Do I Have Relationship OCD?

Take this quiz to find out.

Do you constantly wonder if your partner is the right person for you? Despite being in love with someone great, do you incessantly think about their flaws, doubt their love, or even worry that they’re cheating (even when there’s no evidence to back it up)?

Relationship OCD (or, ROCD) is when someone has repetitive, intrusive doubts about their relationship, followed by compulsions, like needing reassurance. To find out if you might be dealing with ROCD (or what else might be causing your worry) click “Start Quiz” now.

Disclaimer: This quiz is not meant to be a diagnostic tool and shouldn’t be used as one. Always see a licensed mental health professional to address your concerns.

An illustration of a woman who appears anxious and stressed.

Quizzes Are More Fun With Friends

Share this quiz with your friends and compare results.

Questions Overview

1. I often worry about whether or not my partner actually loves me.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
2. I ask my partner for reassurance about the future of our relationship all the time.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
3. I often feel the need to check that my partner is still attracted to me.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
4. I excessively worry about whether or not my partner and I are truly compatible.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
5. I spend a lot of time comparing my partner to past partners I’ve had, or comparing my relationship to other people’s relationships.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
6. I often have unwanted and distressing thoughts about whether or not I’m actually attracted to my partner.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
7. I have a tendency to fixate on things that I think are “wrong” about my relationship or my partner.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
8. I have an intense, persistent fear that my partner might cheat on me, even though there’s no evidence that they would.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
9. Combine the amount of time you spend worrying about your relationship, asking for reassurance, or comparing your relationship to others. It takes up:
  1. A few minutes a day.
  2. Half an hour a day.
  3. An hour or more a day.
  4. Much more than an hour a day.
10. Are your intrusive thoughts distressing or disturbing to you?
  1. Yes, they are incredibly distressing.
  2. Kinda. They bother me, but I’m able to manage it.
  3. Only once in a while. Usually, they aren’t that bad.
  4. No, not really. I can let them go pretty easily.
11. Have you been diagnosed with OCD of any kind before?
  1. Yes, I have been diagnosed with OCD.
  2. No, but I have been diagnosed with a different anxiety disorder.
  3. No, I have not been diagnosed with OCD or any other anxiety disorder.

More Quizzes

Did you like this quiz?

What Is Relationship OCD?

Relationship OCD (ROCD) is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People who have OCD experience persistent unwanted thoughts or anxieties (obsessions) which drive them to perform repetitive actions (compulsions). In ROCD, these obsessions usually center around a person’s bond with their romantic partner.[1]

Symptoms
For example, someone struggling with ROCD may have intrusive thoughts about their relationship, such as “What if my partner doesn’t really love me?” To dispel this anxiety, they might seek excessive reassurance from their partner or constantly ask friends/family for their opinions. Here are some common intrusive thoughts someone might have if they’re suffering from ROCD:[2]

  • Does my partner really love me? How do I know that they do?
  • Do I really love my partner? What happens if I don’t?
  • Am I actually attracted to my partner?
  • Should I be feeling something for my partner that I’m not feeling?
  • Am I in the right relationship?
  • I don’t like some things about my partner. Does that mean we should break up?
  • My relationship doesn’t look like someone else’s. Is that okay?
  • Is my partner cheating on me?

In addition, people who have ROCD may have a tendency to fixate on things that are “wrong” with the relationship, even if these perceived flaws or incompatibilities are actually very small or insignificant. They may also compare their partner to previous partners or compare their relationship to others’ relationships to an excessive degree[3]

Keep in mind that it’s normal to have these types of feelings and questions about your relationship from time to time—a romantic partnership requires vulnerability, and this can be a little nerve-racking. However, if these types of thoughts are frequent or distressing enough to disrupt your daily life, this could be an indicator that you’re dealing with ROCD.

Treatments
Since ROCD is a subtype of OCD, the same methods are used to treat it. These include:

  • Therapy: The most common forms of psychotherapy used to treat OCD are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and response prevention therapy (ERP). CBT helps someone examine and understand harmful or untrue thought patterns, so they can replace them with healthier coping strategies. ERP involves gradually exposing someone to situations that trigger their obsessions, then preventing them from performing the compulsions they’d usually do.
  • Medication: If therapy and/or coping strategies aren’t enough to address your symptoms, your healthcare provider may suggest medication to help break these harmful thought loops.[4] The most commonly prescribed medications for OCD are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and sertraline.[5]

Living with ROCD
In addition to medical treatment, there are a few coping strategies you can try out to help you manage your ROCD symptoms. For example, you could try journaling to document and identify some of your triggers. It’s also a good idea for you and your partner to actively learn about ROCD and its symptoms, so that you both understand where these intrusive thoughts are coming from and how to deal with them. If you’re struggling with ROCD, hang in there—it can definitely be difficult, but there are treatment options out there, and things can get better!

Want to learn more?

You Might Also Like

References

  1. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/relationship-ocd
  2. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/ocd/relationship-ocd#what-it-looks-like
  3. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/relationship-ocd
  4. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/relationship-ocd
  5. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9490-ocd-obsessive-compulsive-disorder#management-and-treatment