OCD: General Discussion Thread

Man, we’re everywhere!! 😘

Huge thanks to everyone else dealing with this disorder, seriously... I had no clue it was this common out there...

I went through a whole phase with lines back in elementary school, man. I used to play basketball and I was obsessed with stepping on the lines as much as possible—luckily there are tons of them right under the hoop 😉 )

Then there was the "wiping" thing, you know? Like, after touching a light switch, I absolutely had to follow up by "wiping" it with my hand. At one point, I was constantly biting my bottom lip. And then the blinking...

Lately, for over a year now, I've been super fixated on—you guessed it—washing my hands. Once I make and eat a sandwich, I'm washing my hands at least three times before I do anything else. After I turn the gas stove on or off? Wash. Open or close a window? Wash. After I RUN MY FINGERS THROUGH MY HAIR? Wash...

Since I play guitar, my hands have to be spotless before I touch it, so there's zero chance I'll pick it up without scrubbing first. Same goes for typing on my computer. Or using remote controls.

Someone mentioned eating chips... look, I love snacking on Lay's—the paprika or jalapeño ones—but after that, my fingers smell like chips even after ten washes. I scrub and scrub and the scent just stays. Same with pancakes. Last time I ate chips, I actually wore a clear plastic glove, like the kind my mom uses because of her metal allergies. And I eat pancakes with a spoon and fork. Chocolate? I only eat it if it's wrapped up in something; I never touch it directly with bare fingers.

Honestly, it feels a bit easier now that I've vented. For real.

I wash my hands way too much, way too much. That bit about sex is interesting... I haven't really dealt with that for maybe three or four years now, but the drive just isn't there. I even have a girlfriend, but we aren't being intimate (not yet). I actually doubt if I'll stop washing my hands so often if I start hooking up regularly. In fact, even after masturbating, there's a series of hand washes coming right after 😁

After I blow my nose, I have to wash my hands. Period. The only things clean enough that I don't feel the need to wash after touching are my computer, the stereo remote, and my guitar. And they're only "clean" because I wash my hands a hundred times before I touch them. It's just a loop...

And I have to read text messages at least twice before I can clear them away.

ZiggyStardust said:😘

Thanks to everyone out there dealing with this disorder

🤣

Hmm... I haven't really kept track of how many people have posted here, but somehow, fate led me straight to this specific forum 🙂
. I can't stop obsessing over things that aren't "perfect." It’s constant—like noticing a tiny gap under the hardwood floors, or if the floorboards aren't perfectly level. My brain just won't let it go. I spend an insane amount of time dusting everything; luckily, I've got a steady hand for cleaning 🙂, thank God! But all these little rituals and repetitive thoughts eat up so much time that I could be using for actually productive stuff. For a while, I tried managing it strictly with medication, but I had to stop because the side effects were, well, guess what? 🙂 Ugh
. That said, I think being part of a community like this is a good way to keep the symptoms somewhat under control. They probably won't disappear entirely, but maybe they'll dial down enough to make life manageable.
Just one quick question for everyone: what kind of medications have you mostly been prescribed?
Andrew Stewart2, look, once you're done dealing with your daughter's little bathroom sprints, she doesn't need to clean up after you... and obviously, it's totally normal to want to take care of yourself 🙂. Everything is going to be fine!
Best to everyone

isein said:ziggy, look, once you're done with that little girl running to the bathroom, she doesn't have to clean up after you... and obviously, it's totally normal to clean yourself up 🙂 everything will be fine!

Hehe, I was just scrolling through the latest posts and had to run to wash my hands one more time (just being safe) before sitting down to type this out 🤣

Honestly, this is starting to crack me up. But hey, it’s not all bad—my hands always smell great and stay super clean.

Wait, what do you mean "when I'm done with the girl"? Done with what? I'm not really following, and honestly, we aren't even talking about a little girl here... though there's definitely a lot to unpack there, but let's not go down that rabbit hole right now...

The sex thing isn't even an issue because she’s absolutely not my type, so I have zero desire to get intimate with her. Honestly, masturbating is waaaaaaay better anyway 🙏

And besides, the idea of seeking treatment hasn't even crossed my mind. I'm good like this. Hand washing isn't really a big enough distraction (yet) for me to feel like I need professional help.

Lucky you, you’ve got it way easier than I do"👍
And when I mentioned girls, I was just using slang... basically referring to women, ladies, or whoever else"😁
Anyway, I just finished washing up and I'm trying to kick back and relax just like you are!

