Stronger together: How finding connection can help you face OCD

When you’re struggling with OCD, connecting with others can be a great source of support. But frustratingly, OCD can foster feelings of loneliness, shame, and anxiety that lead us to withdraw from our relationships and self-isolate when we’re most in need of support. The good news is that we can change this pattern. Through developing our support systems, we can find the connection and understanding that are vital parts of every OCD journey. There are many ways for each of us to cultivate a sense of community and belonging. Other people with OCD, as well as those with a deep understanding of the condition, can be an especially powerful source of support, normalizing your experiences, helping you face challenges, and providing inspiration by sharing their own stories. Reaching out for connection can help us face OCD with emotional support, encouragement, and the knowledge that we’re not alone. Learn how connection can help you face OCD, and ways you can strengthen your support system.

Anarch_Stirner

Date posted: 1y

I was part of an ocd group, until I got removed - now I am upset.

NODA

Date posted: 1y

For Emotional and Thought contamination ocd it is extremely hard not to isolate yourself from basically all people but one. The one helps you survive. It has happened to me before. I was half a step away from ending it all. After taking medication for a year, I now feel better, but ocd it is still limiting my life, it is always at the back of my mind, prohibiting me from living completely carefree and active social life. Eventhough I do go out now and interact with people, I have no deep relationships or even by the way friendships with anyone except one person. I spend most of my days at home, alone and the worst thing is I kind of like it that way. People and the outside represent danger of disappointment, new triggers, past triggers, exhaustion due to compulsions and worrying, so I guess I have convinced myself that I am just not the friendship kind of a material. I don't let anyone in. All I have is superficial relationships, if one can call it that. I am older than most people I know, but I feel like I am not functioning the way a person my age is expected to. I feel inadequate for this life, environment, people living around me. They are way more functioning throughout the day than me. And all they seem to care about is gathering as much money as they can and they are being friends only if and as long as they can get out something from another person, then you don't exit for them anymore. Maybe these are my excuses for not socializing more, but... I am so scared of ending up alone and lonely, but I just can't seem to go through the emotional turmoil of disappointment again. I give it my all and get cast away every single time. So, how do we with Emotional and thought contamination ocd strengthen our support system? The problem us, once a person becomes the core trigger, all other people in anyway related or connected to become triggers as well, and all the people who know those people. You avoid them all. It is a hell like unending circle. I wish I could stop.

Anarch_Stirner

Date posted: 1y

^^^ It's like I wrote this. Every word of this resonated with me ^^^

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