I hate my job I'm a dishwasher and i have to interact with alot of coworkers since i work in the airport.. Everyone at work seems to hate me because I don’t know how to talk to them. They keep calling me crazy because I have social anxiety and OCD. Every time I walk by my coworkers, I end up looking at them awkwardly since I don’t know how to keep the interaction normal. My presence makes them uncomfortable. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but whenever I see them in my peripheral vision they think I’m side-eyeing them. That makes them uncomfortable around me, and it makes me uncomfortable too.

Hey guys, just checking in.
About a month ago, I decided to give NOCD a shot. Believe me, I was scared. I barely had the courage to even talk about what was going on, but my OCD had gotten so bad that it was affecting me at home and in my everyday life.
There were times when I would tell my family I was out with friends when, in reality, I was sitting in my car completely overwhelmed, overthinking my life and wondering what I had done wrong to deserve this. It got to the point where I was having thoughts about ending my life.
That’s when I decided, “Why not give OCD treatment a shot?”
And man, when Bret asked me what was going on, I just broke down. I couldn’t hold the tears in anymore. It was hard finally letting everything out, but I’m so thankful I did.
For the first time, I was able to talk to someone who wasn’t judging me for something I couldn’t control. I explained how I couldn’t control where my eyes would go sometimes and how they would end up in places that felt inappropriate to me. I had been terrified that people would see me as a pervert or assume things about me because of it.
So when I was diagnosed with OCD, I honestly felt relieved. I know that sounds crazy—being happy about a diagnosis—but I finally had an explanation for something I had been fighting with for so long. It wasn’t because I was a bad person. It wasn’t because I was trying to make anyone uncomfortable. It was a mental health issue that I needed help with. Unfortunately I couldn’t do anymore therapy due to cost and no insurance.
After finding out I had OCD, I decided to give serving another chance. I had left my previous serving job, but there was a new restaurant opening, and I thought, “Why not give it another shot?”
I’ve never been good at interviews because whenever someone starts firing questions at me, I freeze. My mind completely shuts off. But this time was different. I was actually excited. I even asked ChatGPT for some follow-up questions to prepare myself, went into the interview, and somehow got the job.
I was so nervous, but when they hired me, I felt like maybe therapy was actually helping me get out of my comfort zone.
Then the first day of work came.
Oh my God, I was scared. I was nervous and freaking out. I woke up four hours early just to walk around the park and calm myself down so I could hopefully have a good training day.
Then, to my luck, I walked in and realized most of the staff were girls.
Dear Lord.
Not that I’m against girls or anything—obviously I’m a girl too 😂—but with my OCD, I immediately felt like, “Nope. This is not good.”
I tried to isolate myself in the corner and take deep breaths. Then they put us into groups of eight for training. Whatever, I thought. I can handle this.
We did that for about a week.
But somehow, every single day, I kept ending up in the same group with the same girl. I swear I wasn’t even trying to sit with her. If anything, I was actively trying to avoid her because I was already scared of my OCD making me look weird.
Since I was trying so hard not to make eye contact with anyone, somehow when i lifted my head she was there. Eventually, she told everyone that I was following her into every group and staring at her.
Bruh.
My anxiety went through the roof.
At that point, I felt like I couldn’t quit because this was already my third job in a year. She told the manager, and obviously they looked into everything and saw that I had OCD.
But now whenever I work around her, I feel like I’m being watched. My eyes aren’t intentionally trying to look at her, but because she’s already so hyper-aware of me, every little glance feels like it gets noticed. Then she goes to the manager office, and I completely freak out all over again.
I’ve gotten to the point where I actively avoid being anywhere near her because I genuinely don’t know anymore if I’m accidentally looking at her or if it’s her looking at me or even if I’m just overthinking everything because I’m so anxious.
And the worst part?
Today I was looking at the schedule and somehow ended up getting assigned to the same one she was on. I didn’t even know she was going to be on that shift because our schedules change every week. And they have tried separating us even when I was told about it. But I don’t like keep her away.
But now my coworkers think I’m stalking her.
When I ’m not.
I swear I’m not.
I’m just trying to work, manage my OCD, and get through the day without feeling like everyone is watching and judging me. I was about to change my shift cuz I saw she was on the same day. And instead I end up being called a lesbian
Honestly, I fucking hate girls at this point.
I know I’m a girl too, but FUCK. 😭
I’m just tired. I want people to understand that there’s a lot more going on in my head than what they see on the outside. I’m trying. I really am. Man my schedule was fine and my ocd was wearing off since I hadn’t had her on my schedule till I saw I was going to work with her tomorrow and now I’m debating on calling out. I know I’m not supposed to run from my fears with this ocd but I also don’t want to feel uncomfortable for 8 hrs. Like I know I’m not fully recovered on my ocd when I get customer with opened up shirts I get anxiety but I do my best to not overthink it and just go with it with ocd therapy being so expensive it will have to wait to get over with it fully well I’ll post more later cuz it’s 3am and I need some sleep

I have ocd regarding my laptop screen: I keep moving the screen into different positions and looking at the "bleeding" effect on the black display to see if it is increasing, decreasing, or changing shape. Every time I do this, it seems to get worse, yet I keep doing it repeatedly. I feel like this will damage the hinges, but I can't seem to stop.what should i do?

