What if I LIKE my OCD thoughts?

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- - - Disclaimer - - -
For information purposes only. Does not constitute clinical advice. Consult your local medical authority for advice.
It is pretty common for individuals to worry that they might like the OCD feared thoughts and even the sensations. This can be a new obsession for them as they try to navigate through it. One of the biggest fears is that if they like the thoughts, it must mean something. It makes them think that their fear will come true.
Chapters:
00:00 What If I Like My OCD Thoughts?
5:53 Treatment For OCD
7:57 Online OCD Program
8:19 Question For You!
DISCLOSURE: Although I am a licensed therapist. This video is not intended to replace medical advice. This is for information purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a local mental health professional.

[@ocdandanxiety]

Have you wondered if you LIKE or ENJOY your OCD? What have you experienced? 😃

[@Ian-xd2in]

Hi Nathan! I’ll watch the video in a sec but I have a urgent question. I have sensorimotor ocd. What should I do if the thoughts come at a time where performing ERP wouldn’t be good, such as when I’m driving or writing a test, or talking to someone. Thank you 😊

[@jordybhai2113]

What is want a treatment from you? What are charges?

[@alexrobbins9067]

I would sometimes already be aroused than have a weird thought than feel like I was aroused by the thought because I wasn't freaking out and this makes more sense because I've been having panic attacks and crying and was wondering if this is normal

[@nurarihion]

I wonder this a lot, specially with the groinal sensations HOCD and POCD give me, one part of me knows I’m suffering and in deep distress, bu other part wonders if i’m not really sexually enjoying it in a sadomasochistic way or something, and a get trapped again in the cycle to see if I’m enjoying or not the images and groinal sensations, I’ve spent whole nights on this, end up crying or feeling like a monster, ashamed, yeah I know what it’s like

[@daivik2352]

It's a constant battle i don't like the thoughts but I fear my ocd tries to make me like them

[@YggdrasilJL]

what really helps me is realizing even if i “like” the thought, it doesn’t mean im gonna act on it if it doesn’t align with my morals, we’re in more control than we think and always remember this!!

[@porask5987]

You're saving lives man. I wanna be like you when I grow up.

[@maegannope9140]

same ngl he’s made me seriously think abt being an ocd specialist cuz there’s not many where i live and i know i could make a difference. anyways have a good day :)

[@emovegan6279]

Sometimes it feels like i enjoy my POCD thoughts but it still makes me anxious and i can’t ACTUALLY WANT TO ENJOY them bc to me it’s just sooo disgusting and shameful. U can never know ppl. This still happens even if i agree with the thoughts , i still feel disgust and anxiety. I AM DEFINITELY NOT COMPLAINING it’s just that you can never gain certainty.

[@sashwatyo1293]

Exactly, but you don't have to look for certainty, OCD makes us look for certainty, but that's the risk you will have to take by just agreeing to your OCD

[@sashwatyo1293]

Sir,, I actually WANT this to be just OCD and not any weird syndrome or disorder 😢😢😢😢

[@KAmbler222]

@csakemmaa same omg

[@jadedjimmy]

Hey there, just wondering if you have any updates with your OCD now.

[@isthataspider7410]

@Rica Millama same here. I feel like I'm losing who I am and questioning everything. It's so shameful. You are not alone. One thing I can say though is that if you haven't always had these specific intrusive urges, it's most likely the ocd. I didn't even consider this stuff or focus on it until my own worries bothered me about it.

[@RedToilets]

This is such a pain because it makes me feel anxiety either way. For example, when I have an intrusive thought and it makes me anxious I'm anxious. But then when I get reassurance that it's OCD and I no longer feel as much anxiety from the thoughts I start to say to myself "you're not getting anxious from this thought which means that you must like it" which also makes me anxious.

[@maegannope9140]

i think this is called a backdoor spike and it’s ocds last ditch effort to fuck up ur day. realizing that this is also just OCD and can be trivialized helps.

[@Softhearts2107]

@@maegannope9140 I feel like maybe acting on the urges will finally leave me at peace and then I'm compelled further into my urges.

[@charlesroberson1387]

Dude for real, I’m finally happy and at peace because I acknowledge my thoughts are just OCD, then I get rammed with “this can’t be ocd, you’re accepting the thoughts because you’re relaxed!” And it messes with me so much

[@tmrsgamers157]

@@charlesroberson1387 bro it's means you are gay or not please tell me this also happened with me?

[@charlesroberson1387]

@@tmrsgamers157 Accepting the ego-dysotonic thoughts doesn't mean they're true to yourself. So in other words, if you think, "I'm gay/I might be gay," and don't feel anxious, it doesn't mean you are; it mean's youre unbothered by the thought. OCD specializes in making us think uncomfortable thoughts, and accepting said thoughts as existing in our heads is part of being healthy wit OCD. If you think "Oh no, the thought of being gay doesn't make me anxious! It must mean its true!" That's called backspike OCD, and its a trap to keep thecycle of fear and compulsions going.

[@DogMommy.]

