Does anyone else struggle with, what I found through a NOCD article, is termed "Race OCD". I constantly worry that I'm being perceived as racist. I'm white, I consider myself to be an ally of BIPOC and to work on being anti-racist. Lately though, I get hit with a ton of intrusive thoughts about coming across as racist when I speak to a BIPOC, which causes anxiety, which my anxiety probably then appears racist to the other person. I can't imagine what BIPOC have to endure on a daily basis just because of their skin color, so I'm not trying to make this about me. I'm just wondering if I'm alone in this or if other people struggle with this OCD theme. To be honest, it's pretty severe and it's scaring me, because this "theme" feels opposite to what I value & who I am. I can tell that other people notice I'm anxious, and I just hate that I'm displaying nervousness because im sure it makes the other person uncomfortable. It's like my OCD/anxiety has found another thing to torment me with because I care about being anti-racist & being an ally to BIPOC. It feels so disgusting to me that I'm triggered when I pass by or interact with a BIPOC though. I know I'm coming off as anxious. I know it because I'm trying so hard not to be perceived as racist, that interactions just get weird, anxiety filled & awkward & I'm sure the other person is like wtf this person is a racist. I just hate my brain.

[Deleted]

Date posted: 4y

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canigetawitness

Date posted: 4y

I'm sorry you're struggling with this too. Have you found anything that's been helpful for you? I just hate being anxious and knowing that the other person can tell I'm anxious. That's what upsets me the most. Trying so hard not to be perceived as racist just ends up making me look racist. I've actually been avoiding people because I don't want to upset them with my anxiety.

Anonymous

Date posted: 4y

Yeah. This is actually what’s driven me to seek out support for moral OCD because it’s made it so that I’m afraid to initiate conversation with friends and Inflict My Whiteness upon them, or even to share social justice resources and fundraisers for fear of tainting the cause or being guilty of virtue signaling or trying to trick people into thinking I’m not racist. I’m a lesbian and it’s disrupting my dating life because I’m afraid if I’m attracted to Black or brown women it means I’m fetishizing them and should instead avert my eyes, or even try to stop being gay.

salvation

Date posted: 4y

I've seen others with this theme on here. As you have said, OCD has found something that upsets you, so it uses it as a theme.

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