I’d really appreciate some advice from someone dealing with something a bit more frequent and out of the ordinary... strictly based on personal experience...
Cheers to everyone😘

Yeah, I’ve been washing my hands way too much lately—and hitting the wet wipes just as often. Did you guys know that OCD is often rooted in repressed sex or aggressive impulses? It doesn't make sense to me, though—I don't have any issues with aggression 😬—I tend to just let it all out directly...😠 😠
As for sexuality... hm

restlessseal16 said:Did you guys actually know that repressed sex or aggressive urges are basically sitting right at the core of OCD?

Haha, well, if we're going strictly by psychoanalytic theory...☕
I mean, personally, that whole explanation feels a little bit out there to me, but hey, whatever works!

If you ask me, it’s really just about getting to the root of things or being way too hard on yourself.
It sounds like you're feeling insecure, so you start overanalyzing everything... a total lack of self-confidence... like there's this internal voice constantly whispering it in your ear.
The whole thing reminds me of how people turn to prayer when they're trying to plant certain ideas or concepts into their subconscious. It’s actually quite similar to what you see with OCD—there's definitely an element of a split personality at play here. If you don't tackle this head-on, nothing is ever going to change much... (but hey, look at me rambling, haha)
I say all this because I remember being stuck in that exact same headspace, though nowadays I don't spend much time worrying about whether my self-esteem is worth anything at all, lol.
Water under the bridge now.😉

Here’s another person struggling with OCD! I’ve noticed a few others here who also deal with excessive hand washing. For me, this has been going on for a couple of years now; things are slightly better than they used to be, but it’s still a massive struggle.
I think I can pinpoint exactly when my disorder started. By profession, I work as a lab technician, and one day after my shift, I went to change clothes and noticed blood on a container. The issue is that I had been working with blood from an HIV-positive patient that day, so I immediately made the connection—even though, to be honest, I can't even say for sure today if it was actually his blood! That was the turning point. Even before that, I knew I tended to wash my hands more than necessary, but after that incident, it spiraled into a total nightmare. Honestly, I could probably write a novel about my life since that day. Because I had to clean up the mess myself at home, having that contamination enter my space made me feel disgusted by everything in my apartment. I couldn't touch anything without washing my hands immediately afterward, and I eventually started avoiding certain items altogether. For instance, even now, I won't sit on the couch; I always sit in my own chair, which no one else is allowed to touch while I'm around. There have been terrible crises where I wouldn't even get out of bed all day just to avoid touching anything. My hands have turned completely white from all the washing; I used to burn through two or three bars of soap a day! I did reach out to a psychiatrist, but his only solution was medication. I took them for maybe two weeks before giving up because they made me feel terrible, and honestly, the mere fact that I was taking them made me feel like I was truly losing it and belonged in a mental institution. After that, I tried seeing a psychologist. It started off okay, but her lack of professionalism totally soured me—I had a session in a room shared with several strangers who were taking psych tests for their driver's licenses, so I decided I wasn't going to throw my money away on people like that. I also saw a psychotherapist, but that wasn't great either; $150 the sheer cost of a single session was a massive reality check, not to mention her response that "nothing is too expensive when it comes to health." Those are my experiences with the pros. I really hope you guys have had better luck! I've managed to smooth things out a little, but this is just a tiny drop in the bucket of my long battle with OCD. If anyone else is dealing with similar issues, please reach out. Thanks!

Dear friends,

One of the patients who previously posted on this thread has resurfaced after a long absence. Based on their username, it’s pretty obvious their main struggle involves cleaning—specifically, washing their hands.
If you haven't caught up yet, you can find the full breakdown of my issues on the previous pages. Honestly, what else is there to say? The situation hasn't changed.
I saw myself in the remote control, the keyboard, the guitar... Andrew Stewart2—I read your post and I honestly didn't know whether to laugh or cry because it was almost identical to mine, with one exception. I never wash my hands after eating. There isn't some deep reason for it; it just doesn't matter to me, even if certain foods leave a scent behind. In my opinion, you should try to stop that immediately—it would be a solid starting point. Besides, there's really no need to use utensils for food you could easily eat with your hands.
The update is that I finally saw a psychiatrist. I told him about my depression and anxiety, though I didn't bring up this specific compulsion. Fortunately, he prescribed something that targets both anxiety and OCD by affecting the serotonin in the brain. It's Zoloft, 50mg—mermaid mentioned it helped her quite a bit, so I'm hoping for similar results. It takes about seven days to kick in, and I've only just started. As for our lab technician... isn't it a bit excessive to worry about someone sitting in your chair? How are you supposed to sit down at work, on a bus, or in a cafe if you live like that?
Diseases don't actually spread that easily. I have my own fears too, though they're relatively moderate—for instance, I might wear the same pair of pants for a week, even though I change my shirt every single day!
To wrap this up, I truly wish everyone here a reduction in symptoms and relief from this burden. Unfortunately, there are many of us, and this is one of the few ways we can comment on our experiences and try to help one another.
Best regards,

