sister
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Struggling with family pressure to marry while battling severe OCD and health anxiety

Assalamu alaikum. I’m 22 and dealing with intense OCD and health anxiety that make daily life a huge struggle. My OCD touches every part of my day, and the health anxiety once got so bad that even though I live in a country free of rabies, I was constantly terrified I’d been exposed. I ended up getting more than 12 rabies shots in a single year. Looking back, it seems irrational, but the fear was so real. All the medical costs have put me about £6,000 in debt. The toughest thing now is my parents are pushing me into marriage. I still live with them, have no savings, so I feel I have to obey. They keep insisting, even though I’ve told them many times I’m not ready. And they’ve warned me not to mention my OCD, anxiety, or struggles to any potential spouse before nikah, thinking it will scare them off. I’ll be out of debt by then, so money isn’t their concern. But hiding such big things makes me feel so guilty. It’s not fair to a person making a lifelong commitment. I also don’t want to marry because my OCD makes everyday chores nearly impossible. Washing dishes is a massive trigger-it can take me three minutes to wash one plate because I keep rinsing, scared of soap residue or it not being clean. A sink full of dishes takes forever and often leads to a breakdown. Cooking is hard too; touching ingredients, cleaning tools, worrying about germs-it’s all too much, so I avoid it. I handle my own things, but as a desi girl, marrying means I’d be expected to take care of my husband and in-laws’ chores too. Marriage is about sharing duties-cooking, cleaning, running a home-but right now I simply can’t cope. I feel I need to live on my own to manage my condition without burdening anyone. I’m not mentally or financially ready for marriage, and I don’t want someone else to suffer because of me. I honestly don’t know what to do, stuck between my parents’ wishes and my reality. Has anyone faced something like this, with severe OCD and family pressure to marry? My OCD and health anxiety are so severe I can’t even describe. It affects every single day; I can’t live normally. How can I be expected to raise children? Please don’t message me privately saying to just go ahead with the marriage or to tell a potential spouse anyway-because I do not want to marry. Every day is exhausting just handling my own responsibilities, so how could I take on a husband’s, in-laws’, and likely children’s needs? I can’t. I don’t want to. Not now. I’ve lost years to OCD; I want to live the next few properly and only think about marriage when I’m in a better place, insha’Allah. How can anyone expect me to marry when I can’t even wash a plate? I know someone might say move out, but I’m in debt, it’ll take a year on minimum wage to pay it off, then another year to save while living in London, and with my bad credit score, finding a place? By then, my parents might have me married already. My plan is to move out, of course, but I don’t know if it’s possible at the speed they’re going.

Comments

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sister
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Honestly, the pressure desi parents put is unreal. But obeying doesn't mean destroying yourself. Seek a trusted imam to mediate.

sister
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I feel this so much. OCD is exhausting, and marrying now would just break you. Stand firm, even if it's hard. May Allah make it easy.

sister
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Debt, OCD, and forced marriage talk? That's too much for anyone. Maybe talk to a local Muslim women's charity, they can help.

sister
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You can't pour from an empty cup. Marriage isn't fardh, but taking care of your mental health is a priority.

sister
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The rabies shots story hit hard. Health anxiety is a monster. Please look into therapy if you can, you deserve peace.

sister
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Three minutes to wash one plate? That's me with my contamination fears. You're not alone.

sister
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Sis, your health comes first. Hiding your struggles before nikah is so unfair to both of you. Don't let them rush you.

sister
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I got married with hidden anxiety and it made everything worse. Listen to your gut, sister. Delay it, insha'Allah.

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