- Date posted
- 1y
Social media/checking/purging/just right OCD
Hello, I am not diagnosed with OCD but started researching it as a child bc I know I had deep mental obsessions. I think I never opened up to anyone about it bc I also have a savior complex and believe I am the only who can help myself (I have been learning this not true (it’s true in a sense but not in a practical sense)) only through the power of Jesus Christ. Anyways, for as long as I’ve had social media I’ve struggled with obsessive updating changing and checking of my profile/posts. I think this stems from a fear of being perceived wrongly by others (whatever that means). I would have a literal fear that something would get posted on my accounts that I did not post and it would be horribly offensive or embarrassing or both, and I would genuinely believe this fear even though that’s impossible. I have gotten better in the sense that I have more confidence now so I worry less about “fitting in”, but I still obsessively check what I post multiple times to make sure it’s “ok” (meaning to make sure what i actually posted is there and not something different). I think this might be somewhat normal as far as ppl viewing their own content repeatedly I just think the reasons why I do it and the compulsive nature of it is a result of ocd. Even when I know rationally there is no reason to keep checking I repeatedly give into the compulsion to do it. I also notice I have an obsession with “starting over” on things and purging. This includes social media as I have a strong tendency to go back and delete things in order to make everything “just right” and this hurts my self esteem bc I feel like I can’t follow through with anything and will never be “sure” about anything. This is a common theme in my life— I purge possessions regularly and then regret it later, I post excessively on social media and then feel satisfied by deleting it later on and the cycle repeats. I want consistency in my life and do feel there is a pervasive need for “just rightness” that overshadows my life and it can be disruptive. I can suddenly feel the need to purge things from my life, even relationships, and sometimes regret it later. I’m honestly not sure anymore how much of it is rational and how much is not, the lines can be blurred. I just know I want a change and I want to feel that I can commit to things, without feeling the overwhelming compulsion to change things in order to feel satisfied. Ik rational changes are a part of life, but I’m afraid my ocd fuels some of these decisions. If you’ve read all of this and have any advice or relate at all I would love any feedback. I’m really desperate at this point. Is this a legit type of ocd?? Is this common?? Thanks.