I’ve been diagnosed with OCD but I don’t have these intrusive thoughts like everyone else...so I’m convincing myself I don’t really have OCD I struggle I guess with rOCD (and more)...I guess I always check to see if a person texted me back. I blow up the persons phone until they respond. I use to have it really bad where I had so much anxiety if I didn’t do it and so much anxiety if I did. When guys leave me....I freak out and have damn near a heart attack from panicking so much. And once I get this thought in my head whether it’s “you should’ve said this” or “he probably lied to you when he said this” or whatever there’s this feeling in my body. It’s like an uncomfortable negative vibe and that thought becomes priority. I have to do it. I have to text them and it’s hard to think of anything else. And when I do it doesn’t stop so i shouldn’t give in but sometimes I do. And if I get over that thought later another might replace it and it starts again. Anybody else feel this way...?

It’s total ocd - I had that for a while in high school when I’d need to know people weren’t mad at me, or that I was okay with who I was dating, that they still liked me. It sounds like (if this helps you rationalize that your thoughts and actions are ocd, it might make it easier for you to log it in the app) your obsession is worrying whether someone will be there for you & your compulsion is reassurance. It took me YEARS to realize that my need to get reassurance from people is actually a form of ‘checking’. The same way one person makes sure the stove is off? I would do that with getting reassurance from people... your exposure can be, not following up. It’s hard, but if you are open with family and friends about it, you can always tell them not to coddle you with responses. It sucks but it’s helpful... it breaks your habits.

To me that definitely sounds like OCD. I was like this back when my husband and I started dating in high school. I know it’s hard but trust in relationships is extremely important and you have to accept the fears and choose to act differently. Maybe just send a text saying “what’s up?” And just WAIT for a response. This REALLY helped me back in high school. Maybe your bf is just not a phone ? guy. Maybe he doesn’t like to call or text. My hubby actually hates making phone calls so I make a lot of calls for him. There was even one time in college when he and I didn’t talk or text for 2 months. I was FREAKING OUT but he just assumed everything was good. Turns out he didn’t put minutes on his phone. Some ppl are just that chill and assume all is good.

I’m no doctor but I do similar things at work where I do repetitive unnecessary tasks. People at work look at me like I am crazy, and I don’t want them to think that, but I just have to do them if something is the least bit off in my mind. Major overkill but I have to.

My whole comment didn’t post! - the rest was... your compulsion is reassurance. It took me years to realize but asking for reassurance aka looking for a response is just another form of ‘checking’ - the same way one person checks the stove to make sure it’s off 50 times before leaving the house, is the same thing you’re doing with your phone. Your exposure can be leaving your phone elsewhere for a period of time. Stay strong hun!

Yeah I just want us to be good all the time. I apologize and bite my tongue against disrespect because of wanting someone there for me...which might not be ocd but my ocd tendencies come into play

And also I’ve tried leaving my phone in my car but when I have a thought it’s hard to not go and txt someone you know? But I’ve gotten better at being logical with myself and telling myself what I want and need aren’t the same thing

That’s great that you’re separating the two! And totally, I think most people who have OCD are extremely empathetic people... just because you care doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a symptom, it just spirals because of the way our brains are wired. Don’t you worry though, you got this.

Thank you! I’m staying single rn and focusing on me which will cut a lot of stress BUT there are other OCD tendencies that I do that I’ll need to control

Thanks for the encouragement