Political OCD?

I feel like this should be a recognized subtype, maybe it’s real events? I can’t tell if I should be engaged, how to be engaged, if engagement is ever effective, or even if politics is a worthwhile effort even in theory. I flip flop from being a cynic to a revolutionary in every conversation. I’m enraged and simultaneously pacified. I don’t even know what I’d do if I could do anything. And yet in therapy for all my other ocd I’m supposed to be curious, embrace uncertainty, loosen control, etc. Curiosity about climate change led me to understand that it’s a fact. Curiosity about other peoples opinions about climate change led me to understand that big money controls their understanding of it so that they will vote for big oil. How do I make curiosity make me feel better lol?

Real Events OCD

Alexandra_Marie

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 14d

Politics it’s a rough topic! OCD is “obsession -> compulsion, rinse repeat”. Do you have a compulsive response to politics? Like do you find yourself avoiding the news, doing endless research, or some other form of checking/reassurance behavior? If so - sounds like ERP might be the best route! Exposing yourself slowly with your assigned therapist could help! But I get it - one week I ignore the news cause I can’t handle it anymore. And the next week I’m banding together friends to take down the man. This may be unavoidable and a specific issue for the average citizen who cares enough 😅 Either way - staying informed but remembering what’s important in your daily life and focusing on what you can control is standard advice when it comes to today’s news I think 🤔 wish you the best of luck moving forward 💕

adam?

Date posted: 14d

Sounds like perfectionism to me! I relate, I have the same hiccups.

nomadicself22

Date posted: 14d

@adam I agree

Anonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 3d

I also totally relate to politics triggering or becoming an OCD theme! I have also found that I do this not just with politics but also with historical events or people. I become obsessive and ruminate on trying to know the “Exact Right Viewpoint” (for example knowing if a historical figure was Good or Bad). I think it’s easy for politics to trigger these feelings of uncertainty and discomfort inside all of us since the analysis of politics, history, philosophy, ethics, etc is a very complex and uncertain thing and many people disagree on it! OCD loves certainty, and in today’s political climate all sides are very polarized and project lots of certainty about what they think. There is also a lot of morally charged language about believing or not believing something making some “good” or “evil/bad”. I think this is very triggering for people with OCD who may already be worrying that they are “evil.” Some exposures that I have found helpful have been reading articles or news stories and then reminding myself “I cannot be certain of the “right” belief” or “Maybe believing this political opinion makes me bad, maybe it doesn’t, I cannot know for certain.”

nomadicself22

Date posted: 2d

@Anonymous Oooo those are good, thanks! Yes I often go back and forth on whether capitalism or socialism is “best”. On whether democracy is maintainable after AI and social media. On whether historical takes are true/false or just propaganda. Etc.

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