I’m afraid to date with this disorder. I got diagnosed about 2 months ago. I’m on medications and doing erp. I feel like the whole subject is so taboo I have a hard time talking to my own mother about it. I’ve told my best friend but I don’t know how to talk to someone “new” about this. It’s so shameful I cry almost every day. I never had to deal with this disorder in previous relationships. I’ve been out of my previous relationship for about 8 months. The Pocd became unbearable about 5 or so months ago. I’ve been asked out on dates but I’m completely afraid of being triggered and talking about it. Any advice?

I dated my husband and married him without telling him I had pocd he just knew that I had been very depressed and anxious in the past and had to get on meds. He was very supportive and after we got married and I had a relapse I finally opened up to him. It hasn’t always been easy, of course, but he is very understanding, even of the theme, and has opened up about some of his fears. I don’t think you have to bring up your ocd in the beginning, maybe just try to go on dates and see if you click with anyone, if the relationships seems to go anywhere, you can bring it up later, and can even just address it as “severe anxiety” and see how he reacts and then go forth depending. Get a good feel on how he feels about mental illnesses. Dating my husband was such a good distraction in the beginning as well and made me start feeling happy again :)

I can’t say that every experience will be amazing but every person I’ve dated has been very understanding when I told them. They didn’t necessarily understand the exact implications but they were still supportive.

Hi, I’ve been dating my boyfriend for close to a year and he is my main support system. I came out to him about my ocd, pocd to be specific and he accepted me. While he admitted at first he was extremely thrown off and not sure how to approach it with time he said he noticed how much I was suffering and how serious it was. The right person and people who are understanding won’t judge you for it and if they do initially once they get to know the real you they’ll know their judgement wasn’t right. I understand how you feel. Ocd and this theme in general is really tough and terrifying and is really hard to talk to people about. The best you can do is try to educate them on it.

This might be a little too personal but do you ever get like intrusive thoughts during intimacy? That’s what I’m most terrified of, I feel like it will traumatize me

Yes, and he understands it’s not my fault. I never used to but then one particular hard day I couldn’t keep it out. I did cry but I’m not going to let it stop me. I might be less inclined to want to have it because I really don’t want those thoughts in my head but I can’t let it keep a part of my relationship that I enjoy from me.

@cruzic I know how you feel. Obsessive thoughts about sex can change theme for me and have affected relationships. I was most confident my first five years of dating and having sex. Then intrusive thoughts. Find it difficult ever since. Addiction, overuse of porn (although my tastes are very mild), obsessive fears around being an abuser, taking a long time to get aroused, obsessed with my performance, trying to do it absolutely ‘right’. The POCD is the worst though. But my wife knows, and it can affect intimacy. The hard truth is to expect they will come in and let them whenever they do. I struggle with this right at this minute. But pushing them away doesn’t work. Over time it will pass.

Thank you guys. I’m going to talk to my therapist more about this. it’s really scary and just embarrassing

https://www.intrusivethoughts.org/blog/finding-one-dating-ocd/ I found this article and thought of you! Thought it might help!