Menstruation and OCD

Does being on my period or having upcoming menstrual symptoms worsen my OCD symptoms? Is it because of the added pain, or the added chemicals in my body? Anyone else experience this?

OCD newbies

Username: AnonymousrabbitAnonymousrabbit

Date posted: 39w ago

I feel like being on my period does slightly increase my ocd due to the increased stress emotionally and physically - I know how difficult it is, try to make sure you have things in place to help, I don’t know what type of ocd you struggle with but distractions always help me xx

Username: MeowkoMeowko

Date posted: 39w ago

Yes, I feel like it does get slightly worse. Keep your head up ☀️🫶🏻

Username: ryy123ryy123

Date posted: 39w ago

My OCD gets sooo much worse right before/during my period (and sometimes a little after). Like I have such a hard time resisting compulsions and my OCD will literally drive me to tears.

Username: Emilia<3Emilia<3

Date posted: 39w ago

@ryy123 I become paralyzed by my thoughts it’s actually really bad I also get a episode for a good 3 weeks or so every time my menstrual cycle starts

Username: Jersey JayneJersey Jayne

Date posted: 39w ago

It absolutely 100% can make OCD symptoms worse. It doesn't mean that it DOES or that it WILL, but it is an extremely common happening. It's because of all the hormonal crap getting pumped through your body, which can trigger more OCD symptoms in itself, or cause more odd physical sensations that trigger the OCD anyway. Ever since I first started menstruating, I've always had slight anxiety problems around that time as well, and still notice my OCD symptoms bugging me during this time as a young adult. It's totally normal to have mental problems appear, worsen, or become more frequent during PMS and menstruation. There are some people who do have very extreme problems with this, too, so don't think you're alone at all in feeling this 🫂🩵 It's so so so so normal to feel this way.

Username: samanthasolmar

Date posted: 5y ago

Does anyone get “intrusive feelings”? I’ve experienced intrusive thoughts and urges, but I’m noticing intrusive feelings too. I’m about to start PMS-ing and I’m having weird depressed feelings like “I hate my life, everything sucks, maybe i want to die”. I have suicidal OCD and it seems like this is what my brain gravitates towards when I’m under stress. Even though I DO NOT want to die by any means, my brain throws these thoughts at me and it’s so scary bc I feel like maybe a part of me actually wants to do it. Idk why I feel depressed and shitty about my life when really I don’t want to be you know?? What do you guys think?

Username: hannie

Date posted: 5y ago

Does anyone like get extra anxious about an intrusive thought because you think to yourself “nobody else has probably had this thought.” “I must be crazy.” Idk those thoughts always seem to make my anxiety worse. I also have a fear of losing touch of reality and believing in crazy thoughts, if that makes sense? TMI but I also notice that my OCD is worse when I’m on my period. Can anyone else relate?

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 1y ago

OCD and menstrual cycle

My aunt and her family came in from out of town, and we all want to go on a road trip. I was already anxious about it before and now because I got my monthly a couple days earlier, I’m even more anxious as my contamination OCD is always so much worse when I’m on it. I feel like going would be a great exposure for me but at the same time I don’t know if it will be too overwhelming for me staying in a hotel, and just generally coming into contact with all of these germs. I know going will be a great exposure for me, though I don’t know if I’ll even enjoy my time and I don’t want to ruin it for anyone else. Ugh OCD can be so debilitating.

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Share your thoughts so the Community can respond

Menstruation and OCD

Related posts

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Be a part of the largest OCD Community