OCD is often associated with intrusive thoughts about things that could happen in the future, but it can also focus on events that have already happened.
Real event OCD involves intrusive thoughts and obsessive doubts about past experiences that may bring up feelings of guilt, shame, embarrassment, or fear. The event may have happened recently or many years ago, yet the individual struggles to stop thinking about it.
Common compulsions associated with real event OCD include mentally replaying events, seeking reassurance, avoiding reminders, and excessively confessing. The individual may repeatedly question whether they did something wrong, what the event says about their character, or whether they should still feel guilty.
While regret is a normal part of life, real event OCD can make it extremely difficult to move forward. Attempts to find certainty by analyzing the past often provide only temporary relief, keeping the person stuck in a cycle of doubt and distress.
Recovery involves learning to tolerate uncertainty and resist compulsions rather than trying to solve every question about the past. You can learn from the past without having to keep reliving it.