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*VENT INCOMING* This is just not really related to OCD (or maybe it is idk?anyways). It's kinda personal so if you don't wanna read this, that's okay too. My parents are recently divorced and it wasn't amicable. My dad is an ass and a manipulative bully. and i hate him and love him at the same time. he tries to reach out from time to time but i usually ignore because even just thinking about him makes me angry and fills me with this nasty, hopeless type of feeling like im trapped. anyways, he reached out again through a message asking me how I was doing. and i actually brave enough to respond with a voice note. told him basically everything in as short a time as possible. that I have OCD & depression and im on meds. and that i have a job now. and all he said was thank you for the reply and he feels better now and that he hopes that im well too. and it annoyed me because even though i actually really brave in expressing myself, he just sort of made it about him. he didnt even say anything ; like he was shocked and sad to hear that i've been struggling. and im just like????? what more could i possibly do to make this man actually really give a damn about me at all???? like that's all he has to say to me???? Ugh.

Hello, I’ve struggled with OCD and a few other anxiety disorders for literally ever and I’ve wanted to get on medication for years because I felt it was the only way to fix me, to find relief from this hell that is in my brain. But so far I’ve tried 7 medications ! And none have worked, I always get to my second or third dose with zero positive changes and I almost always have a side effect I cannot bare to live with long term, so I get switched to another med and it happens again. I also struggle with really bad anxiety over taking medications, I’m terrified of serious side effects and withdrawals and overdoses etc. so it’s makes this journey so much harder! I’m planning on taking a break from medication for at least a little while, I want to live life without side effects and the fear that being on regular medication gives me, I’ve been sleep deprived for a few months straight because of a side effect of my current dose, like what the hell body! I’m just frustrated, I wanted this to work, and hey maybe it will in the future but not right now. And yeah, medication isn’t the holy grail and it won’t “fix me”, therapy and hard work will help me manage my mental illnesses, I’ve had improvements already without meds, I know that now, so it’s not the end of the world! Just a bit annoying! (Don’t let this scare you from trying medication, for a lot of people it works wonders !! And not everyone’s body is as stubborn as mine!)

For the last week, I have gotten little sleep. The first 3 or 4 days, I would lay on the couch shaking, having like full body jerks, exhausted but laying there with my eyes closed all night. Tossing and turning for hours and maybe slept a total of 30-60 minutes very broken up through the night. The last few days, I'll feel a bit better and try to go to sleep and wake up 45-60 minutes later or an hour and a half later it I'm lucky, before everything floods back. I get jerky and shaky, my stomach has a pit, I feel that dread, anger, anxiety, and I'll be tossing and turning again with bits where I fall asleep for 20-40 minutes maybe 2-4 times through the entire night and morning. It's driving me insane. It's scary that I can't sleep much and when I do, it feels like torture and I'll have nightmares for the little bits I do get.

Hi everyone, I’m a 21-year-old single demisexual, recently diagnosed with OCD, and it’s hitting me hard with relationship and intimacy struggles at the moment. I only feel attraction after a deep connection, and I see intimacy as a sacred, love-first thing—not about pleasure but bonding with someone special. My OCD makes me obsess over needing to know a partner’s every thought and feeling, wanting them to view intimacy exactly like I do. I spiral when I can’t understand them or when they don’t get me, craving validation and reassurance like it’s air. It’s exhausting, and I feel like an anxious hamster sometimes, chasing answers I can’t have. Retroactive jealousy (RJ) is the worst part. I’m somewhat okay with serious past relationships now—I try to see them as proof someone can commit. But casual pasts or “big numbers” make my brain throw a tantrum. I don’t get seeking casual pleasure, ever—it’s so alien to me. I’m terrified of a partner who’s “done it all,” thinking they’d compare me or find me less special because they've already had all their first with someone else and know what they want while I’m clueless about intimacy. I know most people want someone who are mature and sure of what they like and want, but for me I find it more comforting knowing the other person is just as clueless as me, even it it'll be awkward. I want someone who needs a deep connection to even think about it, someone who waited for love like I do, not someone who experimented and now wants to settle. Part of this is my values—intimacy should be sacred—but part feels like insecurity, like I’ll never be enough or bring anything new. I don’t know where the line is, and it’s confusing. Dating feels impossible because most people my age are fine with casual, and I’m not. I’m lonely, craving love and closure, but my OCD screams I’ll be alone for years, stuck as the “clueless” one while others are experienced. Intrusive thoughts about partners’ pasts or “what they learned” haunt me, and I can’t quiet them, even though I know they’re not logical. I’m seeing a psychologist soon, but I’m struggling now. How do you manage RJ and stop obsessing over casual pasts or needing perfection? Any tips for calming intrusive thoughts or dating with these values? I want to be gentler with myself and stop feeling so scared. Thanks for any advice!