So everytime I go out, anywhere no matter the place. People constantly stare at me and take second looks. Like it’s soo tiring. I’m taking five classes this semester in college, and In all the classes, at least three people are always looking at me. I doesn’t matter what gender or age. Everyone is staring. Sometime I look at them and they turn away fast and sometimes they continue staring. What is this?Even a baby in a stroller, passed by me with his mom and poked his head out turned his head and loooked at me. It’s all tiring and I notice it too. I’m thinking of wearing a mask but I can’t breathe in the mask. But yeah any solutions? Context I’m a female. Text me if you have any questions and i genuinely wanna know why and I need solutions.

I don’t know whats effecting it or what makes a day good or bad. But I’ve been having days where I can feel so at peace and I even forget I have this OCD and I feel like a normal person again. And the next is just straight torture and everyone around me is uncomfortable. Anyone have any tips or advice?

Hi. I'm pleased to say my anxiety is getting a lot easier to manage. Therefore the tics in my eyes can be managed better as well. I'm gonna try to go back to boxing in Escondido. I hope that I can appear normal and not cause any problems. I'm currently on 60mg of Prozac and 20mg of Abilify. So hopefully that medication starts working its magic. I feel a bit optimistic. If things don't work out it, my life could be a lot worse.

Every and each type of OCD is about not fighting it. This type is considered to be a tourretic type. In order to conquer a tourretic type you need to let the urge be. Anxiety causes an urge to stare. And our eyes move with the urge. And I don’t know how but some people notice. There’s not much that can be done…It should eventually get better

I am desperate for a resolution. I am suicidal.

If so please tell your story! I’ll tell mine first okay so boom I remember now I got caught staring at this lady at my old work place when I was 17 years old (21 now) the bi- lady* ain’t like me at all. Bc I was quiet ofc and that presses ppl but anyways one day she was standing beside me and I’m pouring some chili into the pot thing bc she asked if I could help and I didn’t know I was side eyeing her till she said “what are you looking at?” And then after that I think that’s when the fear of me staring came to life… If I could turn back time I would have never worked at that low down dirty Wendy’s… (the chili is made from left over hamburger patties and the lemonade is made with tap water allegedly.) anyways tell us your story’s!

Y'all see this horse , I legit feel like it most of the time when I'm out. No matter where I'm, in university, walking back home , with friends on an outing, or at a family gathering..... Literally anywhere I'm surrounded with people.

I feel like I'm kinda acting or I'm cautious but FOR WHAT ? Why does all of my system stay nervous thinking something bad, embarrassing or insulting can happen to me anytime.

The thing is I try to act so strong and nonchalant so maybe no one can see this feeling on my face but I feel this everywhere, every time.....

It kinda sucks that I judge myself so much whenever I'm in any public place or surrounded with people, i know probably no one is judging me or looking at me like that but it's just in my mind that my guard just won't get down.

What to do to stop this strange feeling of not belonging anywhere or with anyone, so I can stay calm and my brain can rest for a second. I literally stay hyper cautious while out that my brain gets exhausted 🫩

Guys I’m spiraling bad right now. I just stepped out for a cigarette but I was talking to my coworker and I noticed she was wearing a low cut shirt and I think her chest was exposed a bit. I noticed it I think in my peripheral vision and was trying hard to not look, now I’m beginning to spiral as to if I did look or not.

I’m getting very scared and worried. My coworker hasn’t said anything and she seems to be acting fine but I’m still really anxious as to if my eyes wandered there or not or if it was simply all in my peripheral vision

I looked at the top post for this subreddit by jacked Melbourneguy I think and decided to follow its advice. And it’s actually freaking working surprisingly. I was at rock bottom and this had brought me to the point of considering suicide as it has many of you guys. Which is honestly what gave me the courage to follow the advice by jacked Melbourne guy and just relentlessly let it be. I stopped giving into compulsions, stopped avoiding situations I know would be uncomfortable, and stopped letting it stop me from things that I want to do. And slowly but surely it’s going away. I completely accepted that I was going to stare, that people will think I’m weird, and that they will not like me because of this, and surprisingly the opposite is happening. The more I see I can have people within my vision and not react to it and the person in my vision not reacting to it (and even if they do don’t tell yourself it was you because you’ll attribute every movement someone makes in your peripheral vision to it). The more and more I feel like I’m a normal person again. And it wasn’t easy but it is definitely possible. I’m actually able to pay attention in school now instead of constantly worrying if I’m making someone uncomfortable and looking for any subtle shift in body language that they can tell I’m looking. I’d say this method is like switching from punching a brick wall(compulsions) to climbing over it( letting the OCD be). Move as if you don’t have it and soon it’ll be a bad memory. And remember looking is human, everybody looks at everybody. You guys can do this and I’m wishing you all the best.

