Recently Iāve been struggling with what I think is a subtype of OCD. More specifically, ROCD. However, Iām having doubts that my symptoms and thoughts actually align with whatās considered OCD, and rather Iām ājust being dramatic and everyone has these thoughts.ā
Iām most familiar with Scrupulosity, which Iām managing very well thanks to the help of therapy and medication. But ever since thatās died down my mind has felt free to wander and latch onto whatever it pleases. I know that oftentimes OCD takes over the things you care about, so I wouldnāt be surprised if what Iām dealing with is OCD.
I feel like my mind always needs something to focus on and worry about. Iām so used to utilizing it as a āmotivatorā, so when things are okay, I get very uncomfortable and mentally panic. My first instinct is to quickly latch onto something because it gives me a sense of purpose and direction. āIf I achieve this thing Iāll finally be okay.ā āIf I find this kind of person Iāll finally be okay.ā āIf Iām certain about my salvation Iāll finally be okay.ā
So unfortunately Iāve been thinking a lot about the relationships in my life. Iāve been having thoughts like, āWhat if this person is the one?ā āWhat if they leave and youāve missed your chance?ā āWhat if you make the wrong choice?ā āWhat if youāre destined to be alone?ā āWhat if you have to settle?ā āWhat if you arenāt psychically attracted to your partner?ā āWhat if your partner isnāt sexually oriented towards you?ā āWhat if the relationship isnāt fulfilling?ā āWhat if youāre not good enough for a relationship?ā
It doesnāt help that I struggle with comparing myself to those I canāt have. Itās like a defense mechanism, āWait, why would I be sad? Iām better than them.ā Like that. And I donāt like that. I donāt like picking people apart to make myself feel better.
And so maybe these thoughts are thoughts that everyone has. I just think what classifies it as OCD or OCD-like is the inability to let those thoughts go. Thatās the issue I have, letting it go. I NEED to figure out this person before I can feel okay. I NEED to know someone loves me before I can feel okay. I NEED to solve my life before I can feel okay.
Maybe this isnāt ROCD because Iāve never been in a relationship, but I figure that since it follows an OCD pattern, where running away doesnāt help and arguing with the thoughts doesnāt help, sitting with the uncomfortable thoughts and feelings is something that might help.
This is just one part of the story. I also have a really, really, REALLY bad habit of latching onto the idea of others and fantasizing about them (not sexually ofc). I assume the best about them and compare those parts to the worst of myself. I subconsciously tell myself that if I can be with them, itāll say something about my worth. Maybe Iāll be okay.
And so with that in mind, Iāve been trying to ground myself in reality. āI donāt actually know who they are.ā āI donāt actually know if theyāre the one.ā āI donāt actually know if theyāre this person I make them out to be.ā But the thoughts WONāT GO AWAY. Iāve even tried telling myself, āmaybe this is ROCD.ā But then I have thoughts like, āWhat if this isnāt?ā āWhat if this is just the way you are?ā āWhat if youāre going to be like this forever and nobody will ever choose you?ā āWhat if you arenāt growing āwhat if youāre lying to yourself and youāre gonna be in the same place you were a day ago?ā
So Iāve been trying to tell myself, āMaybe, maybe not. I donāt know.ā To EVERY thought that seeks certainty.
But even still, just the idea of getting better is hard because Iāve always felt like I was living for something. I need to go to school so I can be successful. I need to work hard so I can get a lot of money. I need to be the best person I can be so I can finally be loved. And itās hard to do that for myself because Iām so used to doing things and living to prove something. But what if I just existed? And thatās uncomfortable, but itās good to feel that way. What if I wasnāt working on myself so I could be with someone? What if I didnāt go to school to prove something about myself? What if I just lived day by day?
But then I feel lost and sad, and what am I to make of that?
Is this OCD and I just constantly need something to think about? Or am I just a miserable human being with a victim mentality? Either case, what should I do to fix it?