I'm currently on a break with my new partner of 3 months because I haven't been able to make them understand what my relapse has been like. What has the conversation around OCD been like for you and your partner? Do you give them resources? How much do you tell? Do you tell about triggers as they happen?
Idk. I have ocd and it’s very hard trying to tell my husband about it. I suggest to tell them to read about ocd. Don’t tell them everything straight up, let them ask you questions. And slowly start talking about it.
We were friends first and I actually went to him when I was suicidal years ago and he stayed up on the phone with me because I was too scared to sleep. I wasn’t diagnosed yet with OCD but I told everything to him and he wasn’t scared off. Then we learned about OCD and it all made sense. Very dramatic but it worked out very well in the end.
i honestly told him i was having these thoughts and issues and that i wanted him close to me and i would be okay soon. when the episode passed i talked to him about my past trauma and how this is a response in a way, i told him what to expect, what to not expect and what to say, and we’re almost one year in. he’s never asked for a break, i know he gets frustrated and maybe mad at the ocd sometimes but he’s always been by my side and we’ve worked through it as a team.
I started by telling my husband about my behavior and why I do it and it’s hard for me to stop. I told him I’m trying to get better and get help. All you need is support and understanding from them.
@SofiaLovedAndHealed It was a short conversation at first then we keep talking about it later. It’s a lot to take in so try to take it slow.
Honestly, I found out I had OCD in general and that it was ROCD themed with my partner and I was so hard on myself because I didn’t understand why no one I knew was having as much difficulty as I was- I would google “how do I know I’m in love for sure” quizzes and articles and whole days would just pass filled with guilt, at the time I would explain (I now know it was confessing) to my partner about what I was thinking and then one day happened along a post about relationship anxiety and ROCD and checked every box. I immediately found a book on OCD with a ROCD subtype and read it all, then once I felt comfortably understanding what I had explained it to my partner with references and everything. I’m currently in ERP and it has helped more than I could ever hope 💛 but at the end of the day I’d say explaining from as much of an unbiased POV to your partner can never go wrong.
I'm currently struggling if I should tell her (she knows that I have mental health issues but nothing exactly). On the one hand I think she's really supportive and understanding, on the other hand I'm not sure if it would just be a compulsions (confessing - which I used to do a lot) and I don't want that she feels insecure.
How have you guys explained ROCD to your partner? I feel like I’m in an urge to break up again. I know it will pass. I love my partner so much - he is honestly so wonderful. I feel like I can’t talk to him about ROCD because I’m afraid he will leave. Me leaving him is the easy way out, and one I know I’ll regret. Has anyone explained this to their partner? How?
I just received an OCD diagnosis this morning during my first session with NOCD, and my husband walked in right at the end of my session. I hadn’t told him that I was seeking therapy because a lot of my intrusive thoughts are doubts about our relationship and my sexuality, and I don’t want to upset him by sharing intrusive thoughts that aren’t based in reality. I think deep down, I know that what I’m thinking and feeling isn’t based on desires that I want to act on, but if I were in his shoes, hearing that I had doubts about our marriage (real or not), would be upsetting. Does anyone have advice about speaking to your partner about relationship OCD?
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