As the Lindsay Clancy case continues to receive national attention, references to “intrusive thoughts” have caused understandable fear and confusion for people living with harm OCD, postpartum OCD, and other mental health conditions. For someone already terrified by unwanted thoughts or images of harming a person they love, seeing those same words associated with an unthinkable tragedy can reinforce one of OCD’s most painful fears: What if having the thought means I could actually act on it?
Traci Ibrahim has lived with harm OCD for more than 40 years, experienced postpartum OCD after the birth of her third child, and spent decades treating OCD as a therapist. She explains why intrusive thoughts are not intentions or predictions of behavior, and why it is critical not to conflate OCD with the different symptoms and diagnoses discussed in the Clancy case. Traci is here to clear up all the misinformation spreading.
At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, the most effective treatment for OCD—a treatment that can help you live a fulfilling life. If you’re ready to take your first step, book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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