Does this happen to anyone else?

[MissBowLady]

Okay so, you know how with OCD you still have to sometimes face triggers of it, and sometimes facing them and not doing the compulsion helps stop the OCD right? For background, I have incest OCD stuff, and it was worst in the past but has gotten a lot better.

Well, I try to sometimes watch anime or maybe an American show with actors show and they always have like an incest joke in it, or more in animes they imply it as an actual thing in the show. And it’s like, I don’t want to stop watching media because of my OCD but it’s like it’s everywhere no matter where I go. I try to give something a shot? Boom incest or jokes about it. I can’t escape it! It’s blowing my mind!!!

And since my mom knows with the OCDs I struggle with, even she admits to after knowing what I go through she sees incest joked more in media than she did before.

I guess what I’m asking is, does this happen to anyone else and how do you deal with it?

[blueturtle28]

Hi Miss Bow Lady,Yes, I understand what yo are saying. I deal with harm ocd and I notice anything that can be dangerous or used as a weapon. It is because (I think) I am on high alert. My amygdala has been trained (by my fear) to be constantly on guard. I say to my brain "thank you for warning me. But I do not have to react." Stay strong and committed to not be bullied!

[MissBowLady in reply to blueturtle28]

Thank you for your advice!

[LulaBeth]

Yes!Everything seems overtly sexualized.

[Eli_E]

Hi! I feel like I experience something somewhat similar. I have HOCD and watching tv is an interesting exercise for me. For instance if I am watching a show and then have some sort of thought or the characters say something that calls it up, then my brain goes on high alert. Of course then its like for the rest of the show its on my mind because my brain now associates that thought with the person on the screen. Like you said, I don't want to turn it off because that is avoidance, but I also want to make sure I'm just accepting the thought and not ruminating on the thought or trying to solve it. Of course that is easier said than done and I am still trying to figure it out. I know that is not exactly what you explained, but it resonated for me.