I have been through this

[Imadeitthrough]

Well the last time I wrote here was about 10 years ago as a terrified teenager who have found myself in abit of a pickle, turns out my baby was my boyfriends i used to post multiple times on this forum to try and get some answers about who the father was it got that bad I eventually got kicked of the site I was absolutely traumatised about the situation I had got myself in. I could not eat or sleep or think about anything else other than who the father of my unborn baby was and also hated every minute of my pregnancy due to the situation I worried that much for months I now suffer with OCD constantly questioning everything in my brain, I know how hard this situation is but please don’t worry yourself to the point I did the lasting effects are awful. I now have a happy 10 year old who is a little version of myself. This site felt like the only place that gave me hope and Anne i actually remember you commenting on one of my multiple post to stop stressing I could never stop and even to this day stress over things that may never happen. If you are in this situation please do not worry yourself sick whatever the outcome it will be ok

[AnnieBrooke]

Hi, I'm glad you wrote back, especially for the other women in your situation now. It's easy to fall down a rabbit hole of obsessive thinking when you are anxious, but just because the brain can think up a whole bunch of "what if" questions it does not mean that the questions are valid. The brain is capable of thinking up a hundred false scenarios a day to be anxious about. But, as a good OCD therapist I know says, "You don't have to believe everything you think."

If your OCD is taking you to the woodshed, please work with a counselor or therapist that specializes in OCD. (Ask your doctor for a recommendation if you don't know one.) Cognitive behavioral therapy works well for OCD, and pretty fast also. And if you need a supportive medication,  SSRIs like Prozac and Zoloft along with the therapy can make a huge difference in breaking the grip of OCD.

Good luck to you, I hope you write in with some reassurance occasionally to the others who write in to this site, since often it is someone who seriously doesn't have a reason to be fearful about who the dad is, but can't stop worrying anyway.

[AnnieBrooke]

Also, your point was really important when you said "Whatever the outcome, it will be OK." One thing women obsessing over paternity often say is that their "life will be over" if the baby is from the wrong guy. But that's not true. Women find ways to move forward and have a good life for themselves and their beloved child no matter who the dad is.