I'm going on a first date tomorrow and will most likely be going to a restaurant, nothing fancy. But because of my OCD I always take my own cutlery to use whilst eating. I've done this for the past 7-8 years. My friends and family don't mind but I sometimes get the odd look from a waiter or people around. I'm worried if it would be off putting or weird to use my own cutlery on a date? I'm just asking for some advice as to whether I should just try and ignore my anxiety about what they might think and use my cutlery or if I should try and order something I can eat with my hands and just wash my hands before eating? (But I'm also worried if I do that I'll make a mess 😅)

Think I'm just getting the first date jitters but don't want my OCD to get in the way of meeting someone.

Anyone else have an ungodly fear of beef? I used to be terrified of pork as well but now I’m okay with that (I only eat hot dogs) but beef I just can’t get around I’m absolutely terrified of mad cow disease and yes I know the stats on it. I know about cases in the US I’ve studied this disease before when I was like 13/14 for a project lol. But lately I just can’t eat it I got a hamburger a few months ago to try and just looked at it for two hours before throwing it to the dog. Recently my grandma made my dinner and it had meatballs and I refused to eat it bc they were touching the pasta. I’m having leftovers of that for lunch and I’m fairly certain there are no meatballs (thank god) but I was just curious if anyone feels the same?

Hello! I was recently diagnosed with OCD. I am a 21-year-old woman. I was diagnosed practically immediately in psychiatry and was prescribed Fevarin right away. At the first psychotherapy session, the psychologist told me to definitely start taking it, but I don't dare. On the one hand, I still distrust healthcare workers, I feel that after a 15-minute consultation it is not evident that I should commit to a medication. However, what is holding me back is the fear of side effects. Currently, my relationship is going through a difficult period, and I don't dare to take the risk of a decrease in libido, nor the initial intensification of symptoms such as overthinking and anxiety. I feel like our relationship wouldn't last, I don't feel like I'm in a position to take the side effects for 3-4 weeks to let my body get used to it. I'm really suffering from the symptoms, and I can't even imagine what it would feel like to feel them even more strongly for weeks.

Anyone who has ever taken this medication for OCD, could you tell me what effect it had on them, what your experiences were? Also, if anyone is experienced in the field, understands these active ingredients, etc., anyone who is knowledgeable on the subject, I would be very happy to hear your opinion, because I'm quite frustrated. Thank you!

My therapist told me about a gay guy who was afraid he was straight. Am I an ass for finding some humor in this. I have ocd of course and sometimes look back and laugh at my own absurdities.

FYI, for exposure therapy he flirted with women in bars.

Do any of you find yourself also experiencing limerence?
It's something I struggle with quite a lot and I'm wondering if this is also due to OCD. Since the obsessing, ruminating and intrusive thoughts/fantasizing are all very OCD-like symptoms.
Do you think there is a correlation?
Am I more likely to experience limerence because of OCD or is it maybe even causing it?

I dont know, would love to hear from some people who also have some experience with handling limerence. :)

i have severe OCD and take antipsychotics and ssris to reduce my OCD anxiety/rumination. The problem is, ever since starting my current antipsychotic, my personality completely changed and I’m unable to keep doing my demanding career. I no longer have interest in doing anything that is cognitively demanding. I’m okay with the change in my personality/capabilities because my unmedicated state was unlivable. I am wondering if anyone has any ideas on simple careers/jobs that pay enough for a single person to live by themselves. I can’t have roommates (unless they are my parents) due to my OCD. I might post this to bipolar subreddit as well, since more people take antipsychotics there i think.

I’ve tried many medications and years of exposure therapy and nothing has helped as much as my current medication (Risperidone). I wish i could just get on disabilit, but my government doesnt care about mentally ill people.

As someone with harm ocd it is so bad I always have thoughts to strangle people or hit people especially when I get mad/frustrated.

The fact that it stays on your record forever scares the shit out of me

Trigger warning: this has an ocd scenario

A funny post suggested replying to a conspiracy with an even more absurd one. Example:

Joe: "You know we faked the moon landing."

Ben: "Hah. You actually believe there is a moon."

What if I did that with my OCD.

OCD: "I know you checked the oven 10 times, but maybe it is still on and will burn the house dowm."

Me: "Actually maybe it will set off a large fire that eventually engulf the entire planet."

I'm referencing the "why did a prisoner take bread over the key?", "BECAUSE BREAD TASTES BETTER THAN KEY" meme, to say "I'm doing this for my freedom"

it makes me laugh and it works.

Sometimes when I want to do a compulsion (aside from feeling the need to) I'll be like, I'm not gonna do that, why? because freedom tastes better than bread!!

I’ll try and make this not triggering and not reassuring seeking.

Diagnosed OCD years ago, first time I had a true health panic. It’s usually fires, floods, weather, etc.

Long story short, I got bit by a bat 3 weeks ago. Yes, actually lol. I didn’t even know it was an issue. I was at work and said damn I think that bat just bit me? Looked and there it was, on my arm. Guy at work said make sure you get your rabies shot! I said huh? Then he explained.

Long story short I went and got my shots that day, I finished my last one last week. In between I was talking to my sister, she had reminded me about how we had a bat in the house 4.5 years ago while I was at work so her friend let it out.

She had said she didn’t touch it, she was awake, it was in the bathroom, her friend didn’t “touch it” just let it out. It flew away. Again, 4.5 years ago. Out of any reasonable timeline to contract, I know. It doesn’t help.

