Animal Overwhelm

I am feeling something I love and care about deeply in my life turn into something controlling my life. I love animals and I love my pets and started rescuing animals and finding many of them new homes and proper care. The snowball has just started rolling down the hill that I am filling all of my mind with the deep feeling of needing to do too much but even saying that feel wrong because these animals deserve good care. Every animal I am spending hours researching, comparing information and making extensive care packets. Occasionally feeling the need to re-research in case I missed something and could be mistreating the animal somehow. And I have started obsessively checking every marketplace everyday multiple times a day in case there is an animal that needs help or supplies that could be useful. But the saddest thing is that I can't seem to get my OCD to let it go because there is always something being neglected that needs help somewhere. I want to make social media content to help me help these animals instead of taking so much on just myself but I am also so scared of people online filling my head with conflicting information and getting mad at me for mistreating any of them in any way.

A. Berry

Date posted: Yesterday

This post really resonates with me because I have 4 pets and I feel like I am a borderline slave to their care. I also am very scared of “internet opinions” especially because I make the controversial choice of allowing my cats to go outside (even typing that makes me want to explain myself — to go on the offensive). My dogs are both elderly, one has arthritis and occasionally will wet the bed when she sleeps. It’s grueling to have to wake up to unexpected messes that I need to clean up while also getting ready for the day. I feel that familiar push & pull of the responsibilities I have chosen to take on and the anxiety of my “just right” OCD. What I *think* I’m learning, however, is that I would much rather be of service to animals and have that be a defining factor in my life than anything else. I do feel proud of the work I put into their care and recognize that I am an imperfect person who makes mistakes and sometimes gets lost in the rabbit hole of OCD along the way. All I can really do is give myself grace and remember that I also need to care for myself before I can continue to give to my babies. I am not helpless in the event of my OCD “flare-ups” especially now with all the therapy I’ve done which helps me to recognize when I am spiraling.

Amy B.

Date posted: Yesterday

@A. Berry I have also felt lately like my dog has become the center of my universe, sometimes to my own detriment. He is 13 and diabetic, adn has to get insulin shots twice a day at certain times along with his exercise being a part of his diabetes management. I get so wrapped up in caring for him, which is good in some ways, but in other ways it's too much pressure because I'm trying to do everything perfectly. My therapist has been helping me a lot getting my thoughts and feelings on it untangled from my OCD's opinions. Have you tried having your dog wear a dog diaper at night?

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