Lately, Iâve been feeling so disconnected from my boyfriend, and I donât understand why. When I look at him, it feels like Iâm looking at a stranger, and my mind keeps telling me that I donât like him, that I never really loved him, or that I was just attached and comfortable. It feels real, and that terrifies me.
I know logically that ROCD makes me overanalyze every little feeling, but it doesnât make this any easier. I keep waiting to feel somethingâlove, excitement, even reliefâbut instead, I just feel numb and distant. When we talk, I feel weird. When he kisses me, I donât feel much. I keep thinking, âIf I really loved him, wouldnât I feel something?â And the fact that I donât just fuels my anxiety even more.
It scares me that I canât remember how I felt before ROCD took over. I look at old pictures, and my brain tells me, âThat wasnât real, you were just excited to have a relationship.â And because I canât access those feelings right now, it makes me doubt everything even more.
I also feel guilty because my boyfriend is so loving and patient, but I feel like Iâm hurting him. He tells me he doesnât feel loved by me anymore, and I hate that I canât just snap out of this and be the way I was before. Itâs exhausting.
I donât know whatâs real anymore. I keep checking how I feel every second, and it just makes me feel worse. I know thatâs a compulsion, but itâs so hard to stop. I keep searching for certainty, but no answer satisfies me. Even when I try to accept the uncertainty, my mind screams, âBut what if you donât love him? What if youâre just lying to yourself?â
I want to be present with him. I want to feel love naturally again. But I donât know how to get there, and itâs terrifying.â