Living with OCD often comes with a heavy dose of shame, not just from the thoughts themselves, but from how we react to them. Even when we know our intrusive thoughts are irrational, they can feel terrifying, confusing, or even disturbing. It’s hard to talk about it when you're afraid of being judged or misunderstood.

Sometimes the compulsions bring their own shame, like hiding rituals, avoiding people, or spending hours stuck in a cycle no one else sees.

Have you ever felt ashamed of your OCD or intrusive thoughts?
What helps you deal with that shame or reduce the self-judgment that comes with it?

No, I am not ashamed of my OCD, but I tend not to share my obsessions with anybody but my pyschiatrist/ therapist whom just happens to be an expert in treating OCD.

My obsessions can indeed be horrifying and in my frequent bouts of insomnia,can loop and loop in my head to the pointof an hours long full blown attack of paranoia and panic, until I desperately call Dr S first thing in the morning, frantic andextremely anxious.

The ignorance of most people about this illness of mine has led me to edit myself a lot, based on stigmatization, and the fear that if I voiced my ego dystonic ruminations people would believe me to be very disturbed...

My OCD is mostly pure obsessional, my compulsions are mostly in my mind, although I check a bit, and am terrified of fire...( check the stove hours after having used ot. Can't use candles, unplug things when I leave my place...)

My OCD morphs and mutates, so that just as one obsession dissipates, mostly with the help of Dr S., another simply takes it's place..

My OCD always has latched on gleefully to my eating disorder, which actually fuels it...

My OCD is clearly very much a genetic inheritance-father, aunt, brother...perhaps my mum who would be bothered by a single spot on her floors and clean them in the middle of the night...

I have great compassion for those of you who also suffer from disturbing intrusive thoughts and inner or outer compulsions...

But there is really no shame that ought to be felt by what you do not need to keep trying to cope with on your own.

Asking those who care about you to educate themselves is a start( though in some, this is futile) and especially seeking the support of a good therapist of this is possible.

There are also good books( I recommend "Brain Lock, published I think in the 90s,which is one I ought to re read) and I have yet to look into a good CBT workbook but encourage this as well, especially if you've no access to a good trained therapist.

Forgive me for rambling on, this hits close to home...

My OCD will not likely ever see a cure in my lifetime. But there is no shame in the dx.

*Ypu are not your thoughts...and thoughts are just thoughts."

10 hours ago, Autumn75 said:

No, I am not ashamed of my OCD, but I tend not to share my obsessions with anybody but my pyschiatrist/ therapist whom just happens to be an expert in treating OCD.

My obsessions can indeed be horrifying and in my frequent bouts of insomnia,can loop and loop in my head to the pointof an hours long full blown attack of paranoia and panic, until I desperately call Dr S first thing in the morning, frantic andextremely anxious.

The ignorance of most people about this illness of mine has led me to edit myself a lot, based on stigmatization, and the fear that if I voiced my ego dystonic ruminations people would believe me to be very disturbed...

My OCD is mostly pure obsessional, my compulsions are mostly in my mind, although I check a bit, and am terrified of fire...( check the stove hours after having used ot. Can't use candles, unplug things when I leave my place...)

My OCD morphs and mutates, so that just as one obsession dissipates, mostly with the help of Dr S., another simply takes it's place..

My OCD always has latched on gleefully to my eating disorder, which actually fuels it...

My OCD is clearly very much a genetic inheritance-father, aunt, brother...perhaps my mum who would be bothered by a single spot on her floors and clean them in the middle of the night...

I have great compassion for those of you who also suffer from disturbing intrusive thoughts and inner or outer compulsions...

But there is really no shame that ought to be felt by what you do not need to keep trying to cope with on your own.

Asking those who care about you to educate themselves is a start( though in some, this is futile) and especially seeking the support of a good therapist of this is possible.

There are also good books( I recommend "Brain Lock, published I think in the 90s,which is one I ought to re read) and I have yet to look into a good CBT workbook but encourage this as well, especially if you've no access to a good trained therapist.

Forgive me for rambling on, this hits close to home...

My OCD will not likely ever see a cure in my lifetime. But there is no shame in the dx.

*Ypu are not your thoughts...and thoughts are just thoughts."

Good on you @Autumn75 My son has OCD too.

48 minutes ago, Lavender said:

Good on you @Autumn75 My son has OCD too.

I am sorry your son suffers from OCD as well.