OCD relapse with new theme?

I recently revived my award for conquering my OCD. I was feeling great, having improved significantly. Previously my OCD was mostly focused on constant debilitating fears that something bad would happen to my loved ones. Now I can’t even remember the last time I had a thought like that which is great. I am preparing to move across the country to live with my boyfriend and now i’m experiencing ROCD which i’ve never had before. It’s been days of this now and am afraid I won’t be able to get it under control. It is also making me so sad because I have never had thoughts like these regarding my relationship before. Any suggestions on how to tackle this before it worsens? I am trying to use the same strategies I learned in therapy that I used for my other themes, however i’m struggling.

Username: stxrmadsstxrmads

Date posted: 28w ago

remember that OCD latches on to our fears and makes them feel so real which makes us feel like we have to get it under control. Let yourself sit with these thoughts and just know that no amount of reassurance or trying to figure it out will truly make this go away, and that it's a just a matter of time and acceptance. You mentioned that you have never had these thoughts before and that you are also preparing for a big move. An event or change as big as that can cause your OCD to flare up and make you have these thoughts and doubts. from an outside perspective, there seems to be a pretty clear cause and effect with this situation and you just have to be able to feel uncomfortable and let these feelings thoughts pass through without much attention. Relapse is a part of recovery and it doesn't take away from previous accomplishments. Continue to be proud of yourself and trying to move forward! You got this!! Sending love and happy thoughts your way 🫶

Username: Sky.679Sky.679

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 28w ago

@stxrmads Thank you so much for taking the time to respond I appreciate it! My therapist did say as the move got closer that my OCD would likely spike again. I just wasn’t expecting it to attack my relationship which sucks :( I have always been at peace with my relationship so I hate that this is happening because it makes me feel like I have doubts, even though consciously I know I don’t. And thank you, It definitely feels like a setback but I am trying to stay positive! Thank you again 🫶🏻

Username: stxrmadsstxrmads

Date posted: 28w ago

@Anonymous.11 of course, feel free to reach out if you ever need someone to vent to!

Username: Sky.679Sky.679

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 28w ago

@stxrmads thank you sm!

Username: L_e_dL_e_d

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 28w ago

I had the exact same thing happen to me! OCD will always attack what feels most dear to you or big in your life at the moment. It’s so annoying when it is ROCD and all of the sudden it involves another person— I’ve had that. Ultimately, OCD is about the relationship to yourself, not the other person. It really doesn’t have anything to do with them! It’s not about the content. You can still do exposure therapy for this. For me, when my ROCD flares up it looks like me being afraid to go over to my boyfriends house for literally no reason lol, I get afraid that I’ll have a panic attack and he won’t know what to do and our relationship will end. My exposure for this is going over to his place and telling myself it’s actually okay if my brain wants to have a panic attack, in fact, bring it on! If it happens, it happens and I cross that bridge when I get there. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Maybe for you it will look like saying “it’s okay if things go terribly wrong, it’s okay if this isn’t the right person for me, i have permission to not know and just let it be revealed to me as time goes on”

Username: Sky.679Sky.679

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 28w ago

@L_e_d Yes exactly! For some reason the ROCD seems more scary and upsetting because it involves another person. You are right. I try to tell myself the same thing, that if something comes up then I will just cross that bridge when I get there. My brain enjoys trying to think of all the worst case scenarios and create solutions for them in advance 😅 Have to remind myself I don have a crystal ball. Whatever happens happens. Thank you for your comment!

Username: L_e_dL_e_d

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 28w ago

@Anonymous.11 Hahaha I am right there with you. I have made up so many scenarios and upset myself over them lol.

Username: Sky.679Sky.679

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 28w ago

@L_e_d lol yup!

Username: Misstama65Misstama65

Date posted: 18w ago

Omg... This is my story also. I just posted on about it on here. It's draining. Thanks for sharing,!

Username: savvysavvy

Date posted: 4y ago

So my most current theme has been ROCD. It’s been nagging at me for the last 4 years. OCD makes me INCREDIBLY self critical and I often turn that internal voice on to my partner and can be incredibly critical of him. In essence, I’m almost subconsciously sabotaging my relationship which is the OPPOSITE of what I want. I’m looking for people who experience this same response and patterned behaviour. Share tips, in-the-moment awareness suggestions. Words of encouragement (not reassurance). OCD is such a trip lol

Username: m205633

Date posted: 2y ago

Old triggers/obsessions back and bad again?

I suffered for a really long time (approx 2 years) with Real Event/False Memory ROCD. This led to a long period of chronic guilt, rumination, mental review and confessing. I sought help last year and finally realised I had OCD (hurrah) and wasn’t totally losing my mind. I felt as though I was (prior to diagnosis) when I told my therapist… “no matter what, I’m having the same thought over and over and every time I think I’ve found a way out of it, it comes back”. I felt really suicidal and could not see my way out of it for a while. I found a lot of help online with Instagram which led me to finding NOCD and a number of their therapists. I actually started NOCD therapy last year and was finally ridding myself of these horrible shackles and seeing that my life didn’t have to be defined by memories, mistakes and fears. However, unfortunately I fell ill and a number of life changing events happened (lost a beloved pet, was in and out of hospital, my stepdad became seriously ill and hospitalised) so I gave up therapy for the time being. Since, I’ve found myself distracted from my fears, I suppose I had a new theme to focus on (my health), I’d not realised it had become compulsive but I suppose it had. Anyway, it’s been a few months and I am still unwell but finding a way around it. I also have some great news in my life, I found out I’m pregnant and am beginning a new chapter in my life and am adapting to the changes and fears that come with that. Unfortunately 2 days ago I was floored by my old obsessions, back with vengeance with none of my old tools able to help again. I’m catching myself ruminating, I am noticing old patterns of mental review returning, here I am with that gut wrenching fear in my stomach constantly and words on my tongue ready to confess to things I may or may not have done (who knows!?). I feel so unprepared for this return of old fears… I thought I’d done well and almost become un-fearful again? I’m not sure where to go from here, I’ve enquired about some ERP again and am taking those steps. I’ve grabbed my old OCD books and am ready to remind myself to step out of those cycles. But I can’t help but feel devastated that the same old scary patterns have grabbed me again. Anyone have any top tips for coping in the meantime whilst arranging some ERP again 🪴

Username: malsaipe

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

ROCD Struggles

I’ve recently been having a lot of distress about my relationship and things surrounding it due to OCD. I was wondering if you have OCD, how does it present itself in your relationship(s) (thoughts, feelings, urges, images, etc)?

Relationship OCD

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Share your thoughts so the Community can respond

OCD relapse with new theme?

Related posts

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Be a part of the largest OCD Community