Destigmatizing Taboo Intrusive Thoughts with an OCD Therapist in Los Angeles
We all experience strange, taboo, and disturbing thoughts sometimes. Most people can acknowledge their disgust or strangeness, brush it off, and move on to the next thing. For those with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), these unsettling thoughts can feel very threatening and alarming. Why did I have that thought? Does this mean that I like or want that? Does having that thought mean I’m capable of acting out on it? Am I a bad person for thinking that?
OCD can come in the form of unwanted thoughts, doubts, mental images, and urges. Individuals with OCD will often attach significance to their unwanted intrusions. This can lead them to get stuck questioning themselves and their motives. However, we know that OCD intrusions are ego-dystonic, meaning that they go against the values of the individual. They are the opposite of who these individuals are and the opposite of their true intentions. As a result, they cause individuals to experience tremendous distress, anxiety, guilt, embarrassment, and shame.
OCD Taboo Thoughts and Stigma
When intrusive thoughts center around taboo or forbidden topics, the stigma can make them hard to talk about. It can be an incredibly isolating experience to feel so afraid and be alone in it with little to no support. Individuals suffering from taboo OCD themes may delay care because they fear being judged, misunderstood, or facing potentially negative consequences. Clients may fear being reported to authorities, going to jail, having their children taken away from them, or being involuntarily admitted to the hospital. In addition to feeling the typical anxiety and distress that many other OCD themes present, taboo OCD obsessions can bring on added layers of embarrassment, guilt, and shame.
While they may be less talked about, taboo intrusive thoughts are quite common with OCD. If you are struggling with this, know that an OCD specialist has likely encountered what you’re experiencing with many other clients. You’re not alone in your struggle, nor are you a “bad” person for having these kinds of intrusive thoughts.
What are OCD Taboo Thoughts?
OCD taboo thoughts focus on forbidden, offensive, or reprehensible topics. They can be about harm, pedophilia, sex, religion, or anything that feels morally or socially unacceptable. Someone with OCD will feel such distress over these types of obsessions that they will be compelled to engage in compulsions to feel better about the situation, about themselves, or because they believe that it may prevent their fear from actually occurring.
What are some common types of OCD Taboo Thoughts?
Let’s look at some common taboo intrusive thoughts by their main overarching theme. As an OCD therapist in Los Angeles, I’ll provide some examples of how I’ve seen them show up within these themes. Remember that nothing is off-limits when it comes to OCD obsessions, it’s all fair game. It’s also not unusual for obsessions to encompass more than one theme.
Violent or Harm Obsessions
These OCD obsessions center around the fear of harming oneself or others (including animals.) Individuals may have unwanted thoughts about whether they have unknowingly caused past harm or the possibility of causing unwanted future harm. This could include thoughts related to homicide, suicide, heinous acts, etc.
“What if that bump on the road was someone I ran over?”
“I could easily push that child into oncoming traffic.”
“Why does it feel like I might stab my eye with this pen?”
“What if I pet my dog too hard and accidentally snap his neck?”
“What if I spontaneously open the door to this moving vehicle and jump out?”
“Why does the disturbing thought of my husband stabbed in a pool of blood keep popping up in my head? Do I want him dead?”
Sexual Obsessions
These OCD obsessions center around the fear of inappropriate sexual acts or forbidden desires. Individuals may have unwanted thoughts about whether they have unknowingly engaged in taboo/sexually inappropriate acts, whether they might have the desire to engage in such, or whether they might do it in the future. This could include thoughts about sexually violent acts, incest, necrophilia, bestiality, etc.
“Why do I keep having the disturbing thought of making out with my sister, could I be sexually attracted to her?”
“What if this moment alone with my girlfriend turns into me performing brutal sexual acts?”
“Why do I keep having disturbing images of sex with dead bodies? Am I into necrophilia?”
“Did I obtain consent with that one-night stand in college? Am I a rapist?”
Pedophilia Obsessions
These OCD obsessions center around the fear of being attracted to or engaging in inappropriate acts with children and underage minors. Individuals may have unwanted thoughts about whether they are sexually attracted to children, whether they are capable of engaging in a sexually inappropriate act with a child, or whether they could become a pedophile (POCD).
“Could I be enjoying changing my daughter’s diaper and end up molesting her?”
“What if I end up sexually abusing my nephew while he stays in my house?”
“Is it weird that I attend my younger sister’s gymnastics competition? Does this mean that I’m into underage girls?”
“Could I be a pedophile and not know it? What if I’m secretly attracted to children?”
Perinatal/Postpartum Obsessions
These OCD obsessions center around the fear of causing harm to an infant or not being able to protect them enough. Individuals may have unwanted thoughts about accidentally or purposefully causing illness, harm, death, or being an unfit parent.
“What if I have a psychotic breakdown and drown my baby in the tub?”
“I might lose control and throw my baby down the stairs.”
“What if I smash my baby’s head against the corner of the table?”
“What if I am not being careful enough with germs and my baby gets gravely ill?”
“What if my baby stops breathing at night and I am not there to save them?”
Religious or Moral Obsessions (Scrupulosity)
These OCD obsessions involve sinning or going against religious or moral values. Individuals may have unwanted thoughts about whether they have engaged in sinful, blasphemous, or morally reprehensible acts (or if they might engage in it in the future.)
“What if I shout a racial slur in the middle of class?”
“Could God be mad at me because I watched too much pornography during my freshman year of college?”
“What if I end up in hell because I lied to my mom and didn’t repent?”
“I watched a movie with a blasphemous scene. Does this mean I’m a bad and immortal person?”
“What if I said something offensive to my friends last night and I don’t remember?”
Once again, we may all have some of these thoughts come up for us at one point or another. For those with OCD, the obsessions are recurring, distressing, and go against the individual’s true desires and who they are as a person. This leads to compulsions that are driven by anxiety, guilt, and shame. Individuals may avoid meaningful activities or become disconnected from others because of these fears.
How to Manage OCD Taboo Thoughts
Managing OCD taboo thoughts can feel challenging, but there are effective treatments that can help. The same OCD treatments used with any other OCD theme can be used for taboo obsessions.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
ERP is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) specifically for treating OCD (but can also be used for other anxiety disorders.) It involves gradually exposing yourself to the things that trigger your obsessions while learning how to resist the urge to perform compulsions and lean into the anxiety.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)
I-CBT is a non-exposure treatment approach for OCD that can help you understand the faulty reasoning process that leads to the formation of your obsessions. By learning how to apply the more adaptive reasoning process (the same one you use in all other areas of their life), you can stop yourself from buying into OCD's story.
Self-Compassion Work
I find incorporating self-compassion work to be an important piece in OCD recovery. I find it especially important when dealing with taboo themes that often cause people to feel intense guilt and shame. Practicing self-compassion can help boost self-kindness and reduce judgment.
Taboo intrusive thoughts can feel isolating, but you don’t have to face them alone. As an OCD therapist in Los Angeles, I’ve seen my clients feel more secure about themselves and feel like they have their lives back after therapy. If you’re ready to take the next step, reach out below!
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