POCD: It just doesn’t stop. HELP!

Though I seem to feel less anxious, as if i’ve grown numb to the anxiety.. it’s still there. The fear of becoming a pedophile/being attracted to children. Let me start by saying i’ve never looked at a kid and thought anything sexual about them. I keep telling myself this, but it doesn’t allow me to relax. Im still anxious. I still find myself checking.. checking for attraction, gronial movements. It’s awful. I feel like im losing attraction to the guys i’m usually in to.

I’m bisexual, more into guys though, so my fear is being attracted to boys though I KNOW i am not. I don’t know why my brain can’t just let this go. I will check for attraction.. and think nope. Or if I think a kid is cute, or perhaps reminds me of the adults I usually find attractive... I freak out. I might say “oh my god, this kid is adorable! He’s gonna grow up to be cute or handsome, etc.” and I freak out even though I know there’s no sexual attraction. It’s so confusing.. and I absolutely hate and despise POCD. This all spiked when I had watched a news report about a child assault case. Please help.

Thanks!

BUMP!! Please help somebody.

tsfan13 wrote:so my fear is being attracted to boys though I KNOW i am not

There you have your answer. You know it's just ocd messing with you.. Please don't let it.

I hear women say "that little boy is gonna break some hearts someday" or something related all the time. This really shouldn't bother you.

I think what you probably need to stop doing is trying to prove you're not a pedophile. I certainly couldn't prove it when I was dealing with POCD. Are you doing things like testing the waters, seeing if a kid you look at gives you a sexual feeling? If so, stop it. You'll never get over this using this method.

What is it that's really bothering you? It's quite clear you are not a threat or have no desire or intentions of doing anything abusive to a child.

JackM678 wrote:I hear women say "that little boy is gonna break some hearts someday" or something related all the time. This really shouldn't bother you.

I think what you probably need to stop doing is trying to prove you're not a pedophile. I certainly couldn't prove it when I was dealing with POCD. Are you doing things like testing the waters, seeing if a kid you look at gives you a sexual feeling? If so, stop it. You'll never get over this using this method.

What is it that's really bothering you? It's quite clear you are not a threat or have no desire or intentions of doing anything abusive to a child.

Yes I often do this. Sometimes i’ll notice certain characteristics like hair that guys usually have and i’ll freak out and assume i’m sexually attracted to them even though i know i’m not. It’s a vicious cycle and it’s so hard to stop the compulsions.

tsfan13 wrote:

JackM678 wrote:I hear women say "that little boy is gonna break some hearts someday" or something related all the time. This really shouldn't bother you.

I think what you probably need to stop doing is trying to prove you're not a pedophile. I certainly couldn't prove it when I was dealing with POCD. Are you doing things like testing the waters, seeing if a kid you look at gives you a sexual feeling? If so, stop it. You'll never get over this using this method.

What is it that's really bothering you? It's quite clear you are not a threat or have no desire or intentions of doing anything abusive to a child.

Yes I often do this. Sometimes i’ll notice certain characteristics like hair that guys usually have and i’ll freak out and assume i’m sexually attracted to them even though i know i’m not. It’s a vicious cycle and it’s so hard to stop the compulsions.

And it won't go away until you stop doing the comparisons method, because you'll never be able to prove you're not attracted to someone.