I know you aren’t supposed to look into reassurance but does that mean you can’t offer advice to peoples struggling ? Therapy isn’t an option for some of us and I would love to hear some natural ways y’all use to help better yourself but nobody eve responds to my posts

+ ZOCD +18 & triggering warning last night whilst trying to enjoy myself and do some self care and watch some p0rn. i use twitter to do so and decided to look at an account i was unfamiliar with just to see what they had going on. all of the content they were posting & retweeting was normal and par for the course where out of NOWHERE i see a video of a dog about to start interacting with someone in a inappropriate way. by the way i was scrolling i only saw the top half of the video before gasping and immediately swiping out of that persons account. after seeing that i felt sick and guilty as if i was complicit somehow by not going back and reporting and blocking that account or trying to do something positive to change the horrors of what i just saw but i know better than to try and find it somehow and potentially exposing myself to viewing that again. but now im sitting here with a lot of what ifs in my head varying from “the content you usually watch is from a very specific type of person, what if you’re fetishizing?” & “what if since you were thinking about said specific type of person and saw something like that amongst normal videos of again said specific type of person what if you associate that video what that and never feel normal about your interests and hyperfixations?” now i’m feeling extremely anxious and cannot relax and try to get some sleep because of this. does anyone have any advice on how to ease my compulsions and anxiety??? is ERP a good option for this???

Does it make me a a lesbian bc i used to watch a couple lesbian couples on youtube and i found them cute together. Im really stressing right now about it. I was around 13 14 at the time i did also watch a alot of lesbian porn at the time im really stressed

I am trying to expose myself and purposely look and notice attractive girls and move on with it don’t let it ruminated or do any physical or mental compulsions and think how I feel and worry but when I notice it why do I feel like I want to do it or get excited because I have a excuse to look at other girls while in a relationship and when I think or feel that way or know when I have a chance to expose myself to it I just don’t because I feel like I might be using this as an expose to do so any advices? Also should I let my girlfriend know I am doing this exposure therapy

Can someone, anyone please look at my post and help me. I don’t want to ask my parents for an ocd therapist because 1.i don’t even know if I have ocd 2. They are not going to believe me. Please click on my profile, go to posts and read my story all the way through, reply, at least like it so I don’t feel so desperately alone. I feel isolated in my suffering. I know it’s long. I’m sorry.

So I am experiencing my first OCD theme, man what a fun ride! It’s been 3 months and I finally decided as of yesterday it’s either stay here and get worse or start choosing to figure out what I need to do. I won’t go too much into my scenario and I’m not asking for reassurance. I just want to to how false memories work and if they commonly present like this. So I am married. We were out somewhere and I saw someone I knew. I have never been romantically involved with this person and I was just like oh hey that’s such and such in my brain. Well about 10 minutes goes by and I get a flash of a memory of an online interaction I had with them (this is real) and well it caught me off guard and I was like when was that? It was so long ago I couldn’t recall and I was like well I think that was before my relationship and then I thought well what if it was after since you can’t remember and BOOM I got a flash of a memory (more like a picture) of my brain correlating me doing this while in my relationship. And then the more I thought of trying to disprove that I had another memory (which I believe to be the true memory) of it occurring before my relationship. Here’s the thing. About a year or two ago I saw this same person. The same thing happened. I was shocked and panicked and just was like I don’t know I have never even thought of this in my relationship and just kind of shut it down saying maybe I just will never bring it up to my husband. But I completely forgot about that. Outside of these two times I have NEVER thought of this in my relationship. Like at all. Never thought of this person once. Here’s what I’m wondering, do false memories (even about real events) often occur after what if statements? Even though what I did most people wouldn’t care about, it would have been very out of character for me and also for me to just entirely forget about it. So I am pretty sure I am dealing with a false reconstruction of a past real event. Has anyone ever dealt with anything similar? Is there more to identifying these false memories? And how did you deal with them? I have accepted I can never disprove a memory. Even if someone told me it wasn’t real. I just feel like if you did something that was a little out of your character you would definitely remember it not just did I? I just wanted to give my example, but I am interested in how people deal with this.

