Did anyone else spend a time thinking they were the only one dealing with this?
I'm part of the team at Manhattan Mental Health Counseling, and one thing we've noticed from talking with people is that many don't realize how isolating staring OCD can feel until they find others who have gone through something similar.
For the longest time, I didn't even know there was a name for what I was experiencing. I kept thinking I was just overthinking where I was looking whenever I was around other people.
The more I tried to make sure I wasn't staring, the more aware I became of my eyes. It felt like I couldn't stop thinking about it, even during completely normal conversations. Looking back, it was exhausting because I was constantly second-guessing myself.
Finding communities where people openly shared their experiences made me realize I wasn't alone, and that alone made a big difference.
I'm curious if anyone else had a similar experience before discovering this community.
What was the biggest misconception you had about staring OCD before you learned more about it?
I'd genuinely love to hear your experiences and the lessons you've learned along the way. I think conversations like these can help others feel a little less alone.