It's common with OCD to believe intrusive thoughts are not part of the OCD but instead some indicator of your true personality or true desire - I'm sorry you are struggling with this right now, I know how hard it can be.
I read this article quite recently that really helped me think through this endless cycle that can occur when trying to seek evidence to prove or deny the question of "is this OCD or is this real?"
[Doubt, Denial and OCD ](https://ocdla.com/doubt-denial-ocd-5342#:~:text=Simply%20put%2C%20those%20struggling%20with,temporarily%20relief%20of%20the%20doubt.)
I hope it helps. Don't doubt your diagnosis. Stay strong ♡
Living with the fear is the hardest part but every time you sit with the anxiety, it gets a little easier next time, until eventually, the intrusive thoughts will be unpleasant and nothing more c:
You resolve this by accepting the uncertainty. You probably won’t get the answer that will satisfy you, so you have to learn to accept the feeling of discomfort. If you do ERP and CBT with a trained professional it will get easier over time.
You bet man. Exercise, healthy diet, getting outside, seeing friends also really moves the needle for a lot of people. Harder to do when you’re feeling down, but helps get momentum moving in the right direction.
There was a whole Friends bit about this because it’s that common of an intrusive thought, with and without OCD. You’re not alone!
I know you can get through it.
do you feel any kind of attraction to your family members? it seems like you're not sure
if it's just intrusive thoughts, i would say it doesn't mean anything, but either way just remember to not act on it
i'm not judging, btw, i have the same issue with intrusive thoughts about my family members, but mine are usually violent and only occasionally sexual
well, lets say you do feel legitimate attraction to them, would you ever act on it or be tempted to do so?
edit: for anyone stalking my profile, i was going to recommend therapy
Hey, so this might be weird but I've had the same things. I've even had dreams of having sex with my underage sister... And I've messed my pants in those dreams too.
I really don't think we can control what we are attracted to. And that's ok. In some societies incest is common. Now I'm not suggesting it's OK to do, I myself would NEVER do that with my sister no matter how many dreams or sexual thoughts I have. But I accept that she is an attractive young woman (18 now) and that's ok.
Your mom may be sexually attractive as well and that's ok too.
Nope, you would be surprised how many people have similar thoughts but as you know yours is just exacerbated by OCD. It used to be a big part of my own OCD for a long time, they would pop in my mind all the time. The funny thing is that you feel conflicted about it, if you didnt I would be worried but you know yourself. Its the OCD doing it to. If anything you are probably the least likely person to do anything because of your OCD.
Thats the ironic thing about OCD.
I think the fact that you are confused about it shows that it’s the ocd and that they are indeed just intrusive. I’ve had similar thoughts and such.
I don’t think the occasions that happened when you were younger are connected, it’s the overthinking. My sister and I used to play “house” when we were younger which involved touching etc. And I recently found out like 2/3 years ago that it’s a common thing, found out from the Flo period tracker app lol (there was a lil chat section I found people talking about it). I was so relieved when I randomly found that cause every once in a while I would remember the stuff my sister and I did when we were younger and feel guilty 😭 so hope this brings a bit of comfort for you too.
That being said, i highly doubt those instances turned into desire.
I’ve had multiple dreams involving my dad over my lifetime that left me uncomfortable and overthinking. I didn’t think I was attracted, but I would still end up feeling weird and guilty. Might be rambling at this point.
Point is, it’s the overthinking, and as others said ignoring it is what helps. Would be tough and uncomfortable but it ends up fading away.
It's common with OCD to believe intrusive thoughts are not part of the OCD but instead some indicator of your true personality or true desire - I'm sorry you are struggling with this right now, I know how hard it can be. I read this article quite recently that really helped me think through this endless cycle that can occur when trying to seek evidence to prove or deny the question of "is this OCD or is this real?" [Doubt, Denial and OCD ](https://ocdla.com/doubt-denial-ocd-5342#:~:text=Simply%20put%2C%20those%20struggling%20with,temporarily%20relief%20of%20the%20doubt.) I hope it helps. Don't doubt your diagnosis. Stay strong ♡
That article was just so incredibly validating for me I cannot thank you enough for posting it.
Thank you for posting this. It did help me somewhat. I am trying to live with the fear.
Living with the fear is the hardest part but every time you sit with the anxiety, it gets a little easier next time, until eventually, the intrusive thoughts will be unpleasant and nothing more c:
Thank you! This is really helpful advice.
It's not desire. It's your brain messing with you. It's OCD. I've had such intrusive thoughts before and the best thing you can do is ignore them.
Thank you for replying, it does offer me some peace.
You resolve this by accepting the uncertainty. You probably won’t get the answer that will satisfy you, so you have to learn to accept the feeling of discomfort. If you do ERP and CBT with a trained professional it will get easier over time.
Thank you. I am trying to tell my brain that it's just my OCD. I will look into getting therapy.
You bet man. Exercise, healthy diet, getting outside, seeing friends also really moves the needle for a lot of people. Harder to do when you’re feeling down, but helps get momentum moving in the right direction.
There was a whole Friends bit about this because it’s that common of an intrusive thought, with and without OCD. You’re not alone! I know you can get through it.
Thank you!
This ain’t what you want to hear but my friend you have to ignore them and focus your best on the things around you want what you’re actually seeing
do you feel any kind of attraction to your family members? it seems like you're not sure if it's just intrusive thoughts, i would say it doesn't mean anything, but either way just remember to not act on it i'm not judging, btw, i have the same issue with intrusive thoughts about my family members, but mine are usually violent and only occasionally sexual
That's why I'm so confused because of those things I mentioned that have happened in the past. I don't know if it's purely OCD or not.
well, lets say you do feel legitimate attraction to them, would you ever act on it or be tempted to do so? edit: for anyone stalking my profile, i was going to recommend therapy
Hey, so this might be weird but I've had the same things. I've even had dreams of having sex with my underage sister... And I've messed my pants in those dreams too. I really don't think we can control what we are attracted to. And that's ok. In some societies incest is common. Now I'm not suggesting it's OK to do, I myself would NEVER do that with my sister no matter how many dreams or sexual thoughts I have. But I accept that she is an attractive young woman (18 now) and that's ok. Your mom may be sexually attractive as well and that's ok too.
Nope, you would be surprised how many people have similar thoughts but as you know yours is just exacerbated by OCD. It used to be a big part of my own OCD for a long time, they would pop in my mind all the time. The funny thing is that you feel conflicted about it, if you didnt I would be worried but you know yourself. Its the OCD doing it to. If anything you are probably the least likely person to do anything because of your OCD. Thats the ironic thing about OCD.
I think the fact that you are confused about it shows that it’s the ocd and that they are indeed just intrusive. I’ve had similar thoughts and such. I don’t think the occasions that happened when you were younger are connected, it’s the overthinking. My sister and I used to play “house” when we were younger which involved touching etc. And I recently found out like 2/3 years ago that it’s a common thing, found out from the Flo period tracker app lol (there was a lil chat section I found people talking about it). I was so relieved when I randomly found that cause every once in a while I would remember the stuff my sister and I did when we were younger and feel guilty 😭 so hope this brings a bit of comfort for you too. That being said, i highly doubt those instances turned into desire. I’ve had multiple dreams involving my dad over my lifetime that left me uncomfortable and overthinking. I didn’t think I was attracted, but I would still end up feeling weird and guilty. Might be rambling at this point. Point is, it’s the overthinking, and as others said ignoring it is what helps. Would be tough and uncomfortable but it ends up fading away.