OCD can be an incredibly lonely experience, especially when people around you don’t understand the thoughts and fears you’re facing. But you’re not alone—others have been there too. What’s something about OCD that makes you feel isolated or alone?
that’s people will think SO-OCD is just me in denial.. therefore, it is often hard to have someone to talk to
@wewillgetthroughthis2000 I have felt exactly the same thing.
@hryall It makes me feel very alone because I don’t think people truly understand it. I also have health ocd and that is much easier to explain
This and I'm not even in denial,vi genuinely don't desire them ☹️
@hryall It’s so overwhelming at times. And then the keeping to myself makes it feel even more true. It’s just a constant feedback loop that is so hard to break out of.
You are in the right place to have people to talk to about it! Our community understands that OCD can be pretty convincing at making us doubt ourselves.
@wewillgetthroughthis2000 That is tough, I’ve struggled with SO-OCD myself. There have been so many times when I felt afraid to speak up about content because of how it real it sounds, when in reality it is an OCD symptom. I’m so glad I found this place to find others who can understand my internal experience of loneliness and isolation. ❤️
I hear that you're feeling isolated and misunderstood, and I want you to know that your feelings are completely valid. 💙 OCD can be incredibly difficult for others to understand, and it’s frustrating when friends and family struggle to see what you're going through. I found a few videos that might help your loved ones better understand what OCD is really like: 🔹 This video shows OCD from the perspective of someone experiencing it: ➡️ Watch here: https://youtu.be/B46EdJApFmI?si=pRcJPvp1IOxCWvFO 🔹 This one explains OCD and reinforces that OCD is NOT a choice: ➡️ Watch here: https://youtu.be/iXnVjqeAzP4?si=9p0_i2gksiuNNS39 🔹 Another great resource on what OCD really is: ➡️ Watch here: https://youtu.be/7SyNjz5qbCI?si=_iEp1jFIwzn2-_8Y 🔹 And finally, this video provides a deeper look into how OCD affects daily life: ➡️ Watch here: https://youtu.be/kxdLZ-uO8jM?si=Moy613S8YIBwKBvT If you decide to share these with your loved ones, I hope they help them gain a better understanding of what you’re experiencing so they can offer the support you deserve. 💙 You are not alone in this, and there are people who truly get it. Sending you support and encouragement! 💙✨
That no one really understands the struggle I am going through mentally. The intrusive thoughts came on out of nowhere a few months ago and now I question everything from my morals and values, if I still have them… and if I’m a terrible person now because of my thoughts or even worse, will I act on them?! Before this… I would’ve never questioned or thought twice about any of this. I knew who I was and what I stood for. My family and friends mean the world to me and now I’m afraid I’ve become a different person. A terrible person. 💔
Shame mostly for me 😔 My ocd thoughts come after the people I love the most and I feel like a terrible person for having the thoughts at all.
OCD and anxiety make me feel like my life is over in the sense that I have to say goodbye to everything because i will not be able to enjoy them anymore.
@llinkys and that’s so isolating and saddening
Finding enjoyment in life is so important to our mental well-being. If you ever want to try ERP to help with it, reach out to our care team at care@nocdhelp.com.
false memories and constant checking make me feel unreliable and like im lying to myself and people around me— even people on this app. it's hard to feel honest when everything is cast in doubt so it feels like i isolate myself because im scared of turning out to be the worst kind of person there is
I am so glad you posted here despite questioning your reliability. That is a great step to take!
@NOCD Therapist - Christy S. thank you! this is very encouraging.
The POCD it scares me during intimate in my relationship POCD hits me with any child name and then it goes it to u wanna do this and that while I’m trying to be intimate with my man who 7 years older than me . It scares me I feel alone cause I feel like nobody has this ocd and it haunts me
That sounds pretty distressing. Many people worry that others won't understand them or that they are the only person who has that type of OCD. Remember that you are not alone with POCD. There are many in this community with similar experiences.
