I should start by saying I have never been diagnosed with OCD or any mental disorder, but Iāve been researching ROCD per my girlfriendās suggestion on and off for 6+ months now, and all of the symptoms and descriptions have hit home for me.
However, I worry that Iām using ROCD as an excuse for continuously convincing myself sheās enough for me. The core of my fears is finding others attractive, and more attractive, than her ā when I see a cute girl, or someone with features I naturally desire, my ruminations/episodes begin. After that it doesnāt take long to lead to doubting the validity of the entire relationship, and whether I even love her at all or want to be with her.
It doesnāt help that we go to a university, so Iām inevitably surrounded by attractive people constantly.
My main fear is that Iām settling for her appearance, even though Iām attracted to her and, truth is, I think she is hotter than me. And I feel like I tell myself that the only thing wrong with her is her appearance, because she is everything I want otherwise (personality, compatibility), but sheās just not my physical type.
Every time that these fears and doubts build up from rumination, we talk about it. The end factor is that it almost always ends up being a result of intrusive thoughts.
In fact, the last time we talked about this (about two weeks ago), we had makeup sex and I had an intrusive thought of a particular girl thatās in one of my classes. I did everything I could to purge this thought so I could enjoy the moment, and eventually it subsided ā but I found myself ācheckingā by opening my eyes and staring at her throughout for reassurance that itās her I want. I then told her about it right afterwards because of the massive guilt I felt, and she was a bit less understanding (rightfully..).
Weāre now at a breaking point, where she loves me and Iām pretty sure I love her, but Iām still having these doubts and I donāt know what to do to deal with them. I am convincing myself that they are significant and important because of their consistency now that it has been 8 months of us dating. I have told her I need time to think about this and figure out what I want, and I know this is destroying her, so I need to decide to break up or not now, because I canāt stand knowing sheās going through this.
At what point am I just fighting this āgut feelingā because I know Iām settling, or is it just ROCD lying to me because she is so important to me?