Intrusive thoughts and an overwhelming guilt

Hi everyone.
So, first of all, I'm not diagnosed with OCD. However, I think that I may have some of the symptoms and that my problem may fit in this category.
I'm an worrier since I can remember. However, lately I've been having intrusive thoughts about things that I did months or even years ago and that I think that can affect my current relationship. Things that I did or say that may seem inoffensive to other people, but to me, I think it makes me a bad person... Some things from my past (and then, I have the urge to confess to my boyfriend, to relieve the sense of guilt), and other things from now. Then, I think my boyfriend doesn't deserve a girlfriend like me and the guilt appears.
I talked with my mum about this and she thinks that my worries are irrational, but I feel so trapped in my own mind... I just want to make sure I'm a great girlfriend, but my mind always convinces me I'm not, to the point of having panic attacks.

Hello rosepetal: Intrusive thoughts have been a problem for me for many years. So I know something of what you are experiencing. You mentioned you talked with your mum about them. From my perspective, your instinct to talk about what you are experiencing is correct. However your mum may not be the right person to be talking to. At least my personal experience has been that family members are seldom helpful when it comes to mental health related concerns. What may be preferable would be to seek the services of a mental health therapist or counselor with whom you can explore, over time, what you are dealing with.

I see this is your first post here on PC. So... to PsychCentral… from the Skeezyks! May the time you spend here be of benefit.

PsychCentral is a great place to get information as well as support for mental health issues. The more you post, & reply to other members’ posts, the more a part of the community you will become. Plus there are social groups you can join & chat rooms where you’ll be able to connect with other PC members in real time (once your first 5 posts have been reviewed & approved.) Lots of great stuff! So please keep posting!

I think intrusive thoughts and guilt go hand in hand. Guilt over what the thoughts are, that you can't control your own thoughts, guilt for not being 'perfect'.

I second what was posted above - talking to a mental health professional will give you the best results. Or if that's not an option, research methods on how to cope and fight OCD back. My t recently gave me pages from a child's coloring book about how to overcome OCD and it's been surprisingly helpful.

Thank you so much for your kindness! What about disturbing images in your mind that you can't control (and then you feel super guilty for those images appearing in your mind)? Is that normal in people with OCD? I'm sorry for the dumb questions but I'm young, I'm 22 and really confused!

Thanks for the reply! I actually want to go to a mental health professional, but they are quite expensive. I will research and try to figure it out for myself. And thanks for the tip! People here are really kind and helpful.