Hey everyone.
I just joined the forum and have been catching up on all your posts. I’m curious about something someone mentioned earlier—that OCD might actually stem from repressed sexual desire. Could whoever wrote that share a bit more detail? Also, I was wondering how many of you living with OCD deal with issues regarding sex or intimacy (things like trouble getting aroused, difficulty reaching orgasm, or feeling overwhelmed by shame and discomfort)? One more thing: I saw a comment from someone who mentioned they were seeing a therapist using Jungian methods; if you don't mind, could you explain what that process is actually like?
Thanks!

Hey everyone!
I'm new here on the forum. Lately, I've been struggling with this one thought that just won't leave me alone. I try to push it away—telling it to "get lost" or "beat it," and honestly, I've even thought some much worse things than I should ever say out loud (I mean, I try to be a decent guy). I figured if I just laid it all out here, maybe it would feel a little lighter. If you guys could just... I don't know, bear with me and offer some support, I'd really appreciate it. So, here's the deal: I work for a major telecom company, specifically dealing with phone exchanges. The other night, I made a mistake at one of our sites that basically cut off an entire area from the rest of the world for the whole night. We figured out what happened the next day, fixed the glitch, and everything went back to normal. But now, I can't stop spiraling. I keep wondering if someone needed emergency services or the police or... I don't even know. At first, I tried to calm myself down by thinking everyone has cell phones now, but then I realized I'm not even sure if that area had good coverage back then. Then I tried telling myself people look out for one another, that they'll help a neighbor in need or drive someone to the hospital if they have to, but then that dark thought hits me too—that sometimes people aren't looking out for each other, or they're actually working against each other. Like, maybe there was a woman facing domestic violence who needed to call 911 and couldn't... because of me... I'm sorry for such a long, rambling post. I usually just stay quiet about stuff, but I felt like I just had to speak up, or well, write it down... Please help if you can. Thanks in advance! Bye!!!

Anthony Sanders53—if Tom had actually pulled that off, he’d be drowning in lawsuits by now, but since he isn't, I say just relax and enjoy the ride!👍

I have certain rituals that I follow religiously. For instance, whenever I take off my shoes, the right one always has to be positioned ahead of the left one. I find myself constantly checking behind doors to ensure no one is there, and I have this habit of counting my steps as I walk—I actually heard that even Tesla used to count his steps. When I leave the house, I perform a precise routine where I go back exactly 65 times to verify that every single appliance in my apartment is switched off. Once I’m in bed, I’ll get up three separate times just to make sure my phone headset is properly docked. Even the volume on the TV follows a pattern: it must always be set to an odd number, unless it hits 13, in which case I have to set it to 12, and so on. Honestly, I don't think four different psychiatrists could make a dent in these habits. In fact, I once visited a specialist who ended up confiding in me instead; she told me quite plainly that I am perfectly normal, and it's everyone else around me who isn't quite right.

Sorry if this gets a bit long-winded. 🙂
Before I stumbled upon this thread, I honestly had no clue what OCD actually meant.

