All In The Mind ‘Taboo’ intrusive thoughts: the unspoken aspects of OCD
Nov 15, 2025
Uma Chatterjee, a Neuroscience PhD student and mental health advocate, and Martin Ingle, a writer and filmmaker, dive deep into the often-taboo world of OCD. They explore how intrusive thoughts manifest and the stigma surrounding them, particularly the distress linked to sexual and violent themes. Uma shares her journey through early compulsions and ineffective therapies before finding evidence-based treatment. Martin discusses the impact on daily life, emphasizing the importance of open conversations to reduce shame and foster understanding.
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Childhood Rituals Became Early Compulsions
- Uma Chatterjee recalled doing 12 prayers 39 times as a preschooler to prevent her parents dying.
- She described sobbing and feeling compelled to repeat them perfectly or restart the cycle.
Trauma Amplified Taboo Obsessions
- Uma developed PTSD and self-harm after sexual abuse and not being believed at age 12.
- Her OCD intensified, producing fears like "what if I'm a pedophile?" despite no basis in reality.
Intrusive Thoughts Vs. OCD Threshold
- Intrusive thoughts are common and usually dismissed by most people as weird and moving on.
- OCD develops when those thoughts become frequent, distracting, and distressing enough to become obsessions and compulsions.