- Date posted
- 15h
Digital footprint
This is going to be a mouth full but I’m really trying to see if anyone can relate to this. Growing up I was always a good kid, I stayed out of trouble and made good decisions, treated people with kindness, and have always been a very open minded person despite living in a conservative area. However recently my OCD has been making me question everything I’ve ever said and done in my past. I came across old text messages, old arguments, and old ways of speaking that are extremely shameful and would undoubtably get me canceled today. When I found these messages, it had me questioning whether not I’m a total fraud for what I believe in and what I preach. I never used terms AGAINST people but regardless of its intent, it was still bad language. When I went away to college and realized people who align with my beliefs don’t speak that way I stopped entirely. Years and years later my OCD had me searching for a digital footprint to prove to myself I’m not a bad person, which then had me come across these messages that has sent me into a whole spiral and makes me believe I am not worthy of friendships or relationships with new people because they don’t know about those old messages. All I can picture in my brain is the kids I work for or new people in my life reading these messages, how much they’d hate me after seeing them, and how much they’d question who I really am. The terms and words I used to use years ago DO NOT align with my beliefs and never have, which is extremely hypocritical and makes me feel like I need to confess to everyone about how I used to talk. It makes me think everything bad that happens to me is deserved. I feel guilty even seeking comfort because this is all caused from my past wrongdoing. I know I have a reputation of being a good person but I can’t help but think I’m not because of what I found on my phone from years ago, it has sent me into an total identity crisis. Has anyone ever found old texts that made them question their own moral? It’s hard because these messages exist, there’s no getting rid of them which scares me the most. Knowing people most likely have these messages deep in their phones as well terrifies me. What if I get exposed? Or even worse, I truly feel like everything good I’ve done for others, or any time I’ve ever stood up for someone is a total lie because I am just a huge hypocrite. No matter how much people could reassure me those messages will always be in the back of my mind.