it or not. I’m so pleased to hear therapy was helpful for you and you’re working through some of your challenges. It has spurred me on to look into it, so for that I am very grateful. I hope you’re doing well at the moment and thanks again for your response

Thank you so much for your words, I will certainly keep at it, as you say, and I hope it gives me a little respite. I hope you’re doing well.

Thank you, Paul. I appreciate that. I have had cognitive behavioural therapy in the past, but I didn’t find it was overly helpful. It may have helped at the time, for a short while, but it hasn’t had long-lasting benefits. I will chat to my GP again, and see what they say. Thank you and I hope you are getting the support you need Thanks Paul. I’m glad you have also found CBT useful enough. I have also bought a book on CBT, but it’s heavy going and it’s actually making me feel more anxious reading it. I’ll keep on with it though and let you know if I get anywhere with it.

Thank you, Paul. I appreciate that. I have had cognitive behavioural therapy in the past, but I didn’t find it was overly helpful. It may have helped at the time, for a short while, but it hasn’t had long-lasting benefits. I will chat to my GP again, and see what they say. Thank you and I hope you are getting the support you need

*male friend

I’m not sure when or why my ‘symptoms’ started but I remember from a very young age feeling the need to tell my parents everything that I was guilty of. For example, if a teacher told me off (even at high school) for talking or whatnot, I’d have to confess it to them. I know, most teenagers wouldn’t say anything but I almost felt compelled to say something. Since then (I’m now nearly 40), I’ve ‘created’, it would seem, several scenarios in my head, mainly from things in my past. For example, a childhood friend died of epilepsy years after we had lost touch, but I convinced myself it was my fault. When I was postpartum, things heightened a bit. I would imagine horrible scenarios involving my baby - and couldn’t get them out of my head. I also think I have knocked someone over if I hit a curb or a pothole. I have to drive back around the block to check, and I’m constantly overthinking things from years ago. For example, a boy at school got beaten up in front of me because I was answering back to an older lad (who was being rude to everyone in the queue to get on a fairground ride). He took it out on my make friend, as he obviously wouldn’t hit a girl - and now I wonder if the friend has long lasting emotional trauma from it. I could go on and on, but the main thing is I feel like I always have to confess stuff to people. It eats away at me until I confess stuff, then my friends and family think I’m being ridiculous about whatever I was worrying about. I want to go and see a therapist but I’m so anxious about all of my worries that I feel like a criminal and that they would notify the police - even though I haven’t done anything ant there’s no evidence that I have (ie my friend dying years after we were friends). Please tell me I’m not alone in all this. It’s interfering with me being the best mum I can be, because I just spend so long ruminating on stuff etc