I'm literally crying watching this like why can't I just wake up and feel normal. 😫😫😭

[@MaddieAndRosannaGachaLife]

I feel the same but I want you to know that you are not alone and you are not weird or crazy or anything you are a person who needs help sometimes It may take time to feel better or you might feel better soon it depends on everyone since everyone is different but either way things will get better and you are not alone

[@Mia-cq6oe]

@@MaddieAndRosannaGachaLifehow do i get the help fot ocd

[@alexm7627]

Seek Jesus

[@alexm7627]

God loves you

[@Jamric-gr8gr]

Ye I have religious OCD and it's so bad. God help❤

[@grackle3478]

i was completely caught off guard when he said that the most common compulsion related to this is researching. my ocd has gotten way worse since the beginning of the school year with virtual learning and i have been doing nothing but research ocd and ocd related topics for hours each night for a month. i had no idea this is ocd related. i’m in the process of getting help and i’m going to see a therapist next week (i think), but this channel has helped me in ways that i probably wouldn’t have encountered otherwise. i cannot stress this point enough, but thank you for your work. genuinely

[@vladgawron4855]

Researching is not a compulsion, researching and learning about OCD and OCD related things is not a compulsion.... It's getting to know about OCD in general by gaining knowledge about it.... Having obsessions about something in a distressing manner and doing something irrational like running around a car 25 times is a compulsion but it doesn't mean that researching about OCD and OCD related topics is a "compulsion" too, because people seem to take it as though anything that challenges the obsessions is somehow a "compulsion".. A metaphor I can take is that people think a compulsion is like arm-wrestling but the reality is that a compulsion is like shaking hands with the obsession. Since there's a difference between something that actually helps you and a compulsion

[@beckysberries4441]

@@vladgawron4855 A compulsion is anything you do that helps you feel less anxious. Say if you’re worried you don’t actually have ocd then constantly looking up symptoms of ocd and comparing them with yourself is a compulsion. Obviously just learning more about ocd is not a compulsion and might actually be helpful but that doesn’t mean that “researching” in general is not a compulsion

[@hellolol6424]

how are you feeling now

[@Orphenia_]

I just want to say thank you so much for making videos on these topics, sometimes dealing with OCD and its various themes can make you feel so alone and the guilt and shame that comes with intrusive thoughts is horrible. But hearing from you and others in the comments that they too have experienced these things is more helpful than you know. Thank you so much for doing what you do.

[@luciakovacikova1651]

You are doing really good job ! Watching this from Europe, Slovakia. Nathan, thank you really for all ou us suffering from OCD and meta OCD.

[@fetusbabe]

This made me cry, been struggling so much today. Thank you so much

[@daracallaghan3674]

Thank you so much for this video. I’ve struggled with intrusive thoughts all my life and this is exactly what I’m worried about. I can’t even be around the things that cause triggers and it affects being around family or my partner. Thank you 🖤🖤

[@ART-ey5jc]

sometimes when im doing yk the deed i feel as if i enjoy my pocd thoughts and they bring me pleasure, this helped a LOT with the way ive been thinking and its helped me realize that thoughts are just thoughts and i shouldnt treat them any other way then thoughts, thank you so much

[@andrewperkovich8184]

This is crazy that this video was randomly on my recommended. I had this same issue and was legitimately freaking out. I have OCD and anxiety. I was hospitalized a few months back which allowed me to get in with a psychiatrist. The Zoloft helps in general, but I still sparadically get intrusive thoughts. This is so hard. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. Thank you for this information it was genuinely NEEDED.

[@aimeeware7671]

You are truly saving lives out here

[@haleyw5677]

I have an absolutely amazing therapist, and I am so glad you are helping people who are not as lucky as me. you are also helping me since I can't see my therapist all the time.

[@triplejazzmusicisall1883]

When you said 'maybe you;re the think you fear' that really resonated as I had that going through my mind from a spike only an hour ago. I am still very ditressed over it but this post is helpful

[@ThatHandsomeHorse]

You helped me seek out therapy and cope with the trauma I got from pure ocd. It was ruining my life I was going insane. Now I'm able to move on and not be scared anymore. Thank you, Nathan

[@ookipuki]

The first time i wasn't FINALLY bothered by my pure ocd (harm ocd) thought years ago, i started crying because i DIDN'T collapse into tears for thinking an horrific things. That alone tells me that it i don't like it. Realizing something isn't real or going to happen is okay. I still get upset and cringe when i see something bad happen to a loved one, but i handle it alot better than when i was a child.

[@lumwong7237]

Nate, u r a great guy that saved a lot of ocd sufferers n I’m one of them. Though I’m really seriously sick with ocd n I’m not sure if I can recover. Pls continue to give us more light n confidence n courage. I think I’m a capable person but my ocd just made me incapable of doing anything yes I mean anything but keep lying on sofa n thinking each moment. I hate it. I just learned from u a new approach to tackle ocd….it’s tough but I hope I can sustain. Add oil all ❤ love u nate😊

[@lizzyloop5388]

Thank you so much ! This explains so much 🤗

[@TheReflecter]

I experienced this with harm OCD. Makes me feel like some sick person because the bad thoughts give me normal feelings and urges sometimes for stuff I would never do ever. It’s the worst.

[@manzideacon4178]

Preach my brother, you are helping a lot of us🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@ocdandanxiety]

Thanks so much my friend!

[@goldykumar8575]

Thanks for sharing powerful positive information my Great coach.. Some time I felt that these thoghts are real, I should act on it. And also felt I'm gonna do that.

