UNDERSTANDING POCD AND HOW THERAPY CAN HELP
WHAT EXACTLY IS PEDOPHILIA OCD?
Pedophilia OCD, or POCD, is a subset of OCD in which a sufferer has unwanted, intrusive harmful or sexual thoughts about children. This subtype of OCD often results in panic, shame and depression. People living with POCD have no desire to harm a child, yet they’re tormented by thoughts of doing so.
It is distinctly different than pedophilia disorder.
OCD is egodystonic in nature.
This means that it’s obsessions inherently go against the sufferer’s true values or desires. In the context of pOCD, alarming, sexual, intrusive thoughts arise that are disturbing in nature, leaving the sufferer questioning why they would think these thoughts and whether they could do such acts.
It is important to remember that OCD thrives on our need for certainty, and in the case of pOCD, the person with OCD searches day and night for certainty that they are not a sexual predator the way their obsessions would have them believe.
The reason these thoughts shock us and cause such immense distress is that they go against our very nature.
For the non-OCD brain, having a thought such as, “What if I was attracted to this child?” could be cast aside and forgotten about quickly. The person might note that it was a disturbing thought but can let it go. However, if you have OCD, these are exactly the kinds of thoughts that get stuck on replay and torment you. because the thought is taken as truth. The sufferer becomes obsessed with finding absolute certainty that they are not attracted to and would never harm a child.
What are the symptoms of POCD?
The symptoms of POCD may include:
Intrusive thoughts: experiencing intrusive thoughts or images related to sexual attraction to children or fear of harming children, despite not having any actual desire or intention to harm them.
Extreme anxiety and distress: intense anxiety, guilt, shame, and disgust in response to these intrusive thoughts.
Avoidance behaviors: avoiding situations or activities that may trigger intrusive thoughts, such as avoiding being around children or avoiding certain places.
Checking behaviors: engaging in repetitive checking behaviors to ensure you have not acted on intrusive thoughts or impulses.
Compulsive behaviors: compulsive behaviors such as excessive hand washing, counting, or repeating certain phrases, in an attempt to reduce anxiety or prevent harm to others.
Feelings of isolation and shame: Every client I have seen that suffers with POCD experiences shame due to their intrusive thoughts and have avoided seeking help or talking about their experiences with others.
Does POCD MAKE YOU A BAD PERSON?
No, POCD does not mean you are a bad person. It is fear of being a bad person and a deep belief that we ‘shouldn’t’ be having these thoughts that contribute to the OCD cycle.
With pedophilia OCD comes a great deal of self-criticism and shame. People with this subtype berate themselves for thinking these thoughts and punish themselves through mental scrutinization and judgment.
However, the path to recovery from this order is fueled by self-compassion.
Once you understand the ins and outs of OCD and how it functions, you will see that you are not a bad person for having this mental health condition.
How can therapy help?
At the beginning of therapy, there will be an assessment of your symptoms which will help you identify the compulsions you engage in and the obsessions that you are struggling with.
Therapy also will consist of psychoeducation on OCD as well as mindfulness and, self-compassion tools. The gold-standard treatment of POCD is exposure response prevention therapy (ERP). ERP is when you voluntarily expose yourself to the source of your fear over and over and over again, without acting out any compulsion to neutralize or stop the fear. By repeatedly facing something you’re afraid of, you force your brain to recognize how irrational it is.
Exposure is gradual and in this collaborative process, you are encouraged to begin with exposures that feel achievable.
The key to recovery from any type of OCD is learning to accept uncertainty and tolerate discomfort so you can live in accordance with your values and no longer allow OCD to limit your life experiences.
In the case of POCD, this might look like sitting in a park where children are playing, accepting the discomfort of thoughts like “am I attracted to them?”, and resisting the urge to ruminate on whether it’s true or not or resist the urge to leave the park immediately, for example.
You allow your thoughts to come and go without automatically attaching meaning or truth to them. You willingly tolerate the anxiety and uncertainty. And you resist the urge to do compulsions.
This is an incremental process that, over time, reduces your anxiety levels and teaches your brain that you are not your thoughts and you can navigate the uncertainty without needing to do compulsions.
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