ECOAnxiety

lo everyone,

I came across this forum by accident and thought it would be appropriate place to ask about such questions.
I am looking for people who had experienced similar psychological issues related to OCD and have successfully overcome it with or without medical help.

I am 24 years old and for around 2 years I have obsession about picking trash in forests. When I see plastic cups on the streets or worse, in forest area it makes me feel anxious. I do get a short relief when I pick it up. Although I spend hours per day thinking about how polluted our environment is and how dumb and irresponsible of people is to throw their rubbish everywhere. I think it is good to pick some stuff from time to time but doing it daily and not being able to go for walks because of it is exhausting. I am currently on paroxetine but after a year of taking it I do not feel any positive improvement. (It has helped for few months).
Please feel free to share your experience of treating OCD. Maybe there is someone who experienced eco anxiety as well

Hello, and welcome to the forums!

Something like this is a bit new for me. OCD obsessions are limited only by the imagination- but at what point does a concern, or passion, for something become unhealthy obsession?

What bad thing do you think will personally happen to you, if you don't pick up others' trash? Is it a particular problem where you live, or is it, that it is particularly noticeable to you?

I think the only thing I could think of, if it were me, is that where I live, I can remember it being even more polluted in my childhood, than it is now. And I'd remind myself it's relative... and that I can't pick up every bit of trash there is. I would practice not picking up something, and walking away from it. The only way to stop an OCD behavior, is to break that loop. And that means making yourself not care about it. When I find myself checking something- say the heater warming me right now, in the room I use to check PF- too many times (to make sure it's really off, of course)... I have to make myself not care, and walk away from it- it will have to take care of itself, I turned it off once, and I have to make myself not go back to it, over and over. I have to make myself not care about if it's not off.

I would have to make myself not care, about litter.

I don't like seeing litter- but if it's not on my own property, then I would have to refuse to let it bother me.

Thank You for warm and welcoming message.

I've seen someone had same problem on one of the forums, but post was very old.

I think my anxiety has increased since Covid outbreak. Although it has nothing to do with rubbish.
Although I've managed to restrict myself to the point that I pick trash only nearby my house (Where I do walk to work daily). I've tried to set one certain day in the month when I can pick trash, but I was not able to hold myself It caused huge relief but after couple of hours I had massive panic attack.
My psychologist has same recommendations, but every time I break my promise not to pick up anything from the streets I feel extremely dissapointed. I am quite rational person in any other aspect of my life but when it comes to ecology and plastic waste, especially littering I do feel that I can't go anymore to my favorite places and enjoy the nature because of litter. Many people would agree that littering IS a problem, but at the same time they do not experience anxiety when they see some litter on the streets.

What terrible thing will happen, if you don't?

I'm afraid that animals will get hurt by eating the plastic or that kids will try to pick something and hurt themselves. Overall the thought that scares me that trash people throw in the forest takes forever to decompose and it not only polluted but looks bad.

But what terrible thing will happen to you, personally? Do you feel personally culpable, for others' actions?

Somehow I feel responsible, as if not me, who else will clean?
I think I do it more for my own good, so I do not feel disgusted, because I can't enjoy my walk if I see litter on my way...

At some point, you have to decide it's not all your problem, sweetie...