I have harm ocd pretty severely. I tend to go through spells where I hide things like kitchen knives so I won't hurt someone, scissors so i don't cut my hair off, and I get anxiety driving about driving off the road. How do I explain this to my country boy boyfriend who likes his guns so much? They are the biggest trigger for me. We've been together 2 years and are expecting our 1st child (which presents its own fears for me). I figure if I cant make him understand my only option is to leave and look completely crazy.

Harm OCD

bulldogmomma13

Date posted: 4y

Will definitely check it out. Thank you

cards5015

Date posted: 4y

I feel you, my girlfriend cooks a lot and has knives all over the kitchen. I’d just explain the situation to him, he should be understanding enough to lock the guns away. Also, it will make you feel so much better if you do explain the entirety of your symptoms to him. I thought my girlfriend would think I was crazy when I told her, but she has been extremely supportive. Even if he doesn’t have a gun safe, there are trigger locks you can buy for guns that render them useless unless you have the key.

bulldogmomma13

Date posted: 4y

Thank you so much for your response. It helps me to feel I'm not alone. I know he loves me and wants to understand on every level its just hard for someone who doesn't struggle with the same issues. I will try to ha e sit down with him when he gets home. Just pray for me on this one. And thank you again.

Kyle

Date posted: 4y

I can completely understand as I’m going thru harm ocd as we speak. But I will say this . The more you hide the weapons the worse your ocd will get. Your treating the thoughts as real. You need to be exposed to the guns and not react to overcome this

bulldogmomma13

Date posted: 4y

That was what I feared most. I've put off therapy for so long thinking it was my last hope, and if I try it and it doesn't work for me idk what I'd do. My symptoms seem to ease up over time and I took comfort in the idea that when they come back I still have therapy i could try, but i never try it. I hope im making sense.

GregJ

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 4y

@bulldogmomma13 I think therapy is a great option and not necessarily the “last option”. There are so many options on medications as well that can help. My therapist worked with me with Harm OCD and I still go to therapy. Have you ever shown symptoms in the past of killing or torturing animals? Or been violent?

bulldogmomma13

Date posted: 4y

@NOCD Advocate - Greg J. No, infact I love animals very much. The idea of anything being in pain/suffering upsets me. I have no history of violence and hurting people or things. I guess that fear of "snapping" or something is what scares me most, or acting out snd not remembering it or something.

Kyle

Date posted: 4y

@bulldogmomma13 That’s great! Even if you had a history of that tho your harm ocd is cureable!

GregJ

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 4y

@bulldogmomma13 I have the exact same thing and worried about exactly that! But you have no history of acting out so why would you now? The fact that you want to hide knives shows that these are just OCD thoughts.

bulldogmomma13

Date posted: 4y

What did you do to manage it, if you don't mind me asking? I try not to seek reassurance but I figure I could ask advice

GregJ

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 4y

Well first it was really hard but I got therapy and saw a psychiatrist. But now I feel that I have the tools to deal with the anxiety. I would try listening to Ali Greymond on YouTube!

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