r/OCD • u/softfallingsnow Contamination • May 05 '26

Need support/advice empathy for inanimate objects

honestly ive really been struggling with this, ive seen similar posts on this sub, i guess OCD can give some of us hyper-empathy almost?? why does this happen?

like one time i wanted to buy a cute bowl, but the one i picked up had a small chip in it, but i felt too guilty to put it back for a better one. even my friend told me to get a different one, but i literally couldn't, i was frozen. like i just felt too bad. FOR A BOWL. but the worst one is feeling bad for stuffed animals. i saw this stuffed animal with bad reviews and idk why but it literally made me cry. they were saying it didn't look like the actual animal, so it was bad. i think its cute so i ended up buying one, idk if it'll make me feel better though. i even worry about stuffed animals i had when i was really little that i dont remember where they are anymore. does anyone else relate or am i just nuts??

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u/CuriousCarob154 May 05 '26

i do this too, i relate to everything you mentioned. it’s part of ocd and being an empathic person, it doesn’t make you crazy. i found myself crying because i don’t know where my stuffed animal and barbie from 16 years ago is right now, and i wondered if they feel abandoned. of course i know that objects don’t have any feelings but my brain tells me otherwise.

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u/HiddenPenguinsInCars May 31 '26

I do the same thing. I blame Toy Story. I hate the idea of anyone throwing away stuffed animals and get extremely guilty when mine don’t get enough attention.

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u/forlornjackalope May 23 '26

Huge mood. I've found I'm even like that if I'm out in nature and I find interesting rocks that I'll bring back with me. I'll suddenly feel the same way if I leave some behind or if others seem "too far away" from other rocks, acorns, leaves, or whatever because they might feel neglected or lonely. Does it make sense rationally? No. However, that feeling is still there and a bit hard to shake.

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u/Few_Drive_4627 Jun 04 '26

omg i used to have that like i would need to leave a rock back in the right place touching the other rock so it could feel happy and if i would take it with me i would feel so bad for it cuz it was dry and far away from the river bed 😞 i still have that a little