Danielle Jhiani explains that relationship OCD typically starts between childhood and early 20s, though timing varies. It can emerge in new relationships or existing ones, and early intervention matters because OCD symptoms often spread to other life areas if left untreated.
I want to talk about when relationship OCD starts. The thing I want you to know about OCD is it is different for everybody. Typically, it's somewhere between childhood and early 20s. Maybe you've had other OCD subsets show up in your life. Usually OCD is focusing on one thing at a time, but it can move to different topics, which is why it's so important to get the proper help as early as possible so the OCD doesn't start attaching to other things. You may have experienced social anxiety throughout your life. You may have had some good relationships, and then all of a sudden it shows up in a new relationship. Maybe it shows up at the beginning, maybe it doesn't show up until you're already married. Everybody's story is a little bit different. The one thing that is similar is a tendency of not knowing how to cope with uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, uncomfortable life situations.
