Worried

[Hoolie74]

I have health/somatic OCD with severe anxiety. I check my memory constantly for glitches. I’m 47 and one of my huge fears is dementia or cognitive decline. Last night we found a sweater under the washer (it’s probably been there a few years). My daughter says it’s mine-I am looking at it with like zero recollection of this piece of clothing. I know all the clothes in my closet. I thought it was hers because it isn’t something I would really wear. I even tried it on and thought, yep, this is too itchy, would have driven me crazy. Anyway, if I did wear it, it was not much at all. I’ve had people tell me this a “normal” thing. Even my 20 year old daughter wasn’t certain. It could have been upwards of 5 years ago. Still has me freaked out. I hate this stuff...

[OCDAdvocateKatie IOCDF Advocate]

I completely relate to this and have gone through periods of REALLY being concerned with memory function/decline. And yet...if it looks like OCD and smells like OCD, it's probably OCD. Do you think there's a way to use this as an exposure and really sit with the discomfort that you may have forgotten, but choose to do something value driven regardless? Sending hugs!

[Hoolie74 in reply to OCDAdvocateKatie]

Trying..it’s hard. OCD is so insidious.