i cant stop thinking about the fight i had with my boyfriend two days ago might trigger ROCD hello everyone! i just needed to vent somewhere, and maybe get a little bit of advice. two days ago, me and my boyfriend (L) )(been together for 5 months now) got into an argument over the phone. this wasn’t our first argument, and we both knew it wasn’t going to be our last. it wasn’t a screaming match, nor was it laced with insults of any kind. it was a disagreement over something silly, and we both escalated it. eventually, we decided to sit down and talk about it all. we resolved things peacefully, he apologized, and i apologized as well. after this, we went back to our normal, goofy selves. problem is, i cant stop thinking about the argument. i cant stop thinking about how nervous i felt during it, as well as after. i still feel nervous whenever it’s brought up and whenever i’m away from him. i want our relationship to last for a very long time,,but i’m getting so scared that my nervous feelings will get in the middle of that, and make me break it off with him. im aware that i have anxiety (GAD), as well as a strong feeling that i have OCD, but it just bothers me that i still haven’t let go of these nervous feelings. what is this trying to tell me? my brain is telling me that this is the beginning of the end, that sooner or later i’ll stop loving him because of our argument, and that i’ll never see him the same way i used to. im scared because i feel myself already believing it. i cant look at a picture of him without being reminded of what happened. L might be coming over today, and all my brain can think about is “what if you can’t hug him or kiss him the same? what if you don’t want him to come over?” I told L all this and he understood. he once again apologized for causing all this pain. although he didn’t want one, L offered the idea of a break, but that made me feel worse. i don’t want a break from him. i wake up and wish to talk to him. i want to spend my summer with him. I love him, and i don’t want to end it or put a pause on what we have. It’s even worse when my brain tells me that i don’t love him anymore because of the argument. i don’t know what to believe. i am so so lost. i don’t know what to do. i have no one else but him to talk about this to. i don’t wanna suffocate him in the slightest. someone, please give me advice. i feel like i’m drowning.

Relationship OCD

tealdinosaur

Date posted: 4y

Please get therapy if it is possible for you. It seems that these thoughts are starting to become more debilitating as you ruminate on past actions ( such as the argument) which is causing you elevated stress and anxiety, and causing you to have thoughts involving “what if’s” . It’s a very good sign you both were able to talk openly about what’s going through your mind. But I would recommend seeking a specialist . OCD (although you’re not diagnosed yet) can come and go in different forms and severities, and it is best to get it as soon as possible and start ERP if you do have it. You may have done CBT before for your GAD but this is not as effective if you do have OCD. It’s important to see a OCD/Anxiety specialist, as to not have other therapists/psychologists confuse your symptoms for relationship issues if they are not as knowledgeable on the different forms of OCD. Your OCD makes everything feel urgent. Try your best to not make any “big decisions” when you are feeling anxious. Thinking about whether or not to break up with your SO may become an obsession, however, it is best to realize that this is most of the time not what you want to do, but your OCD trying to push it onto you to relieve the anxiety you are feeling at that moment.

allitta

Date posted: 4y

Very good comment

pennydreadful

Date posted: 4y

thank you so much for the reply :) sadly, i cant get therapy at the moment due to cost and time, but i def plan to get one in the future asap. do you have any advice for dealing with this feeling? i’ve had family members tell me to distract myself, but i find myself subconsciously thinking about it and ruminating as well as checking myself for strong reactions to thoughts like breaking up.

tealdinosaur

Date posted: 4y

@alixacceptance It is important to distract yourself! However, staying busy can sometimes become a compulsion, thus why I recommended therapy! Compulsions can be very tricky in that aspect. I definitely recommend watching some YouTube videos on the subject. I could recommend some for you if you’d like!

pennydreadful

Date posted: 4y

@tealdinosaur please do!! :)

allitta

Date posted: 4y

Also, it is the effect of your rumination. Compulsive rumination as you are trying to figure out all this. The best way is to stop ruminating and trying to figure out all this now. Check Michael Greenberg website for his sobering advice on rumination, it’s effect and how to stop. Do not ruin it because of the rumination

pennydreadful

Date posted: 4y

thank you so much for the reply! and as for the read recommendation, i’ll read it right now :)

😴

Date posted: 4y

I’ve been in a situation very similar to this. I agree so much with what the other person has commented. It really is your brain trying to relieve the stress of the argument. I wonder if it would be helpful to remind yourself that all relationships involve arguments and conflict, and that it’s okay to have been upset by this one. And to remember that being upset or hurt isn’t the same as wanting the relationship to end.

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