OCD about age? Fear of getting old

Since I was a kid around 10/11 I’ve developed this extreme fear of aging, every birthday would send me in a spiral and my mind would be telling me “you’re getting older, no one will love you once you’re 30 or 40” “every single day you’re getting older” “you’ll only be young for so long” etc. It causes me extreme anxiety & due to my mental health I haven’t accomplished as much as other people my age. Does this count as OCD? How do I deal with this when it’s a FACT that I’m getting older every single year? I can’t avoid it.

Username: 777Q777Q

Date posted: 1y ago

Personally I feel try to be the best version of yourself. In the end no matter the age of someone, no one is getting out alive , LOL ! I give a thought daily about death , but in a positive way. For example I try to make amends with people I have wronged. Also I am thankful for each day being alive, just in case it is my last one . As far as love goes there is no clear reasoning with that some people are loved , some are not and to some extent it not whether they are young or old or good or bad . I feel there are many other things at play with that subject, that go much deeper.

Username: ghufranghufran

Date posted: 1y ago

@777Q Thank you, I’m trying to shift my perception of aging to a more positive thing. Everyone gets old, it’s just hard to accept.

Username: endure&thriveendure&thrive

Date posted: 1y ago

I can tell you that I too suffer from this and find the thought very upsetting. But the more we worry about it, the more time of this life we are wasting. Rationalize with yourself - so what if we are getting older each day? One day at a time. This mindset makes up live years or even decades of a time. When in a reality it all boils down to seconds (or even infinitely smaller; meaning we have an abundance of seconds of our lives left) and things (like getting into a relationship) can happen in the blink of an eye, so make the most of this time. Make each second count :)

Username: endure&thriveendure&thrive

Date posted: 1y ago

@endure&thrive *makes us live in years

Username: ghufranghufran

Date posted: 1y ago

@endure&thrive I think for me the reason I get so much anxiety when I think of getting old is due to how society sees “old people.” Being 30 is considered old, boring, not fun, etc. 20’s are seen as the best years of your life so I get scared thinking I only have limited time to do things I want to do. Not sure if I make sense.

Username: endure&thriveendure&thrive

Date posted: 1y ago

It does make sense! I recently watched some documentaries like “Live to 100” and it made me view getting older in a more positive light. And trust me, the best years are the years you make great and the best years of your life are ahead of you. Younger me wouldn’t have had the gratitude to appreciate where I’m at and where I’m heading. Great things ahead in the coming years for us.

Username: ghufranghufran

Date posted: 1y ago

@endure&thrive thank you, I’ll check the documentary out!

Username: Artyparty!Artyparty!

Date posted: 1y ago

Do you love your parents because if you do you will be loved

Username: Artyparty!Artyparty!

Date posted: 1y ago

We all get older but as long as we are not jerks we are loved

Username: jj19

Date posted: 4y ago

Do u guys have anxiety about getting older ? It feels like time flies and i'm only 19 but it's like i'm scared of wasting my youth bc of anxiety and ocd and not knowing who i am. So i'm kinda obsessed about how old am i and am i enjoying my youth enough and that i'm scared of getting older

Username: Ag123002

Date posted: 38w ago

Future!

Hi! I have a recurring thought that I need help reasoning about. I'm 21 years old and have been struggling with OCD since I was very young, and it's been worse than ever since I turned 16. Anyway, I'm young now and I don't plan on having children until I'm maybe around 30. Unfortunately, I have a strong fear for the future, what if I can't have children because they might also be affected by OCD? I've experienced most themes, and I wouldn't wish this terrible illness on my worst enemy, so how can I possibly risk my future child having it?

Username: co653

Date posted: 30w ago

sad growing up

idk if this is even ocd related, or if anyone relates, but im so sad about growing up. im gonna be twenty in 2 years. its not even a regular sad. i get like nauseous and a pain in my chest like when ur HEARTBROKEN. i cant think about my upbringing and especially my teenage years, and what i wasted, or time and memories i will not get back. I always get sad how I’ll never be 14,15,,16, again(this also makes my pocd act up but anyways lol). realizing I’ll never be able to experience an era of my life ever again really is gut wrenching to me. I can’t think about it too long or I’ll cry and feel really depressed. how do I feel better about this?? help??!

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OCD about age? Fear of getting old

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