Guilt pervades the responsibility form of OCD.
Responsibility OCD involves a magnified sense of what you are responsible for, can prevent, or should prevent.
When I was in graduate school, there was an article in the paper about a guy riding his bike around town and harassing women. I was flooded with panic that it was my responsibility to alert every woman I knew. I spent hours analyzing what I should do.
Part of me knew that this was an impossible task, to warn every woman of every danger, and I felt like I was ridiculous for having this urge. Yet, the feared consequences were so scary in my mind, that I would be held responsible if any woman I knew was harassed, stalked or attacked by this man.
This guilt has a gnawing quality, an insistent agitation of the mind. I believed I was a bad person. I bargained with myself about how much action I would take, in order to relieve my anxiety and protect my friends and yet not seem crazy. OCD thinking can be incredibly inflexible and single-minded.
Finally, I made copies of the article from the paper and put it in the mailboxes of several women I knew at the University. I felt a moment of relief, followed by more guilt that I couldn't know for sure they would read the article, or take it seriously and be cautious. Intense anxiety that I was ridiculous, and also inadequate at the same time--ridiculous for wanting to warn everyone, and inadequate for NOT warning everyone.
Somehow I worked the article into a conversation with one of my friends I'd given it to. She said that she's seen the same article already. I felt deflated and relieved all at the same time. It hadn't occurred to me that others would read the paper. There is a grain of truth in the feared consequences--someone might not read the paper and be hurt--and yet no one person can save everyone from every danger, as much as OCD might insist you can.
It sucks that we can't keep the ones we love safe under every single circumstance. Yes, we may feel guilt, but that doesn't mean it is in our power to prevent every eventuality. Ironically, the people I've met in my OCD support group and readers of this blog are some of the most conscientious, kind, responsible people I've known, but OCD makes them feel they are deadly.
[Revisiting OCD A-Z from 2011]
Posts
It seems, in my opinion, when I think of my thoughts and how I feel when they are playing over and over, they always seem rooted in some type of fear regardless of rationality.
ReplyDeleteAnother OCD sufferer--Yes, fear is the thread that ties together many OCD fears! And the rationality never seems to be relevant.
ReplyDeleteI just re-read this because my OCD has ramped up like crazy and the GUILT (for various things) is almost unbearable! I'm working on starting the Canadian OCD group with some other people and I am racked with anxiety and guilt about whether I'm working hard enough, doing enough etc etc and if I don't work harder or do more the whole thing is going to fall flat on it's face and it's ALL MY FAULT.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you reread this, because you are one of those kind conscientious people with OCD, and of course OCD is going to attack what is important to you--compassion for others who have OCD, and a desire to give back through a Canadian OCD group. Maybe it won't work--but you are choosing what you value, and that is important.
ReplyDeleteHi nice blog you got there. However my anxiety is so ramped up these days that all my eyes were looking for is a post with best treatment solution. Have you got it under control now ? If yes then how ?
ReplyDeleteI was searching online on the efficacy of acupuncture against ocd and that lead me to the post "Bad strategy #2" from 2010. Since two years I m trying to make homeopathy work but honestly nothing seems to get me what I want.
Hi Ashan,
DeleteI am sorry to hear about your anxiety. Yes, my OCD is much better, which I attribute primarily Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy and helped by anti-depressant medication. I recommend visiting the International OCD Foundation site as a place to start.
I just wanted to thank you for this blog. I don't have OCD, never got diagnosed, my symptoms aren't severe enough to warrant a review of the DSM-5. I actually work in the healthcare field and feel a lot of guilt for being so weak. While I don't have a diagnosis, I still find myself exhibiting mild symptoms of OCD (really, we are all situated along a spectrum).
ReplyDeleteI love your A TO Z approach.
Thank you Moochi! I am glad you are finding the A to Z helpful. I had a lot of angst about not being "severe enough" to warrant compassion or treatment. I think it's part of how OCD perpetuates itself.
ReplyDelete