Real Event OCD
by Katherine Pica LCSW
Do you ever lay in bed at night consumed with thoughts of what you have done in your past? Do you worry about it over and over again? Maybe you’re doing it right now. You’re trying to get to bed and get a good night’s sleep, but instead, your head is filling with thoughts like:
Why did I say that to a classmate 10 years ago? They must still be upset. Remember when I went to that party in college and had a few too many drinks and yelled at my boyfriend…I am an awful person. … As a teenager I almost got caught smoking marijunna, What if I got caught? How would my life have turned out? Why would I do that? What type of person does that make me?
These thoughts that you’re experiencing, could be Real Event OCD.
What is real event OCD?
Real Event obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of OCD where one is fixated on past events. There are many Different types of OCD. Most are familiar with contamination OCD where the individual will do things like handwashing. However OCD therapists know however that many different forms of OCD exist and this is one of them.
Real event OCD is where there is a focus on past events and whether or not you have done right or wrong. Whether they are someone who is immorally wrong. When someone is dealing with Real Event OCD, they may find it difficult to reassure themselves that they’re a good person and everything is okay.
Almost everyone looks back at life and reflects and may feel doubt, however with OCD this becomes something one feels they are unable to control. It turns into rumination (thinking about something over and over again) and causes a lot of distress. In the case of Real Event OCD, the person will ruminate about what took place in order to try to find a sense of peace and forgiveness for themselves so they can move on. The problem is that OCD can never be reasoned with and it will never be satisfied with the answer. Real event OCD can cause one to feel very drained as it can take up much of one's time and energy. It can cause a lot of guilt as something seemingly very small will take over the thought process.
Real Event OCD Obsessions and Compulsions
As with all forms of OCD there are obsessions and compulsions that are present. With real event OCD someone is very focused on past events and if that means they are imorally wrong. The what if question keeps coming up rapidly again and and again. Here’s what the obsessions could look like for someone facing Real Event OCD:
When I was 9, I was not nice to a classmate. They must still be upset and maybe they have had a really hard life because of it.
When I was a teen I almost got caught smoking marijuanna, I should have been caught and my life would have turned out horribly different.
In college I had a couple of drinks and drove home. I should not have driven home. What if I caused a terrible accident, and really hurt someone?
As a teen I stole something from a department store that later shut down. What if i Caused them to go broke?
Compulsions for someone facing Real Event OCD can be a mix of overthinking or rumminating which are mental compulsions as well as outward actions and behaviors. The compulsions could look like this:
Mental reviewing: This is the most common compulsion for real event OCD. They will replay in their mind the event again and again to try to gain some peace about it. However for someone who struggles with OCD reviewing will only provide temporary peace and they distress cycle will continue to repeat.
Mentally Changing events in the past: Attempting to mentally change details from your past actions to see how you would have handled the situation differently to make you a good person
Reassurance: Asking family or friends for reassurance - asking them hypothetical questions and adding more details to see when their rejection or judgment comes into play. Also Checking in with officers or lawyers about potential consequences of your past actions
Confessing: Some may feel so guilty they are drive to confess what they did to others. Maybe they confess to friends , family or other authority figures.
OCD Treatment for Real Event OCD
The best type of treatment for any form of OCD is Exposure and Response prevention. For short we call it ERP. ERP is a type of OCD therapy that helps to beat OCD by exposing one to the obsession and over time learning takes place. The brain learns that it does not have to do compulsions and over time the obsessions become less and less over time. When getting help for OCD it's important to work with an OCD therapist.
OCD therapy is very powerful. Working with an OCD therapist who specializes in OCD and is trained in ERP is very important. ERP is an evidence-based method of therapy that can help with OCD and Real Event OCD. If you are unsure if you have aOCD or not when working with an OCD therapist the first step will be evauling your symptoms to get an accurate diagnosis. An OCD therapist can help you learn intuitive coping skills to help deal with life’s challenges. Working with an OCD therapist can help you shift your fear-based thoughts and learn to accept the uncertainty in life.
How to find and OCD therapist in San Diego
It can be difficult to reach out for help, and it’s important that you feel comfortable. We specialize in the treatment of OCD and provide in person sessions in San Diego and online therapy across the state of California. We have extensive training in OCD and ERP and will work with you to learn tools and skills to help. We offer a free 15-minute phone call to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today!
Resilience Counseling- We specialize in the treatment of OCD and provide in person sessions in San Diego and online therapy across the state of California. We have extensive training in OCD and ERP and will work with you to learn tools and skills to help!
