What I understand in your words is the weight of ten years of carrying something alone, convincing yourself you don’t need help while deep down wishing someone could really see you without judgement. That’s not weakness, it’s exhaustion and also courage, because you’ve finally said it out loud..
You deserve a space where you are safe, not shamed. The thoughts and urges you describe don’t make you “less than,” they point to pain, rejection, and patterns your mind has built around it. With the right support, those patterns can be understood and shifted. You’ve already taken the hardest first step by admitting, “I want help.”
Next Steps
The next step is not to wrestle this alone anymore. Book one appointment with a psychologist someone who works with sexual behaviour concerns, self-esteem, and rejection trauma. In that first session, you don’t have to pour everything out. Just let them know the broad outline: you’ve been struggling with these thoughts for 10 years, they’ve caused you distress, and you want to understand and gain control.
Health Tips
Stop punishing yourself for the thoughts. They don’t define your worth. They’re signals of unresolved pain and unmet needs, not proof of who you are.
Ground yourself when urges come. Simple things like deep breathing, holding ice, or journaling the trigger can interrupt the cycle long enough to regain control.
Reframe rejection. Past rejections aren’t proof that you deserve humiliation. Therapy will help you rewrite that story, but for now, remind yourself: “Rejection was about the situation, not about my worth.”
Limit isolation. Ten years of keeping this inside has deepened the struggle. Even a small step like talking to one trusted friend without going into detail — chips away at the loneliness.