- Username
- kaylawhite
- Date posted
- 4y ago
I think of openness about mental health as a continuum. On one extreme end is going to great lengths to hide symptoms and distress. This might even involve actively lying about your experience. On the other end is talking about every thought and feeling nonstop, as in confessing compulsions, or when we identify too strongly with the diagnosis. The healthy range of openness is in the middle. It can differ between each relationship you have. A happy medium is what boundaries are all about.
Thank you for your comment. That's very helpful
I think it depends why you are telling them. It it’s done to “confess” and get rid of anxiety, it’s a compulsion. If you genuinely trust them and want them to know what’s going on so the know how to better help you then that’s perfectly fine. It’s defintely hard to open up to loved ones and friends about how you feel , especially because with OCD , there is a risk involved that they won’t understand it and will judge. Obviously usually they’ll be cool about it , but it’s one of those topics that people don’t know enough about so they make assumptions
I need an answer to this too. I haven’t told anyone but I feel like I should as I’m really suffering
What I've found helpful is to just let someone I love know what's going but not opening up about exactly what I think about. I don't know if that would work for you because for me, personally, I only focus on a certain thought for a short period of time before moving onto something else. Therefore, it'd be difficult to tell someone everything.
A few of us have mentioned being fearful of sharing some of our darkest OCD thoughts with our therapist. For those that have shared with their therapist, what made you feel OK enough to do that? It could be helpful to the rest of us.
I always feel like I should tell my mom about my intrusive thoughts. It’s constantly in my head but I don’t really want to as I feel she won’t get it and it may be a compulsion to want to tell her. Has anyone experienced this?
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