Pedophilia-themed OCD (POCD)

POCD is a subtype of OCD involving intrusive fears about being sexually attracted to children. These thoughts are unwanted, ego-dystonic, and cause significant distress. The behaviors that follow are attempts to reduce uncertainty and anxiety and they’re what keep the cycle going.

Common obsessional thoughts (repeated intrusive doubts that feel threatening and urgent):

• “What if I’m secretly attracted to children?”
• “What if this anxiety is actually arousal?”
• “What if that physical sensation means something?”
• “What if I looked to long at that child?”
• Replaying past interactions with children
• Intrusive upsetting images of this topic that are unwanted and incredibly distressing
• “What if other people can tell something’s wrong with me?”

Common POCD compulsions (attempts to gain certainty, safety, reduce anxiety):

• Mental compulsions:
  • Replaying memories to check intent
  • Mentally reviewing bodily sensations
  • Arguing with the thought (“I would never do that.”)
  • Seeking internal certainty (“Do I feel aroused right now?”)
  • Comparing reactions to different people
  • Trying to “analyze” whether a sensation was anxiety or arousal
  • Praying or mentally neutralizing intrusive images
• Common physical compulsions:
  • Avoiding children, family gatherings, parks, or public spaces
  • Avoiding eye contact with children
  • Googling signs of pedophilia
  • Taking online “tests” to confirm sexual orientation
  • Excessively confessing fears to a partner or therapist
  • Seeking reassurance: “You don’t think I’m a bad person, right?”
  • Changing seating position, posture, or clothing to monitor sensations
  • Checking for physical arousal

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