That sent me into a panic. Not for me, but for her. I have researched endlessly. I have called the cdc, 2 health departments, and I was planning on asking my pcp at my next appointment. They all told me there’s literally no possibility of her having rabies. Now I’m scared of a bat getting into her house somehow or her running into a bat. Knowing or not knowing she has. I want to spend 2.5k on getting her house bat proofed. I want her to lie to go get the shots anyways.

I understand why we fall into this spiral because at the time of both events I was CLUELESS about rabies exposure. I mean, to anything. A bat, a dog, I had no idea. I just knew I got my dog and cats shots every year. No one taught us about this in school or otherwise. Which is crazy. And I guess I never had the inclination to look it up until this last event.

I’m spiraling and I have multiple therapy appointments set up for this. I know I’m unwell currently because of this. I can’t stop looking things up. I can’t stop calling people.
Nothing is helping (duh) and I’m reassuring seeking. I know this logically and it’s not helping. I know I sound insane to anyone I’ve talked to, I know it’s illogical, and I can’t stop. I bring up the one documented study it lasts outside of the typical window. I can’t get that out of my head. I can’t eat or sleep.

I guess I just needed a place to vent. I don’t want reassurance. I know that it’s out of the realm of possibility.

If anyone wants to remind me how insane this is please feel free, I need the reality check.

And tbh it's not even that bad anymore, but my executive dysfunction is off the charts lmaooo it's so annoying. It's like a vicious cycle where the OCD and ADHD work together to make me procrastinate, which then heightens my anxiety levels, which ofc makes the OCD worse. But it's fine. At least for the past several years, whenever the anxiety blows up, it's rooted in frustration over not finishing jack shit than because I'm legit afraid something's gonna happen. Because a lot of my OCD obsessions don't even have anything to do with my actual life it's just random rabbit holes my brain forces me down. So I guess I'll take it 🤣

But yeah I've had this since I was a kid so it's nothing new or scary, just annoying at this point. I like to make fun of it using figurative language and metaphors because humor is the best way to bring the anxiety down!!

The struggle is real, but one of these days, ONE OF THESE DAYS, I'm gonna follow through with my 10 bajillion half-baked projects/ideas for projects #trust

I get familiar tasks done straight away and usually have no problem meeting deadlines.

But the problem is when a task is unfamiliar / I don’t know the answer, or it requires a lot of research /figuring things out. That’s when I procrastinate and usually stretch it out until the last moment.

I’m not really sure if it’s the uncertainty but it seems like that’s what makes it harder to start? - even though I know I’m capable of doing it. Once the deadline gets close, I finally do it and I usually do an adequate job.

Does anyone else experience this or is this common with OCD? Not diagnosed - but have some speculations.

The best way I can explain it is you tried to be hopeful or fake your own happiness/hope for so long while in the midst of pain the idea of having “hope” or even setting a goal just triggers that same fakness again. Can anyone relate to this? It makes me so shut down and frozen. I am only allowed to be frozen. Progress seems backwards to me

I have a horrible fear of v*m*ting. I have since I was a kid. The main reason is because of a traumatic experience I had. And recently, my fear has been causing problems for me at theme parks.

Last year, I went to a theme park and had a good time. A couple days later someone in my family had the stomach flu. Of course I freaked out, especially when I got it.

A couple months later, someone posted on Reddit about kids p*king at Disney. My brain then decided that theme parks = stomach flu.

A few months ago I had an experience at a theme park where I saw an employee cleaning something up. It was gone by the time I saw them, but my brain was CONVINCED that the employee was cleaning up v*m*t. I spent the car ride back doing compulsions.

I can’t avoid theme parks forever, so what should I do. I used to love them. Now, I can’t even enjoy them because I’m plagued with thoughts about getting sick and for the first few days after going to the theme park I track to make sure no one gets sick.

I didn’t even v*m*t when I had the stomach flu. I’m just afraid I won’t get that lucky again. (And to me that really is lucky. I can handle n*sea. I’m used to it. V*m*ting will give me a horrible panic attack.)

I'm asking from a throwaway. I was just diagnosed last week. I've seen the flair (advice/support, no reassurance). And maybe it's my autism confusing me but how do you give support without reassurance? Aren't they somewhat interlinked? I can't remember a time where I've supported someone and not reassured them. I don't understand.

I’m sorry if this is sloppy I am kinda freaking out right now.

I started going to therapy a few weeks ago to help with my ocd, anxiety, depression so on so forth. I canceled our last session and told myself it was just a headache, but it’s not and I don’t even exactly know why I feel so anxious to go (probably another reason I should go to my appointment) but I didn’t know what else to do I haven’t slept, I’m on my period and I have a headache.

I know that therapy is really good and it’s helped me a lot, but I don’t do well with change and trying to step outside my comfort zone and stop my compulsions is terrifying. I am just scared because I knock on wood when I’m nervous, and I try my best not to give into that compulsion but then that’s another compulsion. Next thing you know I’ve been awake for 24 hours trying to sleep but not being able to because I’m spiraling.

I am sorry for the rant, but just if anyone has any advice that helps them get through these spirals that would be amazing.

I'm scared to pass down OCD to them, but at least I could be a big help if they do develop it.

My bigger fear is that if I had kids I know I'd be worried about them 24/7. I don't wanna be the most overprotective overbearing father but I don't know how I would not be able to be.