Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Support Group
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder, more specifically, an anxiety disorder. OCD is manifested in a variety of forms, but is most commonly characterized by a subject's obsessive (repetitive, distressing, intrusive) thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or rituals) which attempt to neutralize the obsessions.
Recently I've realized that I'm pulling away from my partner. He has never handled my anxiety well, and I become frustrated when his inability to do or say the right things makes me feel worse (unreasonable, I know). I can tell that I'm very depressed, and that it has been many months since I have felt happy - I'm just not sure what to do about this. We're pretty open communicators, but we've talked about all of this before. I don't want to close off, especially knowing that I'm going through a down period with all of this and that I'm not thinking or feeling rationally, but I don't know how to pull myself together and stay optimistic about our relationship. Anyone out there have similar trouble?
Now that I am older, I know that with the severity level of my OCD and the social group I travelled in, NO female would have put up with my crippling OCD as these females were educated, from nice families and wanted a BF and then spouse who could keep up with them socially, have kids, make a good living where you could buy a house and she could be a stay at home mom. Plus, these females would want a social life with other white collar, educated people.
To further back up my point, I was on Facebook for 2 years a couple of years ago and contacted one of my old GFs from college. She was married with two kids and seemed very happy. She did tell me that I was the "first boy who ever broke up with her" (I broke up with her for more reasons than OCD). Either to make her feel better or maybe I just felt like opening up about my OCD, I messaged her back on FB about how bad my life has been and maybe went into too much detail about my OCD. I NEVER heard back from her again as I am sure that message scared her or just turned her off. I told only one other female from my past while on FB from my JHS and HS days who I never dated. She at least sent me a short message back and was at least nice while wishing me well.
My point is most people are still very afraid, confused and very uneducated about any and all mental illnesses, psyche disorders and personality disorders. Many do not want to put up with a person with something mentally wrong with them. Some lucky people find that rare person who loves them so much or is not bothered by their OCD, Bi-polar, PTSD or whatever is wrong and stays. Also, once again, it is easier to stay with an OCDer with a mild case or a person with a mild case of depression than someone who is severe and obviously is not going to keep a job, be a good parent, able to travel, socialize, be a negative in their lives, etc.
So, Sarasalt, maybe this BF is not the right guy for you or maybe you will work things out. Time will tell. I would tell any OCDer that as much as we want to be in a relationship and can use as much support from family and friends as possible, we cannot control those things. The best we can do is try our best to get better and improve as much as possible and for those of us whose severity levels are above mild, the best way to do that is thru competent professional help (I also think OCDers who have a mild case of OCD should get professional help, also).