Paedophile-themed obsessive compulsive disorder, otherwise known as POCD is a relatively recent form of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD is a mental health condition characterised by intrusive obsessive thoughts, which create unpleasant feelings, and compulsive behaviours. Such behaviours, though aimed at coping, instead exacerbate the problem.
Most societies wish to protect their children and deem paedophilia unacceptable. This includes those who experience POCD, they too judge the act of paedophilia to be wrongful. POCD exhibits the worst forms of OCD; there is the fear of hurting vulnerable people (harm-OCD), the fear of being attracted to someone we shouldn’t be (sexual orientation-OCD), and a fear of breaking the strictest codes of society (moral scrupulosity).
So this form of OCD is not just confusing, it’s also incredibly frightening because of the threat it poses to the sufferer’s identity. Individuals experience unwanted and repeated thoughts about children, which are of a sexual nature. This creates fear about being or becoming a paedophile. Sufferers feel out of control and in order to gain a sense of control, will enact behaviours out of compulsion. The irony here is that this very compulsion exemplifies a lack of control because it is guided by fear.
No single factor has been identified as the origin of POCD. As with any mental health condition, a combination of elements, such as genetics and one’s personality, which is molded by upbringing and environment, could be at play. It is speculated that trauma can also be a contributing factor to the development of many psychological disorders, including POCD.
At Phinity we offer various options for the treatment of POCD. These include some of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations. For example cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), this includes exposure and response prevention (ERP).
CBT is an approach that concentrates on the current circumstances, rather than exploring the past in depth. It helps people understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are linked to their problems, and how these patterns can be changed with ERP techniques. This allows them to replace harmful cycles with more beneficial ones.
ERP, which is a form of CBT, is a process that helps individuals face the situations they are afraid of. Our highly trained and experienced therapists will create a plan with you to facilitate becoming more comfortable with the things you are avoiding. This will reduce the intensity of the anxiety you feel and over time the obsessive thoughts and compulsions you experience will lessen.
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