How can I do what makes me happy & not depend on the approval of others (1 of my OCD symptoms)?
When your OCD symptoms become unbearable, do you get depressed, irritable, & overwhelmed? (If you suffer OCD)
There are PLENTY of things I like to do that make me happy, such as listening to music, swimming, eating, snoozing (sleeping), driving, traveling, wearing Nike sneakers with straps, surfing the web, & collecting memorabilia of my favorite celebrities, joking & laughing. I feel self-doubt & false guilt when doing these things. I always question the morality of everything I do that makes me happy. I'm not hurting anyone by doing these things. People, ESPECIALLY my family, & also friends of the family, & acquaintances, & other people I know, have a problem with me doing what makes me happy. So, that makes me feel like I'm committing a crime. It's not easy for me to just "not worry about them & ignore them". & their faces are intrusively & unwantedly in my mind, while doing these activities. I'm listening to music right now, & it's bothersome. But I can't stop.
Micheline