So one of my close friends just got engaged and her fiance broke up with her two months later. She’s devasted and i’ve been seeing her and being there for her. The issue is wheb this type of stuff usually happens you sometimes imagine it happening to you. So when I tried that i didnt feel anything! And so I tried imagining a women leaving me and it hurt like hell. This thought has been consuming me since forever. I know that im someone who’s very emotional so why cant i « get hurt » or feel « hurt » when my fiance does something?! Also i have been struggling with the romantic vs platonic feelings, the aesthetic vs sexual attraction and I unfortunately looked it up on tiktok and it was a huuuge trigger! Specially from lgbtq people saying what they thought was sexual attraction towards boys was just aesthetic. So i then asked chatgpt what he thought of that and yeah it triggered me even more. Tbh when I look at my fiance i find him really good looking, hot and when we get into it its really good like i enjoy sleeping with him (I think? Or soocd talking idk). However when i see him naked I dont have a physical reaction to him if you know what i mean. However and idk why, when i see a naked women I do feel like i have a physical reaction?!!! When i talked to my therapist about it she told me that sexual orientation is complex and we’re all somewhere on the spectrum. I dont mind being on the spectrum but what im scared of is lying about my attraction and love to my fiance just to fit into society and playing a « role ». We’ve been together for 8 years it cant be possible to fake something for that long is it? What im also scared of is for example accepting that my sexuality might be somewhere on the spectrum but once i accept that realising that i was just performative with men and it was all fake… Am i alone in this? Do other people relate to this story?

I hate when people don't give more insight and ask questions like "Can we talk?" "Can I ask you something private?" "Can I tell you something?" Stuff like that, and often if it's text they will leave ya in suspense for awhile and it kills me. Like be direct, sometimes it feels like it's on purpose. Like I'm worried on how to respond to things cause if I don't wanna respond they might make assumptions, but if I do respond im uncomfy and worried they will make assumptions due to the fact I over explain. And I wanna talk about something specific but their is a slight chance the person who caused this rant has this app. So I'm worried to be specific and that they will look at my other posts and it won't be anonymous, half the reason I'm able to talk about things on this app is that nobody knows it's me. It's comforting that I can anonymously talk about the things in my brain, that I keep to myself.

I saw a post from this app with the caption explaining what POCD is, and in it it said "people with ocd have no attraction towards children" but how am I supposed to know when false attraction is so prevelant for me?? It makes me feel like I'm really a p3do and I need to die

I have no idea what I want to do in my life. I never leave the house unless it’s therapy or something. I can’t drive and doubt I would ever be able to because I’m just that dumb. I’m 18, graduated this year, and have no goals at all. Nothing feels like it matters that much, I was numb during graduation, I didn’t laugh or smile, I just walked on stage and turned my tassel. Every day is blurring together, now that high school is over I have really no routine where I can connect with people. I sit at home and do dumb crafts and art, take care of my dog, play games. Sometimes I really feel like I’m dreaming while I’m still awake, absentminded and forgetting things that just happened. Some days I’m alright but then I really confront the fact that I am indeed no longer a child despite still feeling like one, I need to grow up and do things adults do. I want to do things other people my age do but I’m not like other people my age it seems. God all this useless self pity. Boo hoo. I’m just so so tired man. I don’t know what to do with my life at all. I’m not cut out for this and I’m so clueless.

having ocd is hard because not only am i dealing with something that im aware is so irrational, but i’m also shamed and punished and ridiculed for it in my family. i’m 21 and a college student and still live w my family, and my contamination ocd is getting worse. the stress of my compulsions are only making it worse. my hands have begun to be raw from washing them so much and my dad (who doesn’t really believe in mental illness and doesn’t know i’m diagnosed with ocd) is saying he’ll “take away all the lotion in the house so that i can’t use any which will make me stop washing my hands so much”. it just feels so frustrating bc im not even using any lotion since it contributes to my ocd. my oldest sister also makes fun of me for also having ocd and calls me sick and ridicules me. it’s not like i asked to have this life. i wish so badly i was “normal”. not having anyone on my side and encouraging me in a kind way also hurts.

