I'm sick of hearing about how not being social and having no friends is so bad for your health. A doc on tv today said that not being social is as bad for your health as alcoholism! Well, what about someone like me? I'm OCPD and being around people literally makes me ill. I've tried my own behavioral therapies, pushed myself out into social situations to practice being better at it, yet after 3 years of realizing my ocpd and trying to do the correct things for myself, I still don't feel like having friends and being social is good for me at all.
In full disclosure, I do get lonely and wish that I had the ability to be "normal" in social situations, so I'm not without some anxiety about being a loner. But the anxiety from being social has always been greater than the anxiety from being a loner, until now when I just learned that my health may be affected. I'll add that I'm also obsessive about my health, so this is no small matter for me; in fact, it's the most difficult thing for me yet because I've figured out how to control every other manifested OCPD behavior, and do so every minute I live. I just feel like social situations make me worse, not better.
Hi Rarebird, I know several people with social anxiety; two of my cousins have always had social anxiety. The way that they've worked themselves into social situations is finding what's comfortable for them. They stick to what they can handle and keep it to as less stress as possible for them. One of my cousins would ease into social situations by starting off small with one-on-one scenarios and then slowly but surely easing into meeting a smaller group and then graduated to bigger events. The big events can still be hard for her so she keeps them to a minimum.
Thanks for the encouragement, P.D.L. I do think I’ll eventually crack the code. I just didn’t think until now that it was necessary to. As to be expected for someone with OCPD, I’m very overwhelmed right now at the prospect of having to change yet another aspect of my life. Just when I thought I had it all under control and felt happy and content with myself, I learn that I may be slowly killing myself with my lifestyle of alienation.
I know what you mean. I have similar struggles. I don't have any friends and it is stressful when I want to connect and no one is there. I feel so alone. It is so uncomfortable for me to socialize and to be with others. I have heard that not being social is bad for you years ago but I have not changed much. If any thing I may be more stressed cuz I think Oh,I have to have connections, I am going to die sooner if I don't. Or something like that.
Rarebird, start working towards weight loss slowly but surely, don't put too much pressure on yourself. If you can make small changes each day and implement exercise, then you'll be well on your way. You can do it!
listen to puppy, she has helped and encouraged me so much and helps me celebrate my babysteps. i understand how overwhelming our struggles can be. let's encourage each other!
Huh? Who said anything about weight loss? Maybe you meant to send that message to someone else?
Rarebird, please forgive me, my mind was in a very overwhelmed place that day, as I was under a ton of stress and anxiety from a family emergency. I am so very sorry about that. My mind's back in action and very focused now. I absolutely know that you don't need weight loss. It's all about focusing on getting you to a good comfortable place with your social anxiety. I am here to help you in any way that I can.