Relationship OCD: Unveiling the Deception

Some problems are more felt than seen. Few expect these and even fewer are able to defend against them. When it comes to relationships, it’s always what people fail to recognize in time that rocks them the most.

Having said that, it’s fair to say that relationship OCD is among the least anticipated problems, but is among those that deal the heftiest blows.

Misrepresented and Misunderstood

The reason why so few come prepared to deal with relationship OCD (often abbreviated to ROCD) is because many misunderstand what obsessive compulsive disorder is really all about.

The expectation often lies in the external part of the disorder: the handwashing, the rigid arranging of items, and the unusual rituals that seemingly outs its doers as weirdos. The truth behind these common exhibitions is much more nuanced.

Few comprehend—let alone picture—the many mental compulsions or rituals that just as many OCD sufferers do. Unless they suffer from it themselves, few can relate to the level of doubting or the near-neverending need for assurance.

For those afflicted with the OCD subtype centering on relationships, that last one can be particularly devastating.

The Devil in the Details of ROCD

If we were to describe obsessive compulsive disorder plainly, we’d say it was a disorder that makes its sufferers have unwanted, recurring thoughts (obsessions), followed by the obsessive rituals and routines that are supposed to give them relief (compulsions).

When you have ROCD, the obsessions center around your partner or your relationship. A sudden thought could grip you at any time of the day: what if you’re not as attracted to the person you’re dating as you thought? Then, you may spend hours, days, or even weeks scrutinizing the attractiveness of your partner.

Should your partner annoy you for a single, brief moment, that could turn into an intense obsession where you start believing that it means you aren’t right for each other. In turn, you spend even more time reviewing and reassuring yourself that it isn’t the case. For some, they may even turn to their partner for the reassurance they want.

With those two hypothetical scenarios alone, anyone can see just how debilitating ROCD can be, and how it can potentially affect a relationship.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Although almost everything about ROCD described so far may sound like bad news, there is good news in the form of its treatment methods. Individuals (or couples) need not suffer too long, provided there exists the will to undergo therapy or take medication.

The therapy in question is exposure and response prevention therapy, also commonly abbreviated to ERP therapy. This is a highly effective treatment of OCD in general, so it should work wonders for its ROCD subtype.

Regarding the medication, prescription drug types like Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs, are commonly used for ROCD. Though these do not address the source of the disorder, they are effective at easing the symptoms and the distress caused by them.

Lastly, OCD often shifts over time, to fit into the mold of its sufferer’s greatest fear at any given time. That means those suffering from relationship OCD don’t have to worry about it being permanent, even without the aforementioned treatments.

With so many problems that could plague one’s relationship, it’s best to come prepared for even the most unusual ones. Being educated on disorders like OCD, as unconventional as it sounds, is often worth the trouble of its tempestuous journey.