[@ayandagamedze8715]

I loved this video. It was so reassuring, and it made me laugh out loud. Thank you (smiley face)

[@janetaylor8921]

I appreciate you so much Nathan!

[@alykikker9923]

Thank you for this video. I think I might be having POCD, but I'm also indulging myself in these thoughts, even if I also know it's disgusting and terrible. I'm also suspicious that I experienced some mental trauma as a kid, since I knew about what is sex very early (at the age of 4), and been drawing doodles of that (later realising that I did something bad and trashed it). Your videos really help

[@moth347]

same for me, i knew what sex was at 2 which might’ve affected me negatively

[@amateurproductions3744]

This is such a good video, so educational! I'm definitely adding these to my notes for when I start to spiral! I've been watching childhood movies for my POCD exposure therapy and using your "Maybe, maybe not." and agreeing with the thoughts like you said, because I know I am not a bad person. Not giving in to my ocd's plots has greatly helped me!

[@allbaedoe]

how are u now? i’m also dealing with pocd it’s really the worst it feels so real sometimes but we will get through it:)

[@hammerjack419]

Your voice make me feel comfortable and relaxing. Love your video's!! 👍

[@kimdem7255]

😿

[@ammieehiggins6767]

I cried and was so distressed when I had harm OCD thought for first time it’s now 4 months down the line and I haven’t had that thought again but instead got them about my neighbour makes me feel scared to be home, snapping and going to do it etc I don’t feel like I need to cry over these thoughts but I do feel my heart pumping when it happens

[@AddictedToHappy]

This video answered so many questions I've had over the past few years that I've been secretly googling to try and figure out if I'm a bad person or not because of my horrible intrusive thoughts. I felt like a part of my brain uses the intrusive thoughts as a way to "work through" rage I have and that release feels good. But I just learned that my OCD then takes over and makes me question it all and obsess! Thank you so much for this video and explanation. This helped me a lot.

[@ocdandanxiety]

You are so welcome! Thank you for your feedback. I am glad it was helpful to you.

[@Ikigai747]

Hey your comment helped me tysm

[@AddictedToHappy]

@@Ikigai747 💜

[@learningaccount9610]

Thx you I can't believe I fall for the fear of feeling good about the thought ! Thx a lot it help me to get thought a recovery process thx !

[@kaoridivine7289]

Thank you so much for the informative video. I was ruminating so much about the likable feeling I had which eventually caused migraines & mental exhaustion. Your video is very helpful, I'll apply the techniques mentioned. Thank you.

[@nicolas19676]

Has it happened to you more than once?

[@synystergates6730]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERY SINGLE VIDEO ON THIS CHANNEL, NATHAN! 🙏

[@ocdandanxiety]

You're awesome. Thanks for your support!

[@rohankulkarni4458]

@@ocdandanxiety yes, without finding your channel I would be in a much much horrible place!!

[@benwest7420]

Autism can be a contributor to feeling like you like your intrusive thoughts. I have mild autism and I have some difficulty identifying my emotions. On bad OCD days I will have a lack of interest in doing things I enjoy, be constantly checking my reaction to my thoughts, and seek relief in alcohol or thoughts of self harm and suicide but because I don't feel soul crushingly depressed or anxious I think that I might actually like the thoughts I have. The weirdest thing is when I only feel slightly anxious but looking in the mirror my face is full of pain. I should be grateful that I don't feel the same physical anxiety as most people but like everyone else I'm stuck in a never ending cycle of thoughts that I desperately wish I could get out of. Even though I sometimes don't feel like I do I hate the disturbing thoughts I have and I would rather die than act on them.

[@alexrobbins9067]

I dont have autism but I dreek out wondering if I like my thoughts but I would never act on them even if I really did like the thoughts because they are disgusting

[@shiboumurasako8421]

Same

[@CaptainDrumm15]

I have mild aspergers and I have pocd and rocd.. If I randomly get a bad thought and I look into it and I feel like I enjoy it but its actually disgusts me is that normal?

[@ParkerPlays2005]

i’m autistic with pure ocd (recovering) and i get awful groinals. i worry if it’s a contributing factor. i worry i enjoy it and i was born with arousal to taboo stuff

[@theredbeard6333]

I have OCD, other mixed anxiety disorders and mixed personality disorders including OCPD and I’m going through the same struggle. I always check my reaction if I like the thought, the worst is when I get pleasurable feeling in my body triggered by OCD which doesn’t match the emotion but I mistake that for „liking/enjoying the thoughts”

[@leo01ng]

So basically it try’s to confus u into liking these thoughts

[@matthewoconnor603]

I'd love to see a video on ultra severe OCD, so bad can almost not eat, can't leave the house etc, struggle to wash. It's doing a number on me and most of the help seems focused around mild to moderate symptoms

[@ocdandanxiety]

Thanks for sharing your experiences my friend. I'm sorry for what you're going through. Realistically, if you have mild or severe OCD the treatment is the EXACT same. If it's severe some just may need a little extra help and time put into exposures. Like 3-6 hours a day. Some choose to go to an IOP to help.

