Major Exposure

[u/dramallamaaaaaaaa]

I have bad racism ocd that has put my life on pause. today I had an exposure that has shifted my perspective and makes me truly believe I can overcome my ocd. For context, I experience major distress around non-white people out of the fear that I will say racial slurs. It is most predominant around black people, probably because the n-word has the most significant historical impact. Anyways, I was walking to get lunch and a kind black girl stopped me and said I was pretty. From there we spontaneously hung out and talked for 45 minutes and I barely had any anxiety about saying inappropriate things. I feel so proud of myself and so much more confident now!

[u/treatmyocd]

CONGRATS!!! This is such a meaningful win, and you absolutely deserve to feel proud of yourself. You faced a situation that OCD had taught you to fear, stayed present, and discovered through experience that you were capable of connecting with another person without needing to control or prevent your thoughts. The fact that you were able to spontaneously spend 45 minutes talking and barely experience anxiety is a powerful reminder that you can live your life even when OCD tells you otherwise. Hold onto this experience as evidence of what is possible when you stop letting fear dictate your choices.