- Username
- Cece Piglet
- Date posted
- 5y ago
There are no "shoulds" or rules to follow when it comes to sharing your OCD with others. It's a very personal decision that only you (not OCD) can make. Try separating your wise mind from the OCD voice. Is your wise mind saying that you genuinely want to tell your friends? If so, explore that option. For years, I kept my OCD a secret from my friends & anyone who wasn't family. I only told my boyfriend but never revealed it to even my closest friends. It wasn't until years later that I opened up on social media about it because I want to help end the stigma surrounding mental illness. It was gradual for me. I started by opening up with saying I had an anxiety disorder but not specifying that it was OCD until about a year later. I'm happy that I did it on my terms, and I have no regrets about sharing opening up. Bottom line: If *you* (not influenced by OCD or others) want to share this with your friends, then do it. If not, don't worry or feel any pressure to do so :)
When I told my two closest friends they both responded with “I know, you’ve had OCD for years, did you really think I had no idea” we laughed over it and when I’m having a tough time I talk to one of them a lot (she suffers with anxiety) and it helps so much, she never judges she just listens and she’s amazing ?
I wouldn’t tell your friends unless they have it as well. Most people don’t know I have mental illnesses. Why? It’s just none of their business.
I agree with applejaks - if you want to tell them, that is 100% your call. I’m not sure if this helps, but I am in my mid-twenties and just opened up to my best friend about my OCD. She is kind, caring, and compassionate and didn’t judge me at all. She asked how she can help and support me during recovery. For so long I worked it up in my head that people were going to think I was (1) weird (2) insane [for use of mental illness insanity]; and (3) a loser. That hasn’t been and still isn’t the case. People understand and are fighting their own demons as well ?
How did you tell your partner about your ocd? I’ve never been in a relationship but I am scared to death just thinking about having to tell a future boyfriend about my ocd. I feel weird and alone and like no one will ever want to be with me. Especially if they find out about my mental illness. I’m 23 now and feel like I will be alone forever.
Does anyone have any advice for sharing their obsessions with their significant other? I struggle with relationship and sexuality OCD. My boyfriend knows I have OCD, but we have never discussed it in detail. I think he is trying to respect my boundaries and I am terrified he won’t understand my obsessions and/or will take them personally. As a result I feel like I am hiding this horrible secret, and it is causing me so much anxiety. I want to talk to him about it, but I don’t know how to bring it up in a way that won’t hurt him.
Has anyone else had trouble telling people about their OCD? I would like to help break the stigma about mental health and be a part of the change. But it is such an exhausting thing to even think about. Not only would it be difficult to tell people (even people I trust), but it would be even more difficult to have to explain to people what OCD really is (not just the stereotypes they have seen on TV). On top of that I keep thinking how do I even begin to explain the subtypes that I have experienced? I suppose I don't have to, but it helps to give some real depth for them to sink their teeth into; to really understand the difference between OCPD and OCD. I keep thinking if I can get through ERP (which I have recently done), then I can certainly share my disorder with others (well I cant be 100% certain...see what I did there?). I know I don't have to tell others about my OCD and I respect people who want to keep it private. I have for years. I just think that I would like to be confident, own it, and help others who are still figuring out about their own mental health struggles. I know many of my family and friends will be surprised to hear that I have OCD. So if you have any suggestions or anecdotes you would be willing to share that would be great. Thanks!
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