[@matthewoconnor603]

@@ocdandanxiety thanks, I am in treatment and hopefully getting the help I need. Any tips for when the intrusive thoughts are so thick and fast they can even be opposite, so if I do something it's a compulsion, if I don't it's a compulsions. No way to win

[@kit1063]

This^^^

[@SL-pu2lg]

my english is bad asf, I’m french , sorry. My ocd started to seriously bothering me in september, I’m only 14 so I had to deal with this shit while going to school, it was hell , it was the worst days of my life, I was so stressed that I couldn’t even eat, stress was messing up my energy and I was litteraly falling asleep on my desk, I was constantly shaking and my heart was beating fast asf ALL DAY AND NIGHTS, I’m not officially diagnosed with ocd because I don’t want to talk to a therapist but the things I was dealing with were very similar to pocd and incest ocd ( even zoophilia ocd ). I was so disgusted about myself that the day of my birthday, one of my teacher said a basic happy bday to me and I started crying while thinking I didn’t deserve it, I was like « Does she even knows that she’s saying this to a freaking monster? » , it brokes me, the thought were following me everywhere, in class, in home and even in my owns dreams ( nightmares) . At that time, I couldn’t leave the house without being panicked of seeing kids or animals outside, I was trying not to be near my family and I was mean to them so they could hate me ( because I kinda wanted to be punished for being what I thought I was , I hope you’ll understand) . I also couldn’t take a shower , Ofc I did but I was terrified, I was terrified about my thoughts . It’s actually getting better rn , Idk why but I’m thankful for it, I hope you’ll get better soon, Idk if it’s how you feel but remember you’re not alone , have a good day :)

[@alexrobbins9067]

@@SL-pu2lg I'm having the same things where I have to look back at old thoughts and wonder if I liked them and it's the worst but hope we can get through it

[@claudedebussy6117]

I was told that I have tourretes yet I have been watching your channel for a while now and am certian that I either have tourretic ocd or just right ocd. The just right ocd sounds just like what I do but if I were to do something or hear a sound I might have to repeat the sound out loud until I get this warm feeling in my body. No matter what I always have to relock doors sometimes multiple times at once even if lets say my mom is outside I need to lock it to make me feel right. It's not out of fear but just discomfort. I have multiple physical tics that lets say my thoat feels weird or different than normal, I might have to cough up to 15 times in a row just to make it feel right. It might feel like my eye is a little bit sticky and is closing when its really not so I have to stretch my whole face which is hard to explain but basically I just open my mouth very tall and stretch teh muscles on my cheek or eye. I pop my wrist and legs and arms and knuckles constantly until it feels right. Sometimes I feel like I need to pop my knuckles and when I try to they wont pop so I constantly open and close my hand and try popping then again until they pop. This can sometimes be very painful and leave me with sore knuckles. I have many more tics or habits such as having to rewrite a letter that I feel like was written wrong and when I erase it I might accidentaly erase I tiny part of another letter making me erase that and by the end of this process I have to rewrite the whole sentence. This is really hurting me in school because I'm in highschool and the teachers write notes very fast and I can't seem to focus because I have so many thoughts in my head about what I need to do next whether it be popping all my toes or putting my head back trying t pop my neck. I have many more tics such as these which I believe are ocd related but I was hoping that you could respond and just based off of this info let me know what you think I have. I have been on turretes medication which is supposed to make my tics settle doen but it doesnt work and I have been prescribed to double the amount I take on 4 different occasions. I have had this since I was born and I can rewatch old videos of me at age 2 doing tics that I still do to this day. Thank you please keep up the great work.

[@keithphillips1234]

I keep repeating myself, but man no one else on KZbin says it like you !

[@Jonezy12345]

Thank you for all you do

[@phantom59]

Oh my god this just explained my thoughts about liking my POCD thoughts

[@lizzyloop5388]

Same tho

[@joefidell4068]

What does it feel like for you? Cos I'd like to compare I guess

[@phantom59]

@@joefidell4068 sometimes I feel like I want or agree with them even though logically there’s no reason for me to enjoy the thoughts, and I compare myself to how anxious I was when I first got the thoughts, because now that anxiety decreased a lot

[@mjcuellar1064]

@@phantom59 does the thought ever come as like simply a desire? Like no thought attached just purely a wrong desire?

[@phantom59]

@@mjcuellar1064 I have no desire to hurt or do anything to kids at all

[@anar1104]

Thank God for this video!

[@dominiquelarson1165]

when you said "i hope you're not using these videos as a compulsion"... i realized i was using them as a compulsion 😬

[@alexm7627]

Same lol

[@wolvesgirl1565]

Oh God! I was trying to find out what I've been going through for days! This covered it. Thank you so much

[@ocdandanxiety]

Glad I could help! 😃

[@wolvesgirl1565]

@@ocdandanxiety I was so scared I was starting to like the thoughts cause I wasn't anxious anymore thanks so much for talking about this

[@philosphergaming6954]

@@wolvesgirl1565 if I am enjoying those feelings and groinal response so it's means that I'm gay means I don't have hocd. It's means that really turning into a gay boy is this really correct because I'm getting these thoughts every time 😭😭😭🙏🙏

[@JustPhysix]

@@philosphergaming6954 same we need answers

[@theredbeard6333]

@@JustPhysix you may enjoy the physical part like the tingling or whatever Groinal responses give you but You may feel bad in your mind about the thoughts or these feelings in your body, it’s like body and mind are two seperate things.

