Identity affected by OCD?

I feel as though my personality has changed since ocd started showing up. I’m having way less fun with my life, and taking everything so serious- because that’s what ocd does. I just wanna enjoy myself again and do the things I used to love doing. Adventuring, art and being who I am again. I know we’re forever changing and we aren’t the same people we were a year ago or even a few months ago, but I still miss that me that was so free spirited. Has anyone else dealt with this and did you figure it out? I’d like to one day develop a strong sense of self with ocd being there but not overtaking me. It takes a huge amount of self acceptance and compassion I’ve realized which is so new to me after living a life full of fear, shame, and masking. It’ll just take time

idkjustaname

Date posted: 16h

I just wanna say I relate a lot to what you said. I’m very early on in managing my ocd so I’m in no position to give any advice or tips. But you’re not alone in how you are feeling and I’m sure there are many others that are having similar experiences 💕

Anonymous

Date posted: 16h

You’re not alone! I’m going through the same thing now. It feels upsetting to accept that we are ever changing, but we also can’t predict whether or not we’ll get back to our old selves. Maybe we will, maybe we won’t. But I know we are the people we are today because of who we were before. I think it’s best to start taking it one day at a time and find ways to sprinkle in the things we love as best we can. Best of luck!

LOLAK

Date posted: 15h

Maybe we will be better than our old selves because of the wisdom pain provides. Sometimes pain can be humbling and helps shatter our ego which keeps a wall up. That’s what I keep telling myself if I can learn to be truly vulnerable and compassionate with myself

Maybemaybeno...

Date posted: 12h

@LOLAK This was beautifully said!

Treatmyselfk...

Date posted: 12h

Yes! My bf said he misses the person that I was before my OCD got worse. I didn’t take it offensively because I knew what he meant. We aren’t necessarily gone, we are just trapped. I believe truly that I am still myself, just not the same as before. I think life in general also does this. We all can definitely find that free-spirited person again inside. My goal isn’t to necessarily go back to how I was, but to become someone even better and more introspective on my issues and life.

Lalillie

Date posted: 12h

@Treatmyselfkindly My boyfriend said your personality changed since when he first met me. It worries me he won’t like who I am becoming or just the fact it’s harder to open up towards him because ocd makes me push people away. I’m trying not to worry about it but it feels so real most the time recently and it’s been so hard to get out of this trap.

Maybemaybeno...

Date posted: 12h

I relate to this so much… I am constantly telling myself and my boyfriend that I miss how joyful I used to be before OCD started showing up more prominently. I am so impatient and I want to be back to normal asap… but we are requiring DECADES of OCD. I recently got diagnosed (turning 28 in December) and I’ve had undiagnosed OCD since I was 6 years old. You aren’t alone and we will get through this. 😭

luzithi00

Date posted: 15h

I also feel the same way. I have this longing for myself that I don’t know how to explain. My OCD questions everything I do, things I enjoy. I’m so ready to come back to me again. We got this 💗

Anonymous

Date posted: 6h

I agreee with you. OCD consumes a lot of your time and brain space. I'vee been finding it hard to figure out who I am versus what my OCD thoughts are. It feels disappointing to feel unsure about yourself especially when you are so aware. I'm writing this for my ERP exercise to encourage myself to feel the discomfort of expressing myself without spending hours polishing up my thoughts and words. It will take time, but we'er all changing and evolving during the process. My goal is to welcome the discomfort and try to embrace this new normal and how I'm transforming knowing I'm doing the work to tackle my OCD.

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