Why do I feel so bad about myself?

It’s important that you remember that you haven’t asked for the thoughts that are in your head. Your sexual thoughts about children don’t make you a bad person. Just like everyone else with problems, you deserve help and support.

It is perfectly normal to struggle. We know that people who have sexual thoughts about children sometimes feel very bad about themselves. Try noticing if you experience any of the following signs:

  • I worry a lot, and I feel that it’s becoming harder to control my thoughts
  • I feel tense and/or have difficulty sleeping
  • I regularly have problems concentrating
  • I fear that something bad will happen to me or someone I care about
  • I feel depressed and I have a hard time finding the energy to do things
  • I blame myself and have a guilty conscience. I feel wrong--that I’m a bad person and/or disgusting

Being plagued by worries and thoughts can lead to a difficult and painful everyday life. Some people even find that the situation feels so unmanageable and unsolvable that they can’t bear to live with the burden.

If you have self-critical thoughts or you are thinking about suicide, it is important that you get professional help. Luckily, there are a lot of professional people who are good at helping so that you can again feel good about yourself and life in general.

Who can I contact?

Your own doctor: If you experience any of the above symptoms or have suicidal thoughts, you should contact your doctor. Your doctor has a duty of confidentiality and can make sure that you get the help you need so that you can get well again.

The on-call doctor (vagtlægen): Can be contacted outside of your own doctor’s opening hours. Find the telephone number for the on-call doctor in your region.

The lifeline (Livslinien):
If you have thoughts or plans about suicide, you can anonymously contact the Lifeline. The telephone counseling is open every day of the year, between 11am and 03 am. Call 70 20 12 01 or get online advice at Skrivdet.dk.

Video: How can a doctor help you?

See video with doctor and professor Christian Graugaard about how a doctor can help you if you have sexual thoughts about children.