[@adityacnady_for_life8802]

The fear and anxiety might arouse you a lot and that can push you more into the self doubt conundrum, our limbic system senses fear, anxiety and arousal and you might get more aroused due to the fear and taboo nature of the topic giving you more anxiety therefore causing more arousal. So in short, dont worry if u got hyper aroused thinking something you despise for real, bottom line truth is if you want it, you want it and you’d know, if you don’t want it, you dont and you’d know :)

[@xmarshmilox9955]

I really needed to see this because I have been trying to avoid certain people because whenever they even speak i focus on their voice, my anxiety increases and the groinal response intensifies by 100x because i dont want to feel that way around them and i know that when you focus on it, it gets more intense but i have a hard time letting it be because it just feels horribly wrong.

[@adityacnady_for_life8802]

@@xmarshmilox9955 nah dw, just listen to your visceral voice, our brain(esp w ocd) is a mess, just leave it be.. Be open to learning about different things.. Satisfy yourself with knowledge everyday

[@Dusky-Bunn1e]

Thank you. I have TOCD and it gives me false urges, and feelings. Like no, i don’t want it. But it tells me “You want this.” when ik i don’t.

[@amylever5687]

Thank you so much! As I'm getting better with my harm OCD I get scared thinking omg maybe that means I like it and then I get upset. Its just OCD trying to trick us!

[@kristymarie6065]

Yes it is!! Ocd loves to do that

[@Ikigai747]

Thank y for saving me life and understanding me the best when nobody even tried to...I really am so grateful to you more than I'm to anybody on this 🌎 thank u..my God bless u!

[@squatch1992]

Thanks!

[@kluchtube7042]

Man i don't know how to thank you! ❤️

[@ocdandanxiety]

Any time!

[@rabia1180]

I experience this sometimes, not often enough but when i do it's usually after a period of not having had severe symptoms so when it first happens, i just feel an intense annoyance at my brain that kind of pushes me into the 'yeah lmfao, i see you OCD, you're annoying as fuck aren't you?' which i guess kind of introduces a lightheartedness and makes use of the psychoeducation i've had on OCD through channels like these. at the same time, i'm fully aware of the potential of that feeling to make me more fearful and symptomatic. and yea, it could happen, and it could not happen. i know that when or if it happens, i'll be compassionate to myself and i am always ok no matter what i think or feel

[@lauraaguilera1207]

thank you thank you literally thank you

[@heatherstirling6008]

Yes I have cheating ocd and I feel like I have no power that feeling feelings/arousal means I must be with this person. Thank you for your video 🙌🙌uncertainty is key 🔑

[@cara_alexis]

I really like your videos. ❤️

[@ocdandanxiety]

Thank you!

[@haleighlanpher6176]

Thank you Nathan for your help!

[@ocdandanxiety]

Happy to help!

[@haleighlanpher6176]

@@ocdandanxiety I had 5 minutes of peace from my thoughts tonight and of course it got ruined by “your calm because you don’t care” 😕 lmao.

[@hazeelford9288]

I have always thought some of my compulsion and thoughts are help full. I am studying teaching and I have Tourette Syndrome. I always fear harming my students, so I have strict rules about being around times, the clothes I wear and the rules I have in the classroom. I often feel it makes me a better teacher... It makes me stricter with my CBIT, stricter with my risk assessment, modest in my clothing because if I'm not, I may hurt a student and then I am a bad teacher and not worth living.

[@heromanageryt7321]

Hello Nathan , currently I am feeling fine for maybe like 2 weeks. I am still getting compulsions but lesser than before and am less anxious now. Now I want to put an end to this . Can you advise any other way than exposure technique and how long can it take?

[@boogerbrains138]

Very helpful, thank you

[@ocdandanxiety]

Glad it was helpful!

[@neilclayton6243]

8:44 I have had POCD since I was 18 I’m 47 now. The compulsion that causes me the most distress is replaying seeing a teenage girl and having a thought/feeling like I like it. I then feel really down for days. When a see a teenage girl and I have these thoughts I look away and try to avoid the situation. Bur all I really want to do is look again. I’m frightened that if I do that it will confirm I’m a terrible person.

[@ewest9138]

This was helpful thanks

[@thebookof5rings]

“maybe they don’t bother you as much as you think they should” 😭😭😭 that explains my situation and it’s eating me up inside 😢

[@sumeetbrar7193]

You are literally doing God's work, God Bless :)

[@user-ib4cp6kb6t]

saved my life, just want to let you know

[@bee-jq4rs]

I think I have pocd and rocd. I having so many intrusive thoughts about my boyfriends little sister and it was so awful :( I felt so bad for my boyfriend because I only love him! But now I feel a bit better after this vid. Thanks. :3

[@PersonGuy]

I thought all I had was incest ocd, but I also have meta ocd too apparently! I used to research a lot on Google (I'm talking hours a day) and started to avoid my sister, any show or thing that mentions it, and those types of porn. Actually I think I'm going to avoid all porn for a while 😁

[@Person-dq3dk]

Porn is horrible stay away from it forever.

