u/InevitableMud8737

Since I've been aware of Michel Houellebecq's Submission - which I started recently - I've wanted to read the works of J.K. Huysmans, which are referenced heavily in Submission.

Those of you who have read some of Huysman's works, please weigh in. Did you enjoy them? What should I know going in that would help me enjoy them more?

Any thoughts you have on Huysmans works will be welcomed, as long as they do not contain significant plot spoilers.

Thanks!

Folks,

Over the past few years, I've been dealing with a case of POCD. Like many of you with whatever themes you've had, I've ruminated endlessly over my past and present looking for "evidence" or lack thereof.

While I obviously can't arrive at a definitive conclusion about "who I am" via this analysis, one thing I have concluded - and have been told by my talk therapist (yes, ik I need to see an OCD therapist) - is that my not ever having been in a relationship as an almost 30 year old heterosexual male is probably making this significantly worse. This is not for a lack of interest or opportunities. I've had crushes on age-appropriate girls and women since I was a boy and have had a serious desire for a relationship for over a decade. I've had women like me - reciprocated and unreciprocated. Ultimately, I think it was OCD - religious scrupulosity OCD, perfectionism OCD, doubting, highly technical thinking, etc....you know the drill - that kept me out of a relationship for all this time. Looking back, I just never felt free to pursue a relationship based on my faulty way of thinking that was likely highly influenced by these aforementioned OCD expressions (before POCD even entered the equation).

Do you guys think it's reasonable to make this same conclusion that this pent up, unmet desire for a relationship and the lack of normal adult romantic and sexual experience that comes with it is contributing significantly to my POCD?