Woman whose health condition made her think she was a paedophile explains other symptoms she experiences

A British woman whose health condition left her believing she might be a paedophile has opened up on some of the other symptoms she struggles with.

Molly Lambert bravely shared her distressing intrusive thoughts with her parents and therapists, having being left concerned that she was a danger to children.

She said: "I was 15 and I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m a paedophile - I thought, I’m never going to forget this thought. My life is over'."

Her intrusive thoughts started when she noticed a young girl in a crop top and short skirt, and thought it was 'weird for a child to wear that'.

She explained: "I panicked - why would I even notice that? Why would I think about that? She's a child."

The thoughts got so bad she had to give up her job at a swimming pool cafe because she didn't trust herself to be around kids.

She said: "Every thought was dark, I wasn't eating properly, I wasn't sleeping, I was so scared of being alone or going to bed."

In 2025 she was diagnosed with P-OCD, a condition which causes an individual to have unwanted sexual thoughts or images about children, without the desire to hurt or abuse those minors.

(SWNS)

Despite the 22-year-old receiving some abuse after sharing her story, with many unwilling to accept her medical diagnosis and writing her off as a paedophile

She said in a TikTok video yesterday (4 March): "A lot of the comments [after she shared her story with news outlets] are men being like, 'If this was a man...'. What is your point? Of course.

"I'm not just speaking out for women. I can't even imagine how many men have spoken up about this and been told they're crazy and they're a monster.

"That breaks my heart. It's terrifying how many people have been living their whole lives and not known about this."

Molly is keen to raise awareness of the condition, and has shared some of the other symptoms she goes through.

On her TikTok account, Molly wrote: "I wanted to speak more about my general anxiety and panic attacks as they have had the same grip on my life like my OCD has."

She discussed 'feeling unbalanced', as if the floor is being moved from beneath her feet and seeing black dots when she's feeling anxious.

The worst symptom she described was feeling like she needs to force herself to swallow, while she also feels the need to have somewhere to lean or sit when out in public.

Anxiety rashes and redness of the skin is also something Molly struggles with.

Even though she has never abused anyone, or felt the desire to, the anxiety associated with P-OCD can often be overwhelming, causing fears that she had assaulted someone in the past.

She said: "The shame was overwhelming, I felt like a monster. I couldn’t even tell anyone what I was going through."

Things have improved for Molly since she received her official diagnosis in July last year.

Molly was diagnosed last year (SWNS)

She recalled: "The weight that lifted off my shoulders was crazy. I thought only freaks had this.

"My therapist said it is an awful thing to go to but that it is way more common than you would ever expect.

"Getting all of that outside of me was the biggest part of my journey. It felt like I was in a war with myself, but now I knew what I was fighting."

The digital PR worker is continuing to use her social media to raise awareness of P-OCD, despite the stigma that is attached to it.

She previously said: "I get a lot of hate, but this conversation is so important for the people suffering in silence.

"The scariest part is how many people might not be here anymore because of this. I remember thinking I’d be 50 and never escape these thoughts, or I would be dead.

"Always talk to someone, once you understand what it is, you realise it’s not you. It’s OCD."

What's the difference between P-OCD and paedophilia?

The International OCD Foundation explains: "The diagnosis of pedophilia has absolutely nothing to do with the diagnosis of pOCD. An individual living with pOCD is no more likely to be a pedophile than an individual who does not have pOCD.

"This is a disorder of anxiety and uncertainty, not sexual urges and behaviors. "

People suffering from P-OCD will experience intrusive thoughts - or spikes - about harming children, accompanied with intense anxiety. They will monitor every thought and even question their memories based on the belief they might be a paedophile.

The foundation gives some examples of the kind of intrusive thoughts people with P-OCD might have: “Did I ever do anything inappropriately sexual when I was younger?”; “I should stand on the other side of the tube, away from this 6-year-old boy so that I don’t impulsively grope him"; “Will I be creepy or do something inappropriate when I have a baby?”

Psychology Today adds that pregnant women and new parents are particularly susceptible to P-OCD, writing: "OCD tends to latch onto the things most precious or valued in one’s life, the things that represent their worst fears. For many new parents, the most important thing in their lives is suddenly their new baby, so unsurprisingly OCD latches onto the fear that they might harm that child."

According to OCD UK, 1.2 percent of the population are living with OCD.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.

Alternatively, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.