Woman responds to criticism for revealing she thought she was a pedophile before being diagnosed with medical condition

Warning: This article contains discussion of mental health conditions, child abuse and suicidal thoughts which some readers may find distressing.

A woman has recently opened up about how her intrusive thoughts had her mistakenly believing that she was a pedophile.

When British woman Molly Lambert was a teenager she began experiencing disturbing intrusive thoughts that left her feeling fearful, guilt and shame.

These thoughts often proved to be violent and sexual and eventually they became so intense that she believed she would be a danger to other people around her.

Speaking about her fears when she was a teenager, the now 22 year-old has recounted: “I was 15 and I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m a pedophile - I thought, I’m never going to forget this thought. My life is over'”

However, Molly would eventually come to learn she was was actually suffering from a specific kind of mental health condition known as pedophile obsessive compulsive disorder or P-OCD.

Molly now understands her condition better and is able to manage it (SWNS)

This is pedophile obsessive compulsive disorder, or P-OCD, where someone experiences unwanted intrusive thoughts about the sexual abuse of children. P-OCD is not pedophilia.

Sharing her experiences and journey on social media recently, Molly has also addressed her critics and those who have labelled her a pedophile.

In a TikTok video made up of paragraphs she encouraged other people to speak out and seek therapy if they have felt similar to how she has descried.

She also encouraged others to not suffer and silence and recognized the mental toll incorrectly believing you a pedophile can leave on you.

In her message she said: “You will not be disowned, sent away or arrested for speaking on your thoughts.

“Every professional who is trained properly in mental illness will be well aware of what intrusive thoughts can look like.

“Hiding and not speaking about certain thoughts will only make the shame and fear around those grow”

Later on in the video, she emphasized why it was important to recognize the difference between this mental condition and pedophilia.

Molly now hopes that she can help others living with the condition (SWNS)

She continued: “Non-offending pedophiles are not the same thing.

“A lot of the backlash comes with people saying it’s just normalizing being a pedo and not acting on it.

“These non-offending pedophiles may choose to do the right thing and not act on it but the desire, attraction and enjoyment of those thoughts is still there.

“People with OCD perceive danger wrongly and it is all irrational, it makes complete sense that someone with an anxious brain would be terrified of pedophiles so therefore worry they are the same as them.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.