⏰ Please don't hug me

Plus relationship OCD and anxiety poops.

View this email in your browser MONDAY WARMUP 💪 Try this: Find one quick way to be more true to yourself today. Maybe it's picking up a breakfast sandwich just because you really want one or leaving a text on read when you just don't have the energy right now. If you dare, go big and tell someone what you actually think instead of holding back. Think on this: When was the last time something unexpected happened? How did you handle it and what would you do differently now? Remember this: You aren't for everyone. And that's a beautiful thing. Read this: 5 Things Not to Say to Someone With Anxiety WHY ARE WE LIKE THIS? 🙃 Panicked at the thought of making small talk Laughing through the pain of generational trauma Avoiding a hug at all costs  Stuck on the toilet thanks to anxiety Declining every invite but still needing to be invited Were you forwarded this email? Click here to subscribe for free. LET'S TALK NUMBERS If the last few weeks of news have you wanting to move to the woods to disconnect forever, we get it. A recent survey found that 70% of adults are anxious about current events—especially the economy, the 2024 U.S. election, and gun violence. These times might be very unprecedented and highly polarized, but, uh…at least we have that in common? Sigh. ASK THE EXPERT 📞 What exactly is relationship OCD—and do I have it? You may have heard about relationship OCD (ROCD for short) while scrolling through TikTok or from your friend who saw it there and texted, "I think I have this thing—HELP." And while we've all probably obsessed over a relationship (or situationship) at some point, this is…not that.  For starters, someone with relationship OCD would need to actually have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). And their symptoms (also known as obsessions and compulsions) center around relationship-based issues, like whether your partner is The One or if they're cheating, for example. This isn't the same as having some relationship anxiety or doubts or even (gasp!) not finding your partner attractive 24/7, notes psychologist and couples therapist Erika Bach, PsyD. Having relationship OCD means that these obsessive thoughts are persistent and make you feel like you need to take action somehow to feel better. Unfortunately, when you do, that relief doesn't last long.  Here, we talked to OCD experts about what relationship OCD is, how it's diagnosed, and how to deal. What is relationship OCD? In case you need a refresher, OCD is a mental health condition where you experience persistent and intrusive thoughts, images, or urges (aka obsessions) that can make you super anxious or distressed, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR). To ease anxiety or attempt to ensure those thoughts don't come true, people with OCD feel compelled to repeatedly check something, wash their hands, seek reassurance, or engage in other ritualistic actions. These are called compulsions, and they don't always make a lot of logical sense, per the DSM-5-TR.  Relationship OCD refers to those cases where someone's obsessions and compulsions are focused on their past, future, or current relationships (usually romantic ones). While relationship OCD isn't specifically called out in the DSM-5-TR, it's very real and very common, notes psychologist Sam Greenblatt, PsyD. That's because OCD likes to settle onto things that are important to us, he says, so it's not a surprise why relationships might be an easy target.  Some of the most common things people with relationship OCD obsess over are doubts or negative thoughts about a partner or potential partner (Are they caring enough? Do they love me?), themselves (Am I good enough? Did I accidentally cheat?), or their relationship as a whole (Is this kind of partnership right for me?), says Dr. Bach.  Keep reading to learn how to figure out if you have relationship OCD. READ MORE ON THAT NOTE Here's What OCD Actually Is (and Isn't) Can We Talk About Intrusive Thoughts? READ MORE READ MORE Here's What OCD Actually Is (and Isn't) READ MORE Can We Talk About Intrusive Thoughts? READ MORE 🎧 What we're listening to: Nothing ahead but the open road. NEED HELP NOW? These resources can help. SAMHSA National Helpline Suicide Prevention Lifeline The Trevor Project Trans Lifeline Advertise With Us PR Inquiries Want to unsubscribe? Click here to take a break.   Copyright © 2022 Wondermind. All rights reserved.   228 Park Avenue South, Suite 26327, New York, NY 10003   All products featured on Wondermind are independently selected by our editors. 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