Do people with OCD generally feel loneliness?

I get very lonely sometimes because of the thoughts I have. I feel like I am alone in this battle.

well, you arent alone here =)

After all your post isnt alone in the OCD section

But maybe irl you feel alone? Have you ever tried to find a support group?

I think many persons with OCD feel very lonely.

I guess it depends on the degree of discomfort the OCD is causing and the different types of compulsions and obsessions.

If you for example:

1. are dealing with fear of germs... it can be really hard to lead a social life. The deep anxiety of bacteria with the obsessive thoughts and compulsions causes a lot of distress.

2. If you're having a really hard time leaving your home when going out... it might make you stay at home rather than facing your "monsters". To walk around checking everything in your home over and over again is oh so draining.

3. If you feel the need of a certain symmetri and order in your home - you might not want others to come into your home and "mess with" your structure.

... and so on...

Having OCD is something you almost always do everything you possibly can to hide from others, which also can make it hard to be around others.

OCD is something I believe you can't really understand unless you have it yourself. That can also discourage one from socializing.

But keep writing out here and you'll find: information, support and compassion from others sitting in the same boat.

One day at a time... Remember - you're not your disorder... you're a unique person... valuable!



/daynnight

I think it is very common to feel lonely with OCD. I struggle with feeling lonely because it feels like no one understands. Most people don't understand what it's like living in almost constant fear. So much of me wishes that they did understand, but then I realize I would never wish this pain on anyone.

Thanks for all of your help.

I agree -- I often feel lonely, too. My biggest issues are hoarding (food, clothes, old mail, old AOL installation CDs, etc.) I am also too paranoid to throw away mail because I fear someone will find out something personal about me that I don't want to share. I also have ADHD, which means I also can't stay focused long enough to do anything about anything!

My house is a mess, so there are few people I'll allow into to come in. I call it absolute chaos, which I read somewhere on the internet this week stands for:

Can't
Have
Anyone
Over
Syndrome

I really like that one. It is so me.

Anyway, I feel your pain... this can be a tough thing to deal with!

Take care,

MHH

I agree with all these posts, and daynnight really made a great list of why OCD can limit your life. I am so severe right now, I feel like my whole life is passing me by, and I won't reach my goals in life. I'm 41 now, and I'm sick of people who say, "Girl, you're still young! You can have it all!" because I can't! For one thing, I want to be an actress, and while I don't have to become superfamous, I would like to be known, and the younger you are, the more parts you're eligible for, especially leads. This is especially true for a woman.

It can take years to learn to live with OCD, and you always have to be vigilant. That's more life passing me by. I don't want to just be "functional," which is all pdocs and those in the mental health industry care about, and I don't want to be a candy striper (as one nurse who wrote prescriptions for me at a mental health clinic I used to go to wanted me to do, even though I could never handle it, being a handwasher and unable to touch used things and sick people and other stuff), or otherwise not work in something that doesn't lead to my main goal. (Yes, people sometimes work in unrelated jobs until they can get to be what they want to be, but at my age, I'd at least like to work in "the field," you know? Feel like I'm going in the right direction.)

I want a social life. I want to date. I want my own home. I want a car. Dogs. Friends. Money. FREEDOM.

Hey guys, i agree with ALL the post's

I am a very lonely person. I didn't really notice it until a couple of months a go. I talk to myself a lot. I talk out loud. I do this when people are NOT around. However i was on Night Shift with my Best Mate and i didn't see her standing at the window. I was talking to myself. So i made some excuse up that in order for me to rememeber everything i have to do i have to say it out loud.

Anyways a couple of days later we were talking and she asked if i got lonely and i said i did and she said talking to yourself is a sign of lonliness. I was like "oh sorry" (btw i apologise a lot even when i have done nothing wrong) She said don't apologise. Your obviously feeling lonely, i am hear to listen if you want. Which i thought was dead nice of her.

Sometimes i feel like there is no-one in the world and other times i feel i have it all. I think it depends on how i am feeling.

Definatley agree with ALL the post's though

My OCD comes out more so when i am stressed about being around people.

I lovemy own company but its at times my worst enemy

I totally agree about feeling the loneliness with OCD. Even with my family and friends supporting me as I struggle, I feel alone. Like they don't really understand this constant fear. I just want to feel normal without the constant worrying.

I talk to myself too. I didn't know it was such a problem till people at college noticed. I would tell them I was studying. Apparently I do it all the time. When I was home I couldn't believe my dad told me, "You should walk around with a cell phone to your ear. That way it will look like you're talking to someone...else, and arn't just some crazy person."

I never knew other people did this. Do the rest of you? Sorry to sort of thread jack, but I figure since we all are talking about being lonely...

I talk to myself going down the road to ward off the feeling. I have house dogs that stay by my side at home. It helps some.