Can OCD make you feel content / happy / everything is fine? This feeling doesn’t seem real because deep down I am sad. I also have depersonalization / derealization so I know it’s shutting down some of my emotions, but part of this feels like it might be OCD.

I’m also suffering with DP/DR, which stirred up many types of OCD. It makes it really hard to know what to think most of the time. It could be a coping mechanism, or it could be that you are a positive person and have hope that you will get through this. DP is designed by our brains to make our trauma/life situation less stressful, but for people like me it just makes me feel worse. For you it might actually be helping you not stress and worry so much about everyday life. I’ve had moments of feeling content and happiness as well, as after all, these feelings come from hormones and chemicals within our body. If you are feeling content and happy, then it doesn’t sound like your emotions are shutting down, you may just be accepting your condition and finding contentment in life, and that is a huge step in the right direction. Our feelings aren’t always black and white, and sometimes we can be happy and depressed or sad at the same time, we can feel a variety of emotions. I would say keep doing what makes you feel happy, and keep staying strong :)

Thank you for the encouragement. It was uplifting to read your message, and this is good insight! I relate to having many types of OCD and not knowing what to think. Having both OCD and DP/DR, it’s a revolving door of symptoms with a lot of difficult days while some are more manageable. Like you said DP is protective, but it also creates its own trauma. I’m sorry for the hardships you’re having. I hope you’re getting good support, and keep believing in your strength & goodness everyday. Also, have you tried EMDR therapy for DP/DR?

I struggle a lot with wondering it its my OCD finally letting me breathe and be happy or if im just suppressing my emotions and numbing myself out. But truth be told you just have to tell yourself “maybe im truly happy. Maybe its an underlying issue and maybe not? And both are irrelevant” and i also add to that “because regardless of the WHY. Im happy for the first time in a while so lets GO WITH IT”. Live my life anyways!