Suspected OCD, not coping well
Sorry in advance if this isn't the place for this. I'm brand new to 7Cups. I haven't been officially diagnosed with OCD, but I've been suspecting it for years now, and this past month has been extremely hard and made me suspect it even more. I'm bringing it up when I start a new therapist this week. I'm sorry if suspected diagnoses aren't allowed here. I don't mean any offense, I came to this conclusion after looking into actual symptoms and other people's expreinces with OCD, not just stereotypes.
Without going into all the details, coming clean about a lie has triggered a huge episode that's lasted a month so far. I confessed to my partner about some crappy things I did when we first started dating, but I told him in pieces because I was a coward and tried to convince myself I didn't need to tell him everything. I eventually did tell him everything because the guilt/anxiety was eating me alive, but now my brain is TORTURING me over any little detail about it. I have a bad memory, so I fogot some things. Some were big and felt important to share, but others were inconsequential. Some don't even have anything to do with him or the situation, but I can't function at all until I confess everything. Even something as small as remembering I did a certain thing three times instead of the two I told him makes me think "you're a bad person, you're a liar, you don't deserve happiness because of what you've done." The confessing feels so compulsive, like I can barely stop myself. I don't want to tell him anything else, it's putting such a strain on the relationship, but I can't stop. I've barely been able to eat this past month because the stress is ruining my appetite.
I don't know what to do. I've had horrible luck with therapists (my last one said my mental health is because I'm following the wrong religion) so I've never been in therapy for very long or gotten any help from it. I'm starting with a new on on Thursday, but I don't know how to cope in the meantime. I've looked up some tips and articles but everything says to just let the feeling pass. But even if I deal with it until it passes, it always comes back later, and stronger. I know this is my fault. I feel like I deserve to be tortured, but it's so scary in the moment and I panic. I'm sorry this is so rambling, I just don't know how to make it better.
@cosmia33
hey cosmia,
welcome to 7cups! Your right that we cant offer any help with suspected diagnosis but we are full of support and likeminded folk who can suggest ways of seeking professional help and listen to your struggles.
no-one should tell you your religion is to blame for mental health, that is not a judgement for someone else to make. Im sorry to hear youve been struggling to find support. Perhaps look for local mental health charities whilst you find a professional more suited to your needs. We have oodles of chat rooms where you can talk to other members about shared interests and support. The listeners here cant advise you on how to overcome this as we dont want to mis-understand a situation or suggest something that could ultimately do more harm. But we can be here to listen to you without judgement and help you with how your feeling... it might even help you see yourself from another point of view!
i personally have life experience with anxiety and ocd topics so if youd like someone to talk to, drop me a message sometime
all the best x