Re: OCD - this is embarrassing, but about cosmetics....

I am SO embarrassed to post this, but I figured if anyone would understand this sort of obsession, it would be you guys. I have OCD that started in the first grade. I'm a 43 year old woman and also have schizoaffective disorder and seriously battle misophonia. So I've always loved cosmetics since I was a child. It was sort of a weird hobby and was kind of an artistic expression for me (I'm also a musician) and has nothing do to with vanity (I think). Things have been very hard the last couple years due to life stressors and physical ailments and that always exacerbates my OCD. Someone once thought it was ridiculous how long it took me to get ready in the morning and now I'm freaked out about it. Instead of putting on makeup as something fun, my perfectionism turns it into a nightmare. The biggest issue is eyeliner for some reason. I'm middle aged and of course our bodies change when that happens and now the way makeup I always applied makeup is needing an adjustment. I don't know why, but this eyeliner issue has become HUGE. I wake up stressing about it and I can't get it out of my head. I notice how other friends of mine don't wear makeup at all and I still love them (why wouldn't I?!) I just don't know what this is all about and sometimes it's all so upsetting I will decide to just stay home rather than go through it. It's ridiculous. Does anyone have suggestions? Thx so much!

an easy solution would be to get tatoo'd eyeliner put on. it is relatively inexpensive and you wouldn't have to worry about putting on eye liner every day. it would already be done. it would take a lot of your stress away. take care.

I actually looked into that and my hair stylists sister actually does it. My fear is that I've had a LOT of MRSA infections including a bad one in my nose that put me in the hospital in Jan. Since I've been warned to be hypervigilant about any skin abrasians, I'm afraid of poking more holes in my face. I had an ear piercing that ended up as MRSA too. (I got it working in a hospital - this isn't that unusual).

My other fear is that I've had several whiplash injuries to my neck, among other things, and will most likely need MRI's in the future. I've heard that MRI's can actually cause the metal in the tattoo ink to be drawn towards the magnetic pulse. It can cause serious burns, etc, but I don't know if eyeliner would be a risk for that. Something to talk to my doc about.....thx!

I think the problem has more to do with my tendency to obsess about stuff and trying to manage it. I've always struggled with obsessiveness and not often compulsions. I was told I had obsessive thought disorder. I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with the actual eyeliner situation. I wish I could just take out my brain and put it in the closet and let it freak out there and leave me alone for a couple days! ��

I had to change from liquid to a pencil. Part of that is tremors from meds but of course the skin on my eyelids has changed as well. Pencil is much more forgiving.

Oh yeah, the tremors are a big issue. Painting my nails is difficult. I have tardive dyskenesia which can add to that as well. Thx for the info! Once that liquid liner dries, it's almost impossible to remove!