[@needhelp5930]

I've been dealing with this for a long time and more and I can't find peace. I feel like I might be what I fear. I've isolated from everyone and I am homeless by choice so I don't burden anyone with this and the germophobia, schizoaffective, depression, anxiety, and just general hopelessness and impending doom. I don't want to bother anyone I'd rather be alone forever but I'm scared of being alone and missing out on valuable family time and life in general I don't go out anywhere and I no longer enjoy life. The mindset is either dissappear or pass away OR keep going and survive and deal with the uncertainty of whether or not I'll heal and recover from the childhood trauma.....I'm actually convinced I may be what I fear.

[@AbraCadaveric]

From the title, I was expecting this more to go into “justified” ocd thoughts, like stuff you know is ocd, but you still feel justified in doing. Like something I do is I can’t directly touch anything in a public bathroom (I need a paper towel barrier or the like), but even though I feel all the anxiety that comes along with that thought, it still feels like something reasonable to do

[@ocdandanxiety]

That's a great idea for a video!

[@AbraCadaveric]

@@ocdandanxiety Wow, thanks!

[@SmooveChilli]

Yes this is exactly how i feel, like for instance i’ll get a random question, but i feel like i have to answer the question because it seems like such a justified question to answer!!

[@tripped6956]

Im afraid if I watch horror movies or real murder stories, then I must like it if I'm not bothered by it or if I watch it just for exposure therapy. I'm so anxious rn

[@vladgawron4855]

I think it takes realizing that your OCD thoughts are not real and are not you, taking CBT is something that will make you realize that tbh.

[@iammonke9203]

Take medication. I've been taking it for 3 years now and it's changed my life. I feel like the best version of myself and have little to zero thoughts.

[@maytegonzalez6444]

Omg me too!

[@perryh.5306]

Idc....Id still watch those programs and movies with you 💞

[@kaglet4963]

My internal monologue usually goes like: "Maybe this isn't so bad. Maybe I think about the thought so much because I enjoy it. Oh... problem solved. I'm finally certain. OK so let me indulge in the thought.... Uh, actually I don't like this so much. I feel uncomfortable. So problem not solved??" The monologue evolves after that into variations and just goes on and on along those lines with no ending. I'm so happy I found a resource that properly addresses this. And thank you!

[@daiaimaru5618]

Finally!!! I was waiting for this video! Thank you so much Nathan! Let’s hope I won’t watch it as a compulsion tho 😂🙏🏻

[@ocdandanxiety]

Hope you like it! Haha. Yes, don't watch as a compulsion. 👍🏻

[@itarkosworld9]

After my parents, Believe me! you are my God for surviving me through out my ocd journey and save my life. I've sensorimotor ocd. But I think I can do anything with it with 100% accuracy. At first I sought assurance from my parents, gradually I able to reduce those compulsions. Thank you so much Nathan!

[@the_world_will_know]

Lately I’ve realized I’ve been feeling as terrified about my thoughts anymore which just makes me feel like im actually a really bad person. And then I think about something else like schoolwork and think, if I just listen to my intrusive thought and do it I’ll be in jail and won’t have to do any school and it really sucks because I just get a weird feeling in my chest and stomachs and I’m afraid I’m a bad person but I’m also thinking, if I do it, what if I like it and don’t regret it? What if I’m a psychopath, or a sadist?? It scares me an especially because Im only 13 and have a whole life ahead but the thought that I could just mess everything up…

[@zoyatariq2649]

☹️I want this thank you so much you are saving us

[@HowardSalinger]

_You have OCD, right?_ Hm, I don’t know! Maybe, or maybe not? I _could_ have OCD, but I could also _not_ have it 🤷‍♀️ Maybe I’ll never know if I have OCD.

[@ocdandanxiety]

I like your thinking. 🤔

[@philosphergaming6954]

@@ocdandanxiety if I am enjoying those feelings and groinal response so it's means that I'm gay please tell. Because I am getting some intrusive thought and also being very stressed up .😭😭

[@luizalbuquerque2846]

@@philosphergaming6954 man, the best answer is Maybe you are, Maybe you are not. Remember these thoughts are not logical at all, so you trying to answer to then using logic... isn't a big deal. The key is acceptance! I'm struguling with the same topic, it's very hard, shamefull, Scaring to loose your identidy, But always remember, this shit is ilogical, do not respond to the thoughts. Ps: sorry for some incorecteness in my English, I'm brazillian.

[@lmq9516]

@@philosphergaming6954 do not pay attention to these thoughts. If you all of a sudden you started questioning your sexuality out of no where, you probably have HOCD. But I don’t know tho. Learn to live the with the thoughts and uncertainty. Don’t give these thoughts value. If you do this you will see improvement.

[@Eezkiel]

@@lmq9516 ok I am 14 about to turn 15. This thing came out of nowhere. Am I too young?

