Everybody feels like they doubt their memory at least once in their life. They wonder whether their memory is real, as if it actually occurred that way. This is common for most of us, but it mostly comes and goes. For individuals who have False Memory OCD, however, the doubt becomes too much, and they are stuck in a never-ending doubt.
False Memory OCD is the belief that memories are false, even though they have not occurred. It is a unique form of obsessive-compulsive disorder that causes a person to be in doubt about their memories. The person is constantly thinking they have committed a wrong or embarrassing act. They also have very strong visual memories, and although the memory seems real, it did not in fact occur. However, remember that you’re not alone. If your false memory OCD overwhelms you, it’s best to seek professional help, such as a psychiatrist near me, to manage these thoughts and reduce their impact.
OCD memory doubt
An individual with false memory OCD doesn’t just have occasional false memories, but an obsessive-compulsive cycle with obsessions and compulsions. They can’t remove the false memory from their minds. They feel very stressed and guilty about a memory that exists only in their mind. As they continue to focus on this false memory, the feeling grows stronger and seems true.
These are some of the common actions they can’t stop thinking about:
- Not meaning to hurt someone
- Saying something wrong
- Doing something illegal while in a drunken state
- Not standing up for someone who has been betrayed by a lover
- Harm to a child or to an animal
The cycle of obsessive thoughts
The individual feels like the obsessive false memory OCD cycle is over for now. At first, they have some thoughts that they just don’t want. This can start, for example, by passing by a school and asking themselves, “Could I have hurt a kid?” This thought is very scary and not the kind of thought the person wants to have.
The next step is the obsession. At this point, they keep rehashing the event. They think about when it could have occurred many different times. This makes it much harder as there are false memories to recall, like a conversation or an argument, and the mind is conjuring up situations that never really happened.
At this point, the person feels the need to do something about the thoughts. Anxiety is coped with in many ways, such as:
- Asking another person to verify what happened
- Searching the internet for other cases like this
- Looking up crime news for the city
- Going to the scene for possible evidence
- Believing false information
Symptoms of false memory OCD
People with this type of OCD often think:
- Never stop with the doubt: They will ask, “Is that how it really occurred?” hundreds of times a day, and try their hardest to find out. Even after all of this, their doubts don’t stop.
- Visualize very detailed pictures in their mind: In addition to false memories, the person will visualize, in their mind, what it sounded like, felt like, and looked like. The memories are so real that this makes the person question even more.
- Physical symptoms: They have physical anxiety. The body seems to react to the false memory as if it were real. They might feel physically nauseated, sweaty, or weak when they think about it.
- Avoidance: They avoid things (e.g., socializing, talking to people) that can remind them of a memory being false.
- Moral distress: they have an unshakeable feeling that they did something morally wrong, like commit a crime that never took place. This guilt may feel so overwhelming that they lose all hope.
False memory OCD causes
Several factors could increase a person’s odds of developing this issue, including:
- Strong morals: People who place great emphasis on upholding their morality are more likely to be disturbed by random thoughts. They take anything as a threat, even scary thoughts, and refuse to let anything go.
- Trauma: Trauma (e.g., victim of a car accident, victim of bullying or sexual harassment, etc.) can leave the mind particularly reactive to the feeling of fear. The brain becomes hyper-aware of potential threats or things going wrong.
- Perfectionism: This disorder trains the mind to be certain in situations in which uncertainty is natural. It encourages doubt. They lose out on the sense of accomplishment that accompanies confirming that something did take place.
- Life transitions and stress: OCD can be triggered by periods of major life change, stressful relationships, or difficulties at work. Under stress, the mind looks for something to worry about.
Impact of False Memory OCD
False memory OCD affects every aspect of a person’s life. They are often stuck in their heads, trying to make sense of what is real, and spending hours of their day worrying over their doubts. They don’t have time to focus on living, learning, and maintaining relationships.
People with this OCD disorder may withdraw from social interaction with others to avoid the possibility that they would be reminded of these false memories. Playing with children, driving, and social interactions are all areas that they may try to avoid. Often, people will speak with their family about their obsessions, which can be incredibly confusing for them and can ruin relationships.
Constant anxiety due to false memory OCD can also lead to physical complications. It could complain of exhaustion, fatigue, sleep problems, or headaches. This anxiety can contribute to changes in weight through stress eating, overeating, or under-eating.
False memory OCD therapy
The most effective form of treatment for false memory OCD is exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP). It helps the person cope with uncertainty as they learn not to avoid or fight against their doubts.
- Exposure: A mental health professional assists the person in confronting their fear of anxiety and helps them handle intrusive, disturbing thoughts.
- Response prevention: The individual works on stopping themselves from seeking reassurance, looking for proof of their thoughts, or engaging in excessive introspection of their past actions. This weakens the link between a thought and an action.
- Acceptance: Instead of trying to ascertain whether or not the memory happened, the patient is encouraged to say things like, “I guess it’s possible, but I’m not sure” before refocusing their energy and moving on.
- Medication: Psychiatrists prescribe medicine, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs), which are beneficial in the management of OCD to lessen the intensity of intrusive thoughts and support the efficacy of therapy.
Additionally, studies show that fear of medication side effects is common among people with OCD before taking medication. Therefore, if you have any concerns about medication, it is wise to consult a psychopharmacologist or seek a second opinion on effective medication management for OCD treatment.
Coping strategies for daily management
People who are successfully rehabilitating from False Memory OCD have some practical ways to help them through this process:
Uncertainty statement: Whenever you have doubts, they say, “I’m having an OCD thought,” instead of, “Did that really happen?” This simple strategy works like a Socratic method, helping them understand that the problem is their memories, not themselves.
Time limit: Devote only 15 minutes a day to their worries, say, at 6 p.m., and put them aside for the rest of the day.
Grounding exercise: Pay attention to your surroundings, using your five senses to connect with your current place and time, and not become part of a daydreaming memory world.
Value-based action: By deciding not to wait for a signal of approval, take actions that reflect your values and purpose. For example, ask yourself, “What would I do if I cut my finger while cutting veggies?” and take action to prevent it, not imagine it happening.
The Takeaway
False Memory OCD causes individuals to be terrified of something they think they did wrong in the past. These concerns are entirely real, and they may become so scared that they even avoid talking to others about what is happening. Often, the events they are worried about are not necessarily fabricated.
The message to anyone who struggles with False Memory OCD is: Don’t be negative! There is hope, there is treatment available. False memory OCD can be treated. The sooner you start treatment for your type of OCD, the sooner you can recover. Don’t forget that feeling terrified does not make someone a bad guy.
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