TLDR: navigating responsibility OCD with obsessions about climate change and social justice. Does anyone else have obsessions around climate change and social justice? How do you separate what is a reasonable, ethical concern from what is an OCD reaction? For example, I bought dish towels today and am lying in bed feeling guilty because I bought them new (excessive consumerism) and because I'm worried they were made unsustainably or in a sweatshop. It's very hard to dismiss these as "ocd worries" because like, it's good to try to have a lower carbon footprint, and to try to be socially responsible! But I don't seem to have a response between "fuck the earth I guess" and "I did what was cheap/easy instead of what's responsible, so I'm as much a part of the problem as anyone, the planet is dying and people are suffering because of me, blah blah blah." Anyways, if anyone has tips on sticking to their morals without being overwhelmed by OCD let me know! I've only known I have it for about a year so I'm still figuring it out.

Not sure I have any tips to offer. I just wanted to say that you're not alone. Sometimes I feel like it's up to me to solve the world's problems. And it can make you feel pretty helpless because there's only so much one person can do.

Yes! I had a panic attack at Target because all I saw is plastic. I also stopped my hobby of making gemstone bracelets because I got scared they were mined by children. I’m working on facing my fears, so I go to store and stare at all the stuff and try to accept it. I also joined a local environmental board so I will be helping recycle locally. It’s a way of compartmentaliIng it. I can do positive works then try to shut it out of my mind for a while. I also started going door knocking for Bernie Sanders and that helps me feel less powerless.

This is actually a really sweet OCD obsession. It’s nice that you care so much! But doing your part and caring and being a good person shouldn’t cause you so much pain. Rather than seeing any failure to eliminate waste as “fucking the earth” or “being part of the problem”, I think it’s important to note the cognitive distortions here: catastrophizing & should/must-ing. I understand that as a human collective each plastic bag and unrecycled object is technically part of the problem, but the problem isn’t occasional/personal waste. Corporations are actually far and away the central cause for the current state we’re in. And while individual concerns are great and important, they’re actually not even that impactful. I recommend this episode of Adam Ruins Everything: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koqNm_TgOZk