i genuinely don’t know anyone else who has ocd like me! nobody i know can relate to my ocd. not just my specific subtypes and/or triggers, but ocd in general. i know that there likely are friends of mine who have ocd but just don’t share about it. it is just very very lonely and frustrating and embarrassing to look “crazy” all the time.
One thing that I’ve found out since I got my diagnosis is that way more people have it than I thought, we’re just all embarrassed to talk about it. But I’ve opened up about it to a few friends and they happily turned around and told me they had it too! It’s scary, but if they’re good friends they should support you whether or not they have their own mental health issues :)
That's sweet, your lucky to have people like that, that will realize. I've tried explaining to people around me or even drawing it but it just scares them away more, or then get awkward and change the subject, or just laugh. How did you explain it?
@rjs671 Many people have this diagnosis. I’m embarrassed by it. Never had friends. I think maybe I showed signs that drove people away. Must be nice to have that support.
I am sure if you feel comfortable sharing you will find there are many people on this forum who can relate. There is no need to be embarrassed.
@Jeffrey I’m embarrassed because the little family I have all know that I have a mental illness.
@Matthew L. I am sorry that you feel embarrassed. This is beyond your control.
@Matthew L. It’s not your fault you have OCD. You didn’t ask for this. You are doing the best you can to survive which is nothing to be embarrassed about!
@Jeffrey Thanks. It just makes me wonder what they’re truly thinking about me?
@ Thank you.
I feel embarrassed about my OCD. I don’t know anyone else with extreme OCD. My dad has OCD, but he doesn’t have the same as me, and can’t relate to me.
@Matthew L. i am with you matthew. i don’t know anyone at all who has more than “ocd tendencies.”
@brooke chap Thanks. It’s hard not having anyone to relate to, who has same tendencies.
I often feel the same way, especially as I've never sought out communities like this where there are others that struggle very similarly as we do. Just know you're not alone and I feel like I understand based purely on the subtypes you've listed. I also often label myself as "crazy" for having OCD but I've found that just makes me feel worse or more ashamed about myself. Don't be so critical of yourself! You are not crazy, and it is not your fault
Would you like to talk about your specific OCD? Nothing to be embarrassed about! No one will judge you here
@ i elaborated below :)
@ I’ve never mentioned this, other than to my psychiatrist and therapist. My OCD kind of revolves around the bathroom and ruminating. I worry that I did each step it entails, some contamination OCD.
Thank You for sharing what you are experiencing. OCD Manifests in different ways for everyone and there are many different types of OCD themes. Please be patient and kind with yourself. Recovery is possible. are you currently in therapy with a trained OCD therapist? if not please consider reaching out to the NOCD care team for a free consultation.
@Lisa LeeLou i am seeing a therapist outside of the app who is wonderful and is helping me through erp!
elaborating… i assume there are people i am around who suffer from ocd as well, however i do not know for certain that this is the case. as far as i know, everyone in my life has very limited understanding of ocd (mostly the stereotypes) and cannot relate to my experience with ocd. most people in my life have no understanding at all of ocd subtypes and either cannot comprehend that certain behaviors of mine are symptoms of ocd and some people simply don’t believe that i have ocd at all because i do not keep a perfectly clean living space. there isn’t anyone in my life i can talk to about ocd who relates or even understands. therefore, when i experience intense episodes of ocd, i appear “crazy” to them. i hope that clears up some confusion.
@brooke chap That makes sense and I felt that way too. It was really helpful that I found this app and saw other people are going through the same things I am. Have you tried joining any groups on NOCD?
@ i would love join a group but i can’t pay :(
@brooke chap The groups are free. There is no charge to attend.
@Jeffrey that’s such good news! how can i join?
@brooke chap You go to the groups icon on this app and choose the groups you want and it will ask for your email and will send you the zoom link one hour prior to meeting time of the group. You will also get a reminder 24 hours before. These groups are super helpful.
@Jeffrey Yes, thanks Jeffrey for the directions! Those groups are very useful
@Jeffrey i’m not able to find the groups icon… could you describe what it looks like or where i can find it
@brooke chap If you go to the community page at the top there are circles with different topics and groups is at the end.
I feel the same exact way and last time I tried to talk to one of my friends she was like omg same and I’ve basically lived with her. I see the way she acts you can catch on when someone has ocd. It feels so embarrassing and lonely and after I do a compulsion sometimes I just feel like I am sooo crazy
@Disko totally get this
I understand in the best way I can, if you'd like to talk about it I'm willing to
@Judy❤️ thank you! i elaborated below :)
You are definitely not alone 🥺
What do you mean ?
@emnav i explained a bit more below. let me know if it makes more sense
Am I the only person who feels as tho OCD is like one of the topics you don’t speak of like when your around people who genuinely do not understand or suffer with OCD you can’t mention it.I also suffer with anxiety and although when people are around me enough they can notice behaviour I feel as tho I’d be highly judged for it.Like I shouldn’t feel the way I do because it makes me seem insane to people who can not understand it.No one around me ever truly understands its.
Having ocd is a nightmare. I feel so alone. Most of society doesn’t understand it and it feels so awful. I feel like sometimes I don’t have anyone I can really vent to because no one truly gets it. My family and husband are supportive but I feel like they just don’t truly get it.
I sometimes worry my situation is too uncommon to be OCD and can’t find many people to relate too with similar situations. Anyone else?
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