[@Rachel-zv5lu]

I was just doing this with picking at my skin, I started worrying that I liked it too much

[@thebookof5rings]

my problem is that i’ve had ocd for several years, before i used to be so worked up. now i don’t ‘even care’. but it feels like i’m forcing myself to be concerned by watching videos and reading comments etc. what’s scary is i can go about my day and still be happy after a thought which puts into my mind. “you are not bothered because you like it, this is you”. if i wasn’t ‘bothered’ is that meaning i am recovering from ocd because i am not seeking an answer or is it because i like these thoughts and this is me so i accept it. i was also thinking a compulsion i do was when i get a thought i think of something that makes me feel happy or go do something like make breakfast or watch a movie or listen to music. this is scary as i’ve just had a thought and i’ve responded to it by being like “oh well” and continue to be happy by engaging in an activity i love, which makes me feel like these thoughts make me happy and excited. I can also quickly move on to an activity i love or do something that makes me happy which makes me feel like i am not ‘bothered’ at all and these thoughts make no difference to my life… surely i should be watching videos but another scary thing is that I ‘can’t be bothered to watch videos on ocd’ lastly, this is really the scariest one is ocd appearing in dreams and a groinal response along with that. i’ve had ocd dreams for a long time and i am also scared as i’m not getting ‘bothered’ by them now. am i getting used to my ocd or is it just me ‘accepting my true desire’ 😭😢

[@fransmierenneuker8823]

So ocd basically gives false emotions

[@clumsyme179]

Yeah😔

[@kimdem7255]

@@clumsyme179 😿😿🧠🦾

[@heyabitches7534]

Really ???

[@Akiodio]

Does it?

[@fransmierenneuker8823]

@@Akiodio don't know, but I guess the video tells us that

[@emberenice4401]

I am on the restroom floor at work crying because lately I’ve been having intrusive thoughts and I feel like I like it and Im like what the fuck. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

[@akilahposh]

Thank you for this. I’ve been punishing myself all week because I “liked” my POCD thoughts. I feel like this video describes me to a T.

[@ocdandanxiety]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ljnv]

How are you doing now? I don't have that initial anxiety but I like the thoughts and feel like I have to do an compulsion to make sure it's not real

[@Blodreina45]

The brain gets really good at tricking you. I have a few episodes a week where it gets so intense, I think I have to unalive myself because I get convinced in that short but intense episode that it’s truly who I am and that the OCD has pushed me over some sort of mental line and I have become the monster my OCD makes me think I am. After the episode ends I feel better, I of course take no action to unalive myself, I just freeze and I let the thoughts rage until they go away simply because there’s nothing else I can do but endure it until it passes.

[@Ian-xd2in]

Hi Nathan! I’ll watch the video in a sec but I have a urgent question. I have sensorimotor ocd. What should I do if the thoughts come at a time where performing ERP wouldn’t be good, such as when I’m driving or writing a test, or talking to someone. Thank you 😊

[@Ikigai747]

What theme maybe I can help, an socd sufferer here

[@tejaswinipatil620]

Thank you sir

[@maria1734]

Sometimes I feel like I MUST suffer from my intrusive thoughts and even what if I want myself to suffer... That's really painful. I don't wanna feel like this but I do feel... 😢

[@charlotteedits8705]

It’s ok. I feel the same way. You aren’t alone. ♥️

[@DrummerLittleBrother]

Is this applicable for breakup urges too? Sometimes the thoughts feels so real that this is what I want. That its the logical thing to do.

[@odessawales]

Yeah, weird thing... but I'm scared of being an masochist.. I hurt myself to see if I enjoy it, I don't know but the anxiety makes it feel so real when I hurt myself.

[@Shutyourmouth20]

I have HOCD/SO-OCD and I always question whether I enjoy my homosexual thoughts or if I agree with them.

[@Dusky-Bunn1e]

I have TOCD and so i feel you. Or it gives false urges.

[@evanmcdonald8346]

Hey! I've been doing the "Maybe, Maybe not" type exercises on and off for a month, but this week I decided to commit and truth be told, its helped! The lack of anxiety and distress is freaking me out a little bit, but I also know going back is no bueno. My only concern is trying to figure out if I still qualify for professional ERP something I've wanted for a while.

[@ocdandanxiety]

Way to go! Anyone with OCD can benefit from seeing a professional. You don't have to be severe to see someone. I'd look at www.iocdf.org if you haven't already.

[@katherynrice1657]

I really want to get help but I’m just too afraid to reach out and the fact that I think it has gotten worse so I just decide not to talk to anyone about bc I don’t trust therapist I’m scared I’ll get judged or misdiagnosed

[@Garf2004]

Is it a compulsion to name your OCD? For instance if my wife asks why I'm down I'll say 'it's travis' I don't go into the thought and leave it there. All I confess is I have had a thought that has upset me. Do you think I should stop doing this?

[@ocdandanxiety]

Lots of people do that. I think it's great to separate the two if you feel like it's helpful. We don't want to leave the thought however or push it away. Instead we can engage but respond differently to the fears or thoughts.

[@jnhzrk6841]

Hello Mr. Peterson. My problem is I begin wanting my thought to be there, and not doing the compulsion, which is what I use to make sure it’s OCD. When I don’t do the compulsion, I’m just left with wanting the thought, and then I don’t feel the urge to keep it away, and I don’t want to be comfortable with the thoughts, I want them to be gone. If I’m not uncomfortable with them, I fear I’ll lose self control and keep thinking about them on purpose because I have that weird urge to keep them there, or worse, act on them. What’s the response to this, because the worst part is I sometimes don’t want to do the treatment for it.

