OCD Support Thread

Post Reply New Topic

No problem ! I enjoy creating mg own threads as well. It makes me feel more "in charge" of people's questions, so I can help them better. I find it extremely difficult to ask for help/something in person as well. This forum is almost like an escape, since in person I can't really do anything social very well. I have enjoyed this conversation as well! I hope you can find support/fun here whenever you want it or need it! It's okay to be mushy here . I definitely consider you one of my best friends, and I love that cherry smiling emoticon! What is the thing next to it, if you don't mind me asking?

Hi Ferris, You may have already spoken about this, but, I am wondering if you struggle with anxiety, while socializing here, in the same way, or, to the same degree that you do in real life. And, if not, why do you think that is? Or, perhaps it is obvious. I may be the only person on this forum who has far more difficulty with anxiety/socializing here, than in real life, although, I don't have to socialize on a regular basis, or very often, in real life.

Oh, that is interesting to know. I do feel extremely comfortable in your presence, here/on the forum, so, perhaps that is why. Indeed, I don't have a self-loathing quality to me (at least, not that I am aware of). I hadn't noticed that you do. Although, we have only just recently become familiar with one another. Which, I am quite happy about, if you don't mind me saying. : )

Thank you, Stampy. It's good to know that it is acceptable to express my emotions, here. I value other's needs, and I am aware that it is common for most (not all) Aspies to feel a level of discomfort when presented with other's emotional expression, so, I try to keep mine to a minimum, when/if I know it could make the difference between a pleasant, or unpleasant interaction for the other person. Not to get too heavily into that.

It's good to know that you, too, have some difficulty with asking for things. Not that you should, of course. I wonder why I have more difficulty, here/on the forum, than I do in real life. This is something I would like to peruse/find out. Thank you, I have always found this thread to be of support, and quite enjoyable. Since you have mentioned fun/enjoyment, I do wonder why I am so much more serious than you and Ferris. I don't mean that you and Ferris take things less seriously, but, rather, you are more relaxed and able to joke with each other. I wish I were the same way. I feel it inside myself while reading, however, I don't have the ability to converse in such a way. I would love to possess the ability to offer that as a part of me, here. Or, anywhere, for that matter. The interesting thing is, I am a very flexible, open minded, mellow person, in general. Or, at least, that is what I have been told, throughout my life. Strangely, I don't have the joking around trait. But, I do find it appealing in others, and I do wish to have that trait. I am rambling.

I consider you, one of my best friends, as well, Stampy. Not just here, on the forum, but, generally speaking, of all the people I have ever come to know, you are one of the best and nicest friends I have ever had. Than you so much. This is the first time I have utilized the emoticon, next to the cherry. I simply liked the look on his face, and his hat. I hadn't realized that his tongue was sticking out, prior to posting, but, it's sort of cute, anyway. I just hovered over him, and it appears that he is labeled 'geek', which, in my eyes, makes him even more special. : )

Last edited by Britte on 27 Aug 2017, 6:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

It's funny you mention that because I was just about to mention to my GF that I wished I could socialize as well as I think I can here. It's an interesting question?

I have anxiety online & IRL but I can control my social anxiety? better here as I have time to digest what is said , analyse it , type a reply , analyse it , delete it , then type a reply that reflects my actual feelings rather than an 'on the spot answer' IRL which is not necessarily true and occasionally what you think the other person wants to hear.
But I get more anxiety here about putting my foot in my mouth or even both feet because I know how easily the written word can be misinterpreted , sometimes I can be tactless and have a very dry sense of humour which doesn't transpose well in written form.

The lack of eye contact is a huge bonus I also feel at 'home' looking at my monitor , if I have special interests it always revolves around a PC in some way

I don't mind in the slightest, rather quite the opposite, I enjoy that you welcome me and that you are happy to have me. I typically share my inner feelings in private settings with those I trust to confide in though I have been more open on this website than I have been in my past. I try to keep the self loathing for myself because I don't deserve attention even though I want attention and feel guilty for those feelings. It does surface from time to time.

(Since I hadn't quoted, my post is out of sequence, and may not make sense. It is in response to Ferris' reply to my inquiry. Sorry about that)

Thank you for explaining that! : ) I can relate to what you experience, to a large extent. In terms of eye contact, I have found, on occasion, a person whom I can look straight in the eye, without feeling at all, uncomfortable, or my eyes shifting, or twitching, or any of the other things that generally occur with me, when making eye contact. In recent months, I have become aware that this has occurred with people who eventually show a higher degree of empathy, than the average person.

