Glam girl, 22, who satisfied herself she was paedo who beloved children overwhelmed by help

Molly Lambert, from Manchester, shared her battle with P-OCD and received an overwhelming response from people silently suffering with the same intrusive thoughts about children

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A woman whose OCD led her to believe she was a paedophile has received thousands of messages from people silently grappling with the same distressing thoughts. Molly Lambert, 22, opened up about living with Pure O obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), a variant where compulsions are primarily mental rather than physical.

As a teenager, she was plagued by intrusive sexual and violent thoughts that made her fear she was a threat to others. After watching a TikTok video about P-OCD – the paedophilic theme within OCD involving unwanted sexual thoughts or images about children – Molly was finally diagnosed in August 2025.

She emphasises that P-OCD is not paedophilia and decided to share her story to assist others suffering in silence. Since speaking out, she has been subjected to abusive messages – but also countless messages from people of all ages who have never disclosed their intrusive thoughts.

Molly, a digital PR worker and mental health advocate, said: “The response has been overwhelming. People say they’ve been crying, that they’ve felt like this for years and never told anyone,” reports the Manchester Evening News.

“Parents have reached out saying they have obsessions about harming their children. Some people said they ended up in psychiatric wards or tried to take their own lives.”

She reckons the taboo nature of these thoughts makes them more perilous. “People don’t talk about it, and that makes it worse. Some messages are from people in their 50s who have been silently suffering their whole lives. It shows how common and hidden it is.”

Molly revealed that her OCD led her to become fixated on themes involving harm, morality, sexuality, and existence.

She said: “It’s not being a paedophile – it’s that these thoughts exist and your brain latches onto them. OCD is all about uncertainty. It tells you ‘what if?’ and you can’t prove it wrong.”

She outlined how various themes felt like “the same lie in a different disguise.” While the thoughts themselves were upsetting, she stressed they never mirrored her intentions or desires.

Molly said: “I would replay thoughts, overanalyse everything, check comments, and second guess myself constantly. You feel like you can’t relax.”

She detailed the vicious cycle – fighting compulsions triggers anxiety surges, yet surrendering only reinforces the behaviour. Even today, stress or exhaustion can intensify the thoughts.

For years, she felt imprisoned in what she describes as “dark spirals” of shame. She said: “You think you’re a monster, that you don’t deserve to exist. The shame is in how you see yourself. Even years later, that feeling can linger.” Her recovery hasn’t been smooth sailing. She initially underwent therapy in 2023, which provided temporary relief, but by 2024 her panic attacks had intensified, prompting her to attempt hypnotherapy. She received a formal diagnosis in 2025 and discovered that speaking candidly marked a crucial breakthrough.

“Externalising it helped the most. For years I avoided talking about it, but once I did, it felt like the air cleared,” she said.

Molly also reckons the stigma might be even more intense for men. She said: “If I was a man, I’d be terrified to open up. OCD doesn’t pick gender, but men may fear being judged or accused. That’s why awareness matters – it’s not about desire or intent.”

Despite her good intentions, going public has resulted in harassment. She said: “I’ve been called a ‘nonce’ and told to die. I had to delete Facebook, and my mum helps manage messages.

“If people understood traditional OCD, they’d see the same patterns in other forms. Reactions can push sufferers further into themselves, and that’s why it’s dangerous.”

Pure O proves particularly tough because everything occurs internally. She said: “It feels real, even when you logically know it’s not. It’s exhausting and relentless.”

Over time, Molly has mastered sitting with the thoughts instead of battling them. She said: “I observe them and recognise the pattern. You have to label it so it loses power. People want it to stop immediately, but understanding it is the only way.

“That’s the advice I share those who reach out to me. It gives people permission to step back and realise it’s their brain – not them being a monster.”

Despite continuing challenges, she remains committed to supporting others. Molly said: “People have sought help, got diagnosed, or realised they’re not alone after hearing my story. That’s what matters.

“I wish I had earlier awareness, it could have saved me years of suffering. People message me saying they thought they were the only ones.”