From Fear to Love: Recovery from Real Event OCD

Real Event OCD consists of obsessions and compulsions about past events. 

This can be a particularly distressing OCD theme, as we are dealing with real moments that we regret, rather than more hypothetical “what if...?” doubts about the future.  People with Real Event OCD symptoms might not recognise that they are dealing with OCD, believing that they’ve done something completely unforgivable. They may be trapped in cycles of intrusive thoughts and rumination.

There is no definitive list of past events which qualify for REOCD, as OCD can attach itself to anything we care about and anything we’ve done in the past.  Common sub-themes of REOCD seem to revolve around:

• Morals and ethics – did I do something wrong?

• Sexual incidents – did I do something inappropriate?

• Harm or aggression – did I harm or risk harming someone?

• Religion – did I do something sinful or blasphemous?

• Breaking rules and laws – could / should there be consequences for me?

These themes often fuel obsessive guilt, intrusive memory loops, and fear-based OCD patterns, all of which are explored in depth in this book.