To give you an idea: I’m obsessed with symmetry. Everything—and I mean everything—has to be perfectly balanced.
I wash my hands constantly. Not to an extreme degree, since I wear contacts and need them spotless, but still.
I swap out my kitchen sponge almost every single day, maybe every two days at most. Bacteria is everywhere, and I just can't stand the thought of it.
When I'm walking outside, I find myself staring at the ground because I can't bear the thought of stepping on anything—not a crack in the sidewalk, not even a shadow. It feels normal, though, right? I also end up writing down my entire daily schedule on endless scraps of paper (since I have to clean the house every single day), including exactly when I'm leaving and every little thing I need to pick up at Target.
Everything has its specific, designated spot.
On the flip side, I have this weird thing about piles. I absolutely love piles. Just piles of anything. I once bought a pack of 48 erasers just because they were sold in a bulk set. Looking back, I realize that isn't exactly standard behavior.
Numbers have to be round or even. For example, why would I ever carry three pens? It’s either five or ten, no in-between.
I have this habit of collecting things and then throwing them away in a certain way; if I’m tossing a book, I won’t just throw it in whole—I’ll tear it up page by page because a pile looks better that way. I also have a massive stash of useless junk that I keep thinking, "Well, I might need this later."
Lately, sleep has been a struggle. Every few seconds, I feel the need to snap my eyes open just to make sure no one is watching me. I won't go anywhere in the dark. I’m constantly turning over in bed to check that there isn't someone standing behind me.
And I always feel like people are whispering about me or talking behind my back.
Before I head out the door, I calculate exactly how long the drive will take so I can leave at the precise minute. Then, I’ll double or triple-check that the house is locked, and I can't stop thinking about it until I'm gone.
When I travel, packing takes me about five or six hours, and I write a complete inventory of everything in my suitcase.
Honestly, I can't remember the last time I did something spontaneous.
I'm terrified of getting sick; I feel like I have every illness under the sun. I'm scared of cutting myself, scared of my own blood, and terrified of surgery.
And lately, I've become pretty hooked on being online and scrolling through forums. 🙂

I would never have admitted to myself that any of this was excessive or that something was wrong with me. To me, everything I do makes perfect sense; there's a logic to it all. But now, I'm starting to wonder if I might actually have a disorder, seeing as most people don't live their lives this way.
I already know I'm a high-strung person. Everything bugs me, and I deal with a ton of stress, but I always just assumed it was because I'm a complainer and that's just my personality. Plus, I have these quirks, like loving to collect things and obsessively tidying up. I've always known I'm a bit of a control freak. It all seemed totally normal to me.
What do you guys think?

I take a little bit from everyone here, plus a whole lot more than any of you combined. If I actually sat down to write out everything I deal with, I’d never stop, but I’ve managed to adapt quite well—even if having to interact with people is a struggle sometimes. I agree with what Anthony Sanders53 said about how unrealistic it is to expect me to find a man (or a woman, for that matter) who could actually put up with all of this; so, it really comes down to a choice between living my life as it is or facing total isolation.
If I were to publish my personal rules for living, I think most of you would feel a sense of relief. My psyche has sort of "helped" me out in that regard, ha, so I function perfectly fine in the outside world, but I have zero tolerance for anything less than perfection once I'm inside my own home. I'm talking about hygiene. We live in a world where people are perfectly comfortable touching the sole of a shoe with their bare hands and then not washing them afterward, which is just bizarre, so it makes being social and inviting people over incredibly difficult when my standards are so strict.
Thanks to anyone who took the time to read this.

Have you ever actually tried opening up to someone about having OCD? I tried doing that with a close friend recently.
They just brushed me off, telling me it’s totally normal and that I’m just being a hypochondriac.
Hmm.

😍Yeah, I told the guy! Only this time he actually took me seriously and is genuinely trying to help me out. It’s not like it was always like this, though!!!

Hey...
I honestly thought I was losing my mind, but after reading through these posts, I realize there are plenty of people just like me.. 😁

It started small—skipping over shadows or cracks in the sidewalk—and then it just spiraled out of control..

Now, I can't even sleep unless everything in my room is perfectly aligned. Every single shoe in the house has to be lined up, the remote has to be flush with the TV, and I have to make sure the TV is on channel 3 before I turn it off. Then there’s the light switches: I’ll flip them on and off eight times. Before shutting down my PC, I have to open and close the disc drives three times just to be certain nothing is left inside. Once the computer is off, I’ll plug and unplug it three times to verify it's actually dead. It's the same deal with the stove and the doors... I’ll stand at the front door constantly turning the key, trying to convince myself it's locked. Lately, the handwashing has gotten out of hand too. I’m washing my hands twenty times a day. By the time I finally hit the sack, I’ll flick the night lamp four times, checking if the windows are shut, if the computer is off, and if my clothes are folded perfectly... It’s exhausting. It takes me 20 minutes just to go through the motions, and if I don't, I get this gut feeling that something terrible is going to happen..
And for some reason, the numbers 3, 4, and 8 are all I think about...

I know, I know... I'm a textbook OCD case.. 😁 🙄