Does someone have a call a partner that downplays your OCD or doesn’t believe you have it? How do you handle that? Background story: my partner comes from a background where he was not raised with discussing mental health or expressing feelings, and especially has never heard of OCD. Every-time I’ve brought up concerns about my OCD tendencies were affecting my life, the most common answer is “well everyone does that, you’re overreacting” or “I think you’re overthinking it”, or “it’s not a big deal”. Have any of you had this before and how do you address it? I feel undermined and frustrated.

Thanks, I just joined this app group so it’s nice to know there’s resources and groups out there. I never actually thought of it even though it’s very simple.

Meant to add that now, even when he doesn’t understand it, and even when he’s frustrated by it, he’s still an excellent ally. So there is totally hope. It all just depends on the reaction to education about it. I’ve even brought my partner to meet my therapist and ask questions to both learn more about OCD, learn better how to help me, and how to make sure he still helps himself not be dragged down by it.

Good idea. We’ve only had discussions about it but i didn’t think about sharing resources. He doesn’t get frustrated or annoyed by any of my tendencies, but alternatively will constantly say that what I do “isn’t a big deal” and just sees it as a funny habit than something actually affecting my life. I can’t tell if he does it to make me feel better about myself? Or if legitimately he thinks everyone is constantly checking their door locks and ovens like I do? It’s exhausting to hear it.

@ladykc1030 I think more than anything he just doesn’t understand. Everything that comes out of our mouths sounds like silly worry to someone who isn’t tormented day in and day out by it themselves. My parents and family find it hard to even understand. I think just giving him resources or trying to say how truly scary it is may help

Thanks for your input! I understand where you’re coming from. I guess the only difference for me is that I don’t feel emotionally unhealthy at all because of it. I’m very to myself and love my independence so we don’t spend a lot of time together throughout the week and he doesn’t see my tendencies. It’s more the one off times I do express my concerns, he’ll say that I’m making a bigger deal of it than I should be- which makes me feel weird and talk about it less- but doesn’t actually affect me as a person because I have so many other outlets/others I express myself to. Not sure if that makes sense but point is: it doesn’t affect me emotionally, just not sure how to handle it. Annoying nag in my side.

The part of feeling undermined and frustrated i was going to edit but they don’t allow you on this app- is during the conversations we have about OCD, but not in general in my life speaking with him.

@ladykc1030 I understand what you’re saying as long as you still feel like your okay. I’d try educating him about something and maybe expressing how you feel when he says something along those lines to you.

I hope your doing better now. I agree, they need to learn about this.

@kls323 Thank you and I am ❤️