Harm OCD explained: two vignette case studies on intrusive thoughts of hurting other people or yourself

Ever had a sudden, terrifying thought about hurting someone you love — or yourself? You're not alone, and it's more common than you think. In this Just Checking mini pod, OCD therapists Laura and Jess break down Harm OCD through two illustrative vignettes (fictional case studies, not real clients): a mum experiencing intrusive thoughts about harming her children, and a young person struggling with unwanted intrusive thoughts of harming themselves.

Laura and Jess walk through how they'd approach exposure therapy and behavioral experiments for each vignette — covering psychoeducation, reassurance-seeking, family accommodation, thought-action fusion, distress tolerance, and interoceptive exposures. If you've ever wondered "is this OCD or am I actually dangerous?" — this episode is for you.

In this episode:

• What Harm OCD looks like in real life (illustrated through vignettes)
• Why intrusive thoughts about harming loved ones don't mean anything about who you are
• How OCD therapists actually approach exposure therapy for harm-based fears
• Treating harm OCD when suicidal intrusive thoughts are involved
• Working with family accommodation and reassurance-seeking behaviors

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📩 Got a topic you want us to cover? Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com or find us on Instagram & TikTok @justcheckingpod

Disclaimer: Laura and Jess are OCD therapists, but not your OCD therapist. The cases discussed are fictional vignettes for illustrative purposes only and do not represent real clients. This podcast is for information and entertainment purposes only and doesn't replace individual professional support. If you're struggling, please speak to your GP or a qualified mental health professional.

Podcast by:

Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist

and

Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist

Edited by Christian Nickson

Get in Touch:

Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us:

Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod

For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd

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Content Warnings:

We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.

Disclaimer:

This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.