Lonely brother in his late 40s in Metro Detroit after divorce and OCD – looking for guidance
Assalamu alaikum everyone. I’m a brother in my late 40s from the Metro Detroit area in Michigan. Ever since my divorce, I’ve been really struggling with intense loneliness, sadness, and just feeling overwhelmed. I’ve had OCD for years now, along with anxiety and panic attacks, and honestly, they’ve gotten way worse since the separation. One of my biggest hopes is to start going to my local masjid so I can pray, meet other brothers, and build some friendships. But my OCD makes it super hard. I have this fear of contamination – I get worried that the carpets or surfaces might have been touched by someone who didn’t wash their hands properly or wiped their nose. So even though I know I desperately need the community, I end up avoiding the masjid. I can see how this isolation is messing with my mental health, and I feel stuck. I truly want to reconnect with people and strengthen my deen, but my OCD keeps blocking me. Has any brother or sister gone through something like this? What helped you start getting your life back on track? I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s dealt with contamination OCD or found ways to return to their religious community despite these fears. Jazakum Allahu khairan for reading.