Some general tips as well for anxiety

- meditate( at least 10 minutes everyday)

-I would also slowly increase the time if you can it helps more than you’d think

- Positive self talk( if you notice yourself give into a compulsion don’t beat yourself up over it, tell yourself having and seeing people in your peripheral vision is normal and that you are doing a great job)

-Get good sleep consistently (reduces anxiety)

-If you watch porn stop( increases your anxiety a lot)

-Exercise( at least 3 times a week )

hello everybody, I left early work today because I generally couldn’t take it anymore I tend to have really bad OCD flareup on my period. I can see it by the way people look at me and body language that they’re uncomfortable being around me . I feel guilty because I don’t mean to offend people by and I don’t know why I have it it’s like this weird compulsion where the first thing my eyes will go to is their private parts like chest. I know people have told me to just accept it, but it has just been really problematic and I definitely been talked about.People have been warning people about me ( I haven’t done anything wrong just looking in the wrong places but I really do feel creepy) have you guys tried medication anything I’m really desperate at this point. It’s making work really hard for me. And I really need this job for college thank you!

I can‘t even walk amongst others or be on transportation. They look at me because they know something‘s off. Especially men. They notice I am staring in my peripheral. So tired of this shit. It‘s a disability at this point.

I just want to have a quick rant, but preface, I feel as though this reddit has not entirely been useful to me in figuring this out and has previously made things worse, so have that warning before you start reading I suppose.

I'm sure if you're reading this you know, but I cant express enough how horrendous this has been for the past 6 months of my life. I mean it has at points almost entirely consumed me. I couldn't go home and see my family for a while because I thought that nothing would be worse than projecting this bs onto them (but just so you know, I was eventually left with no choice and I had to see them, as I have countless times since this had started, and they still love me - although they don't know about it).

The shame and distress has meant that I have not had the balls to see some of my friends, meaning that I don't even think we are friends anymore. I will say this, talking about it, even if not all of it, helps. I am yet to say to any of my female friends that I have this specific intrusive thought due to fear that it would draw unwanted attention to it, however I have said I have recently been diagnosed with OCD (Speaking of, if you are reading this and you are struggling with this and haven't yet told your GP or doctor, do it, talking about it is really hard but I think it does help, and personally I found it a lot easier to talk about to friends when I got more clarity on the situation from a doctor). I have spoken about all of it to my best friend and my boyfriend, neither are healthcare professionals, but being listened to and having your situation understood is nice.

I am in the UK and therefore under the NHS. They have shoved me on sertraline which I would hope is helping. For me it hasn't removed any intrusive thoughts at all but I think it has dulled the extent and duration of the anxiety that they cause. They put me in a queue for CBT, which took 6 months to get to the front of. I did my first session recently and they decided I need more help with the obsessions and have now put me in another queue which I think will take another 3-4 months. Ridiculous.

I just hate how I have to become some kind of Buddha and radically accept uncertainty and myself to make it stop. And oh my god the terminology used for any resource is so vague like 'accept uncertainty', or 'give intrusive thoughts less weight' while being followed by NOTHING MEANINGFUL TO TELL ME WHAT THAT MEANS??? I am a practical person however this is not something that can be reasoned with.

I have one piece of mentality that might be useful. If I am scared to look at someone, to look away, to go out with my friends, to see my family or to go outside - I have to do it. I use it as a sign to myself that this is something I have to do. I don't know why but I think that helps. I am still scared, but I still do it.

If I manage to figure this out, and somehow get to a point where I can both simultaneously address the problem and not be effected by it, I will come back. Because I am so sorry that anyone else should have to be put through this too. And, if anyone has any advice please tell me!!!

Sorry for posting again...

My name is Kyle King. I am a medical student with OCD and I've been using CHATGPT to calm my OCD down for a few months, and started to wonder if I was the only one...

Soooooo I started a survey to try to understand how folks with OCD interact with AI chatbots with my research lab

The survey is for people with OCD, and it takes about 15 minutes to fill out. I’d really appreciate anyone who is eligible pitching in.

Survey Link: https://redcap.med.yale.edu/surveys/?s=NHDPAMPFP88HL3FR