Woman responds to backlash after sharing health condition that made her think she was paedophile

A woman who revealed how her mental health condition left her believing she might be a paedophile has responded to online backlash.

Molly Lambert, 22, came close to ending her own life when she was a teenager due to the intense anxiety associated with her condition, as she was left worried 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'."

However, things changed for Molly when she was diagnosed with P-OCD - a type of OCD where a person experiences unwanted sexual thoughts or images about children - that she was able to live with her own thoughts and get the help she needed.

After spotting a TikTok about the condition, she looked into it some more and, following a heartbreaking chat with her parents, she received an official diagnosis in July 2025.

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."

Molly received an official diagnosis last year (SWNS)

Despite never having the desire to act on her intrusive thoughts, the youngster has faced backlash online since she first shared her story, and she's now hit back at that abuse in a social media video, while also sharing reminders for anyone who might be experiencing similar.

On TikTok, she wrote: "Non-offending paedophiles are not the same thing.

"A lot of the backlash comes with people just saying it's just normalising being a p*do and not acting on it.

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

She also offered some reminders for anyone who might be going through a similar experience.

"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.

"Anyone who has comprehension skills will understand if you give them the resources to do so, you don't need to speak on your exact experience straight away.

"People understand and relate far more than you realise."

Even as a teenager, Molly was left horrified by her own thoughts (SWNS)

Molly also paid credit to the help that she's received since her diagnosis, but suggested that there needs to be more public knowledge around conditions like P-OCD.

She concluded: "When I was 15 I would have rather died than exist in the mind I had.

"I thought I would never speak a word of this to anyone even though I had a great support system.

"The lack of representation of the real and dark side of OCD almost cost me my life."

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.