@Christy Street Thank my I’m always afraid people will call cps cause they don’t understand ocd and nothing wrong just I have ocd that it’s just thoughts not actions
@Ocdgirl97 - Yep. That's a common fear with several types of OCD. Just keep in mind there are people in this community that DO understand it.
@Christy Street Thank u so much
That anxiety makes me doubt my values and even convinces me that i don't have any, that i am different from other people but in a bad way and that i don't deserve the same as the average person because i am not, because i compare myself on the news to monsters or abusers. It also makes me feel isolated and way worse that i have defensive thoughts and feelings about terrible things, because i think i am the same as that. Some kind of meta anxiety too, that's sooo painful and shameful.
That people don't understand POCD to its fullest. We are not monsters; we are actually people who deeply love children and care about them so much we are afraid to be monsters. I gave into my thoughts which doesn't help me at all. I feel like no one understands that because we aren't supposed to, so it scares me although my therapist says I'm okay.
@Anony1314 I’ve struggled with this subtype, and what you said rings true for me: we are most definitely not monsters 💟
Hang in there, friend. 💛 I know how overwhelming OCD thoughts can be—they’re so loud, so convincing, and they feel so real… but they are not the truth. You are not your thoughts. You're doing an amazing job just by holding on and reminding yourself of what's real. Keep going—you're stronger than OCD wants you to believe. 💪✨
Wanting to work in child care when I am older but have pocd
POCD can be especially painful and confusing, and I want you to know you’re not alone in this. No, you are not a monster—far from it. The fact that you’re seeking help and asking questions shows incredible strength and self-awareness. I truly believe that things can get better. With the right support and ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), many people see real progress—sometimes even enough to feel confident stepping into roles like childcare in the future, if that’s something you want. Healing is possible, and you’re absolutely worth the work it takes to get there.
I'm reaching out in hopes of finding others who might relate to my experiences or offer insights. I'm dealing with a complex interplay of OCD, depression, and existential anxiety, and I'm struggling to make sense of it all. Here's what I'm experiencing: I have OCD with various manifestations, along with episodes of depression. I find myself in a cyclical pattern where, after a few weeks, I start to remind myself about my depressive tendencies. This reminder seems to trigger a cycle that actually makes me feel more depressed or at least more aware of depressive symptoms. When this happens, I often experience feelings of nihilism and existential dread. I try to think about my family - my two young boys and my wife - to find motivation or a sense of purpose, but this strategy often backfires, making me feel even more anxious and depressed. I constantly check my feelings, wondering if they're depressive or anxious. At the same time, I fear that my feelings of anxiety and panic might spiral out of control. I think about my emotions and thoughts on a meta-level, which means I'm not just experiencing feelings, but I'm also constantly analyzing the fact that I'm experiencing them. There's an existential component to my struggles, a fear of depression and anxiety itself, and a sense that this might be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Perhaps most frustratingly, I often have feelings, thoughts, or sensory experiences that I can't explain or put into words. I feel like I've never heard of these before, which leaves me feeling deeply misunderstood. Does anyone else experience something similar? How do you cope with this complex web of symptoms and experiences? I'm particularly interested in hearing from those who've found ways to break the cycle of meta-cognition and self-fulfilling anxiety. Any insights, shared experiences, or strategies would be deeply appreciated. Thank you for your time and understanding.
Don't panic, you're still the same girl, your OC gives you a lot of intrusive thoughts that aren't you and that disgust you and scare you and that you don't want and that you don't think are true, and your OC gives you the false feelings.Also, don't forget that whatever comes to mind, whatever intrusive thoughts you have and whatever you feel, is all yours.
Has anyone experienced their reputation affected or misunderstood because of a societally taboo OCD theme? Others catching wind of your obsessions and misinterpreting it, assuming the worst? I’m intentionally keeping it vague because I don’t want my specific situation to get reassured, but it’s been a real tough pill to swallow knowing that people close to me (and anyone else they might talk to) think of me differently. I’m unwilling to share about my OCD because I feel pretty confident it will be taken as an excuse or denial, and feels compulsive and reassurance seeking. Let me know if anyone here has experienced anything like it, how they handled it, exposures you did.
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