Sandra and Jesús arrive at their first couples therapy session very worried. They have been together for five years and, until recently, everything seemed to be going well. However, a few months ago Sandra confessed to Jesús that she had obsessive thoughts about whether their relationship would work out. The psychologist who treats them suspects that it is a relational OCD. And, as the sessions go by, she discovers that she was right.
What are obsessive-compulsive disorders?
When we talk about Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD) we are referring to a problem that is characterized by a succession of obsessive thoughts, or obsessions, that lead those who suffer from them to perform a certain act compulsively.
An example of this is what happens to Sandra. No matter how hard she tries, every time she separates from her partner, obsessive thoughts come to mind. She thinks that he will not return home and this thought obsesses her to the point that she has to call Jesús several times during the afternoon to ask him when he will return.
OCD sufferers often experience anxiety when obsessive thoughts appear. The weight of this problem can significantly hinder the lives of those who suffer from it.
What about relational OCD?
Relational OCD is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder in which the object of the obsession is a partner or relationship.
Those who experience it constantly battle with intrusive thoughts, which lead them to develop catastrophic ideas about your relationship.
When relational OCD focuses on the other person in the relationship, thoughts such as “Does he love me?”, “Is he going to leave me?”, “Is he cheating on me?” often occur. This behavior cannot simply be attributed to jealousy. It is a more serious problem because the person cannot control it on their own.
In addition, sometimes the obsessions of relational OCD focus on the person who suffers from it. Thus, they may continually question whether they love their partner, whether they have a future together or whether the relationship was what they had expected.
Again, you must remember that the most important thing is that the person suffering from this type of problem is unable to ignore or manage these intrusive thoughts, which appear for no apparent reason.
OCD or insecurity?
Perhaps if you have low self-esteem, or a poor self-concept, you have identified with some of the above descriptions.
To try to differentiate OCD from insecurity, you should know that the fact of Having intrusive thoughts does not indicate the existence of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
In the case of OCD, thoughts can appear at any time and for no reason.
Besides, Such thoughts are highly limiting.. That is, they often generate such levels of anxiety that the sufferer is unable to act until he or she manages to relieve his or her obsession. This relief is usually achieved through compulsions.
This problem can prevent them from developing healthy relationships, because they may end up analyzing every last detail of their relationship and distrusting their partner without any reason.
If you are obsessed with your relationship, do not hesitate to put yourself in the hands of an online psychologist.
Try a free session
Learn to manage intrusive thoughts and take care of your mental health with the professional help of an online psychologist.
Make an appointment
Symptoms of relational OCD
- Your relationship with your partner produces a feeling offeeling of constant anguish.
- You tend to compare your attitude or that of your partner with that of other couples.
- You find it hard to think about anything else that is not your relationship.
- You are very demanding and nothing you do seems enough to you.
- You want to be the perfect couple.
- Even the smallest disagreement makes you think that you are not right for each other.
- You find it difficult to accept that not all moments in a relationship are equally intense. You want the other person to give you 100% constantly.
- Have problems accepting and forgiving your own mistakes or those of your partner.
- If there is a problem you can't help but feel guilty.
You should know that relational OCD is a chronic problem that can be controlled, but not eradicated. Therefore, if you think you may suffer from this disorder, the best thing you can do is seek professional help.
Remember that it is not your fault that you have obsessive thoughts. Science has proven that The brain composition of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder is different than that of other people. In addition, genetics and hormonal changes can often precipitate the appearance of this disorder.
At we have been helping patients from all over the world find their well-being since 2012. We can help you too. We were pioneers in offering online therapy and that is why we know that it is an economical, but equally effective, alternative to traditional therapies.
To date, more than 1,600 people have turned to us to find an online psychologist. If you also want to try our services, you can request a consultation First session free by clicking the button below.