Last edited by Britte on 27 Aug 2017, 7:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Your posts make sense to me. It may just be that they look disorganized to your brain as a result of the OCD.

Thank you. Yeah, OCD can make it feel like I can't write at all and everything I post is unreadable. Same thing with hallucinations. Since I am scared of hallucinating, I can convince myself I am when I am actually not .

You would be surprised if you met me in person . I have trouble with expressing my emotions and "empathy" for others, but this forum is the only real place where I have been able to do that. I like being able to share how I feel and what I think. I'm hoping you can find a way too!

It's interesting how we are like opposites when it comes to asking for things. I have immense difficulty in real life, but not here on this forum as much. I would like to find out why we are both like that too! I'm still trying to learn more about myself. You're like me in person here on this forum. I get accused of being too serious a lot! It's okay to ramble .

I do as well. You are a great person and a helpful support and distraction for my worries, and I really appreciate you posting here! I really like that emoticon !

I'm glad to know, blackicmenace. Indeed, I am the same, in terms of confiding about my private matters, life, etcetera, in a private setting, although, we differ, in terms of sharing our feelings, as I don't tend to hold back expressing my 'inner feelings' in public. I do it to a fault, and it is something I have had to become conscious of, and respectively, keep to a minimum in certain environments or situations. Although, I can lose myself in my emotions to the point where I lose consciousness of keeping them to a minimum.

Ah, I see what you mean by 'self-loathing'. It is an action, not necessarily an emotion or mindset. I didn't understand that. So, by expressing your difficulties/difficult moments, you are being self-loathing, yes? I don't see it as that. But, perhaps, that is exactly what I would feel I am doing, if I were to express that I have had a hard day. I had something bad or difficult happen today, or I feel sad, angry, blue, or otherwise. I often wish I could ask for support, but, since I have met Ferris and Stampy, particularly, Ferris, I have received bee told I have friends, here and I will never be alone. That is what has happened, here. However, I hadn't had to express what was plaguing me. I simply expressed that I had been nervous and anxiety. Thank you for the food for thought. You should never have to feel guilty for wanting attention. Particularly, not when/if you are in need. I wish for you to know, that if you were ever to come to me, or perhaps, others in this thread, you could ask for support/attention/empathy. You would be welcome to express your feelings. Tell us if you are hurting, or anything at all. Please know that. You are such a good person. You are most deserving of love, kindness and support.

This is my issue, actually. Mine stems from the combination of particular OCD symptoms and anxiety/social anxiety.

We both have the same difficulty ^^^^^^^^^

Mine stems from a fear of schizophrenia.

I can't really explain my eye contact problem , it's definitely feels like an anxiety issue although I only really feel comfortable with my GF as I know the amount of eye contact or lack of it isn't an issue ( a big issue ).

Whenever a thread of quotes becomes, rather long, I worry it could be annoying if I don't delete, at least a portion of the quotes, but, now, I am wondering, if I will manage to do it, correctly, so, I am including the entire thread of quotes (as opposed to not quoting, at all, because, I just did that while reply to Ferris, and then, blackicmenace posted after me, so it likely won't make sense. blablabla : ))

Anyway, thank you for sharing that we have the opposite, occur. I like how, even though we are the opposite in this sense, we are the same in this way. Heehee. It's a nice way to perceive our differences.

I am so glad that I have contributed to the distraction aspect of your thread! Yes, that is what happens to me. I am told I am too serious. But, often, when I am told that, I don't feel that way about myself. I simply don't possess joking mannerisms, or lighthearted comebacks, or what have you. I am missing that chip. I do appreciate it in others, however, as long as I get the gist of what is being communicated. Good to know it is ok to ramble, here.

Oh, nice! Another difficulty we share!

Not necessarily, the Schizophrenia fear, however. I notice you seem less fearful of the topic and have been using the word, recently. I will assume, then, that it is ok for me to do so, but, if not, I hope you will feel free to let me know if i should refrain. I may have made mention of the following, in the past, but, in case, not - there is a TED talk video I have viewed, of a lovely woman with schizophrenia, and her talk, put aspects of it, that I was not aware of, into perspective for me. It also eliminated my misconceptions, and some fear I had, for those with schizophrenia. If you'd like, I could go find it and post it, here for you to view. Let me know your thoughts.

Ah, and now that I have return from what turned out to be a much shorter break them expected, I should reactivate my signature/warning of posts, possibly self-destructing, as I had an urge to delete, a couple of posts, back.