- Date posted
- 2y
OCD and Narcissistic Abuse
Thinking aloud: I know that my mind is going to look for anything to confirm any paranoia or suspicions I have about friends not really caring about me, people dismissing my feelings and experiences, etc. But when I can write a timeline of how a relationship ended and how this person has gotten close to the people in closest proximity in my life, and have seen these relationships change, it’s excruciating. How do I know what is true? What can be shared or defended or justified? My inner critic keeps popping up reminding me that I can’t be upset about people or relationships that have changed since this mess (affair) ended because I never told them the extent of my suffering. Many of my friends don’t even know anything happened with this person, so when I don’t show up or my behavior is erratic and anxious and hard, I assume they just think I’m being flaky and fake. It kills me. The solution I’ve sought is to just move in trust at face value that if they do invite me somewhere they really want me there, or if they don’t it’s not personal. But then to navigate and answer to myself - it’s as if there’s no free invitations. “If I go and am anxious as hell I must be faking it - never honest to the people around me and butter when they can’t read my mind” “If I don’t go and honor my feelings, they may be offended or confused - I don’t feel free to tell them the full truth so they’ve slowly stopped inviting me” The spiral easily looks like - what’s the best move? Everything’s humiliating either way so which bullet is better to take? Am I selfish for sharing my story when it involves someone else? You’re selfish for sharing the truth and selfish for being hurt - you made the decision to not tell them. Even if you did, they’re entitled to their own responses. Frozen - unless I am convicted in one clear direction, the easiest thing is to not move. Miserable. “The truth will set you free” - at my core I believe in truth and owning it. Whatever it is. Warts and all, but the anxiety of sharing and fear of being rejected or accused is truly terrifying. Making myself a martyr it seems, and yet - there seems to be no way out.