So yesterday I was spinning out because I watched a video about relationships that made one of my old obsessions return. For some context, this is about my ex, we broke up about 2 months ago, but went back to being friends a week later. Talked for a little bit but then stopped, and about 3 weeks ago he reached out again to say hi, I haven’t responded to him. What led to the breakup? I told him how I liked the attention I got from some creepy guy (I didn’t flirt with him, I told him to back off and everything, my problem was that I liked the attention and that I didn’t leave right away and stood around longer than I should have). And he figured it was because he’s been busy with work and school and thought his lack of attention to me was behind it. But I think (and I never told him this) it’s because I just liked the feeling of being wanted ( I hate saying that). that creepy guy is an emotional support volunteer from 7 cups. I came there because the night before, I had an argument with my ex that left me feeling pretty upset and unheard and I really wanted someone to talk to, but didn’t know who to go to. I was hoping I’d be set up with someone I would trust to be professional and compassionate, as you can see that didn’t happen. That guy started asking me weird questions, I don’t exactly remember what he asked but he said something really weird, I think he asked if I was in Highschool or something?? I forgot. I do know he was trying to hit on me after I made it CLEAR I was in a relationship. I told the guy to back off but he just didn’t stop. In the moment I realized I was kinda liking the fact that he wanted me??? Idk what the heck that was but I DID NOT like that, and tried to shove it aside and continue the conversation. That was wrong because in turn that just fueled that gross feeling, even though I tried desperately to erase it and forget it wasnt there. On top of that I was bewildered and almost amused by how absolutely absurd all of this was, I mean why would someone hit on someone who’s in a RELATIONSHIP whilst they’re in such a vulnerable moment?? It was so manipulative and disgusting. I tried to magnify those two feelings (the bewilderment and the amusement) because I was feeling a lot of disgust and shame for the other feeling (liking the feeling of being wanted). All of that had me stick around longer than I should have and it feels so gross and wrong.. The conversation lasted very briefly because eventually the guy left after I told him I wasn’t willing to cheat on my ex with him. when I came to my ex about liking the attention from that guy and how the interaction went down, I knew my exs lack of attention wasnt the reason behind why I liked it and why I stayed longer than I should have. And when my ex told me it was the reason why, I didn’t speak up and explain that wasnt true. I should have done it in the moment but I was scared (not an excuse) to tell him because I didn’t want him to get mad at me or yell at me (also not an excuse). And now I’m once again thinking I should confess all this to him so that he doesn’t feel like it’s his fault… idk if I should or shouldn’t idk if he even blames himself for the breakup or if he beats himself over it, or if he’s done with it and he’s grieved it and moved on. Idk if it’s necessary now.. but I’m spinning out over it because I can’t seem to let go of this.

It's time to share your wins from this week, no matter how big or small. Did you challenge an intrusive thought? Reach out to a friend? Make it through a tough day? Let us know in the comments—your effort deserves to be acknowledged.

Does anybody have ROCD? I’m really struggling with either my feelings are real or ROCD. I panic when I think of these things because it’s supposed to be him but I feel so disconnected from him and I’m wondering like is he the right one for me and should I break up with him or is there someone else. I’ve always loved him and I have all this guilt built up inside of me because it feels like I don’t love him anymore when all he does is love me and I know if I didn’t love him anymore I’d feel calm and WANT it but I don’t but my brain is telling me I do but I don’t know what to do. I feel guilt around him almost all the time, I have panic attacks, I cry, I’m depressed, I don’t know what to do anymore. My ROCD has taken over my life and the one thing I truly want is now destroyed by stupid ocd. I need help PLEASE. Do I love him truly or not? I want to hug him and talk to him because he’s my best friend but nobody has went through what I am going through and nobody in my family has went through what I’m going through and this feeling of disconnection has went on for 2 months now

I notice that the thoughts aren’t constant and just pop from time to time. However the rumination is constant. I do have other annoying mental compulsions but i’m just worried that it’s not OCD. The thoughts dont feel loud but they do make me ruminate. Sometimes they’re “what ifs” or “this happened which means this and your a liar” or they’re like memories/flash backs. But they’re not constant which makes me worry that this has never been OCD. I keep ruminating ab weird childhood exploration, uncomfortable memories, fake memories, and (TMI) past random arousal in the past that didn’t align with me and my wants. Idk if it’s bc i’m ALWAYS questioning and analyzing in my head that I don’t notice things as intrusive thoughts? But there’s too much proof I feel like this is just me coming to a realization, i’m in denial, and it HAS to be true which makes me want to puke. I literally forgot all ab that stuff but my brain has brought it all back 😭. This flare up started because of a couple thoughts ab my relationship that made me anxious and triggered the rumination and it went back into an SOOCD spiral. My therapist told me she definitely thinks it’s OCD but at this point I don’t feel like it is.

I usually try to stay positive. But the past few days it’s just been hard for me. I just find it really difficult for people in my life to understand how debilitating ocd can be . It feels like people belive I should be able to do more or be just be over it by now. I honestly need support but I don’t really feel like I have it in my daily life. Recently my ocd has just been really big on contamination. To the point where my house feels like one big trap. I’m trying to get better but I feel like no matter how much effort I put into getting my life back. It just feels like I’m in quick sand…not getting anywhere. OCD has taken so much away from me. I just want my life back. I’m trying my hardest. Ugh It’s just been tough. The outside world hasn’t felt safe for months so it’s caused me to isolate and now my own place doesn’t feel safe. I’m just struggling tbh. I just neededto let that out and be vulnerable tbh 😕