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A Bad Rap<br />
A common misinterpretation of a sufferer's behavior is<br />
that he or she is a liar, playing head games, immature, or<br />
just mean. The truth is that he or she is usually being honest,<br />
both in confessions of love, and confessions of the opposite.<br />
This is difficult to understand for people who are<br />
unfamiliar <strong>with</strong> <strong>ROCD</strong>. It isn't that he or she is or was lying<br />
to the partner, it is that <strong>ROCD</strong> is causing sufferer to lie to<br />
themselves.<br />
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing<br />
During an onset of <strong>ROCD</strong>, the sufferer may experience<br />
thoughts that he or she is lying to or fooling those close, as<br />
a result of the conclusion that he or she does not love the<br />
partner. For example, while a couple is at dinner <strong>with</strong> the<br />
partner's parents, the suffer has persistent thoughts about<br />
how he or she is lying to everyone, including the parents.<br />
Thoughts in this circumstance are or are similar to the following:<br />
“You have no idea that I don't love your daughter.”<br />
“I'm lying to all of you, and you don't even know it.”<br />
“I am an awful person for stringing these people<br />
along like this.”<br />
The sufferer can experience feelings of guilt or shame due<br />
to the idea that the relationship is a farce, because he or she<br />
is only pretending to love the partner, and is fooling everyone<br />
involved.<br />
This eventually leads to confession and, possibly, a subsequent<br />
breakup, as the sufferer cannot handle the guilt involved<br />
in staying <strong>with</strong> someone they don't love. He or she<br />
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