i’m new to this and don’t know what to do, advice?

my brain is trying to convince me i liked someone else while dating my boyfriend. i’m not diagnosed with ocd, but what i’ve been experiencing the last couple of months has lead me to believe it could be, so i’m trying out this app. but i’ve had this issue for a couple days now, i’ve been in my relationship with my amazing bf for a little over 8 months and i love him very much. in no way do i want to leave him or be with someone else. but a few months back i met a new hire at work who i thought was a really cool person, she’s pretty and kinda similar to me so i wanted to be friends. we became friendly for the two-ish months she worked there and she had friended me on some social media. she no longer works there but i ran into her the other day which has triggered me to have these thoughts of “what if i had feelings for her while dating my boyfriend?” and i have felt so guilty even though i’m pretty sure i didn’t, i just liked her as a friend. i’d occasionally have unwanted thoughts about her but nothing i was wanting to think of or even do. i’ve tried to talk to my dad about it, i talked to my boyfriend about it. i removed her off of snap because it made me feel a little better but those unwanted thoughts and guilt won’t go away. it’s like my brain is trying to convince me i liked this person when i really don’t think i did, but it’s creating these false like memories or ideas in my head. i just feel sooo guilty and confused. i really don’t know what to do, it’s eating me up. i love my boyfriend, i don’t want to be with that friend, or anyone else for that matter. but idk how to make any of the thoughts and guilt go.

Relationship OCD

Generiname

Date posted: 28d

Even if you don't have OCD, working on self compassion and even working through Exposure and Response Prevebtion techniques can work! I'd recommend doing research on Exposure and Response Prevention as it's a lot to type down all at once, but essentially you need to "sit" with discomfort. That doesn't mean to literally sit, it means work on a task whilst you're feeling discomfort. Then you need to work on the "prevention" part of it, which isn't engaging with compulsions. When you feel those guilt, do you google search to find answers or claridy that you're a "bad person"? Stop that! Work on that self compassion. You are not a bad person. "What if" is the big symptom of OCD. What if I die? What if I get sick? What if I'm in love with someone else? What if... everything is okay? What if... you have a potential disorder that makes your brain wired this way? What if... you need to practise a little compassion towards yourself?

squirrelquarrel

Date posted: 27d

i'm so sorry my friend, i can imagine these feelings feel so urgent and pressing. but ocd will take what means the most to you and wrap its horrible hands around it. practice sitting with the thoughts even if it feels unbearable, because over time it will feel easier. you're not alone, i promise you. sending warmth and care 🙏🤍

T.028._

Date posted: 3d

I understand, trust me, you are not like what your OCD says, feelings of guilt and overthinking are really uncomfortable, It will all pass, believe me, and you and ur bf well be fine🧚🏻‍♀️🫶🏻🙌🏻

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Share your thoughts so the Community can respond