[@shinratensei8433]

Do it anyways! I know its horrible to not do the compulsions but if u do your going to keep getting ocd thoughts, if you experience anxiety by not doing the compulsions, yes you'd be uncomfortable but in the future you Will get less and less thoughts and they won't affect you anymore, i know it's Hard but we are together in this.

[@jnhzrk6841]

@@shinratensei8433 thank you very much for taking the time to reply. I am far better now than I was then and very rarely do compulsions for that theme.

[@huanjin5202]

Thank u so much

[@sianthompson8638]

Omg...bro thank u...

[@chuckandimeforeve]

I love you! that is all

[@yelyahfan88x94]

My brain constantly says I'm lying and faking it because I don't want to be but that I am and it constantly am told I like it when that upsets me. I keep telling myself that it's ocd and that it's still lying no matter what. It's hard but I know I have to stop believing them.

[@willecrook9544]

Hey i struggle a lot with groinal response in pocd and i know how to treat it but it wont dissapear, I know i have to accept and let them be but the groinal is still there any tips? This is destroying me i cant be with my littlebrother... Feels wrong to accept pocd...

[@gravitytraining6516]

You need to face your fears and be with your brother! I had minor POCD and the best help was exposure therapy to being with young family, voluntarily googling stock images of kids. Sounds strange to people who don't have it but shit works

[@MM-bd1ik]

HOCD is literally killing me.

[@Dusky-Bunn1e]

Me with TOCD

[@dylanjm_2986]

Same 😣

[@haydensmith-se3ii]

me too, how are you?

[@MM-bd1ik]

2023 was okay I guess but with the beginning of 2024 it got worse again. But overall its better than like 3 years ago. @@haydensmith-se3ii

[@maxwell453]

I’m 16 and I have been feeling crazy distressing thoughts about suicide but I don’t want to die, and I’m always afraid when I think about it. I get anxiety like crazy and panic attacks. This came on just randomly when I worried I was gay, and I’m afraid that I won’t go back to my original life and I constantly have these thoughts and am afraid to agree with these even though I would never agree to do them. Do I have ocd or self harm ocd? And is it the same to say yes I do like those thoughts for self harm ocd?

[@Ellael98]

Hey my friend, I know exactly what you are talking about. When I was 16 I experienced Suicide/Self harm OCD. It’s hard because you get so confused about yourself and your feelings. I knoooow. Horrible. It will definitely go away when you start to accept uncertainty- and also STOP trying to find it out. The OCD brain produces thoughts that you can never solve or ‚find out‘. It’s a losing game, really. When you fight the thoughts they just get bigger. So accept them as OCD thoughts and know that OCD is a mean and rude beast. Wishing you all the best 🙏

[@beckysberries4441]

When I was 12 I had this problem, it was my first big theme. I also thought that it would never go away and I would never go back to normal but guess what? I did, I still sometimes have thoughts about it that feel “real” or like I want to do it, but I know I really don’t so I’m able to just push it away now. And trust me, if I could do it then you can too

[@enimo9241]

I'm going through that a lot rn and I'm also 16

[@steviegilliam5685]

I've had that fear for a while myself, it went away for 2 years, but it remanifested its self during 2020 where the first time I've experienced a panic attack and disassociation due to...well..2020, the isolation, the news, the constant pessimistic nihilism on the internet about every month being worse and worse but I took a summer vacation and did some research on what happened to me and feel much, much better than how I felt back then

[@daivik2352]

It's a constant battle i don't like the thoughts but I fear my ocd tries to make me like them

[@luis_life91]

Ok so ever since i saw the tragedies of the glee characters on hbo documentary how the guy commited crime i wont mention on here and then killed himself for it ive been having nightmares and pocd so now its been disturbing me and idk how to deal with it. Can you help me out with this?

[@neen2660]

I’m at such an loss… i have complex trauma from repeated gro*ming and being shown p*rn really young. I’ve indulged for years despite the intense fear and hate I have for these thoughts and the compulsion of p*rn. I 100% have ocd, I see a specialist. She thinks it’s all ocd, but I have grown a taboo fixation I can call a “crush” with fantasies I enjoyed and then wanted to die over. An ocd page I really liked blocked me after expressing that I finally saw others with ocd saying this same thing in Facebook groups. She said she’d never heard of it and our feelings are supposed to be ego dystonic. I don’t know how I’ll live like this forever. I’m only 19 and I’ve been seeking s*xual therapy separately because i DO NOT WANT THIS, but my specialist reallyyyyy wants me to focus on it being ocd. I just feel broken. I like everything bad and I think it’s too late for me. These comments should make me feel better but I still feel different. I’m open to either reality even if one is much worse than the other, I just want the right help.

[@charlotteedits8705]

I’m feeling the same. Just know you are never alone.

[@sajnvic]

The groups you were in, obviously weren't qualified to help others. The whole point of seeking help is to help a person, not shame them. I know this is an old comment, but how have you been lately? I hope you're doing much better!

[@cuprisun]

Omg I feel you too

[@0008Seconds]

I have OCD. I want to let go of something but i really want to move on from something. But they intrusively stay.

[@Dub_97]

We aren’t supposed to live in a world where we can be unsure and uncertain about everything.. like when it comes to our identity we should know who we are.

[@prittipatel1154]

Thank you