Relationship OCD
I’ve been with my SO for 7 months and I love so many things about him. We’re long distance (have been for 4 months and it is going really well) and we met while I was abroad. We’re getting pretty serious, but I wanted to see if anyone else can relate with me regarding my mental state when I’m around him.
Sometimes, nothing happens. These are “good days.” Often, however, I have tons of doubts in my mind about:
• if I really love him
• if I find him attractive (especially in some areas - for instance - his hair or his jawline)
• if I think we’ll last
• if he’s moral enough, especially since he’s really funny and some of his humor revolves around sexual things which make me doubt his maturity (note: he is moral and mature or else I wouldn’t be with him. However, this doubt will still creep in)
• if my family likes him enough (note 2: they generally love him)
• if sometimes not having overwhelmingly passionate feelings means I don’t love him
• how I’d feel if he proposed
• if I should pursue this other guy I used to like, even though I like my current bf more
• if, when we kiss or make out (I’m 21 and he’s 18 but we’re not sexually active for religious reasons), I’m actually enjoying it or just hoping I’m enjoying it
When I was in high school, I thought these doubts meant I didn’t like my boyfriends and I should break up with them. It gave me a lot of guilt. With G, however, I really fought the feelings when they started about 2 months in. I didn’t want to break up because I thought I wanted to be with him forever (I even told my mom the day we started dating that I thought he might be the one I married). I looked up my symptoms, especially related to feeling worn out and emotionless, I discovered the term “Relationship OCD” (ROCD). This seems very likely to be what is happening to me.
It was relieving to know that it wasn’t just that I wanted to leave him, but it was still overwhelming to realize my brain isn’t programmed for a “normal” love experience. It’s gotten better, but still interferes with our relationship sometimes. Does anyone else have experience with this and can give some advice?
Achieve your health goals from period to parenting.