chat with an OCD stranger

Here is a chat from my msn that i had some time back with a guy who had mailed me earlier asking if i had OCD(obsessive compulsive disorder) and that whether i could contact him in future if i did. I thought of the mail as someone playing a prank on me, someone that i knew who would know that im a clinical psychology major and would probably become enthusiastic about the whole affair. Interesting enough this person added me up on msn later on and during the course of this chat that we had i realized that he sounds unmistakeably like someone i know very closely who was also online at that time and the only person online on my list at that time other than this stranger. The friend that was online told me to get rid of this person as he thought of the stranger(his nick was stranger in the mirror) as some prankster bugging me at such a late hour of the night(it was around 4:30 in the morning). So as i was thinking of ending the chat in a peaceful conclusion of some sort this person suddenly and very abruptly ended the conversation which by the way had turned to some personal issues. Today when i read this chat i somehow get the feeling that this person, the stranger that is was the same friend i was talking to at that time, and i keep getting this feeling again and again...dont know why...
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
Aplogies for adding you randomly. I wont take too much of you time. Just a couple of quick questions. Did you get an email from this address regarding OCD a few weeks ago ?
bob says:
i guess
bob says:
why may i ask?
bob says:
?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
oh, i thought it might have ended up in the junk mail, thats why i added you. I guess if you got it and choose to ignore it you wont be interested in talkin abt it even now, correct ?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
an answer would be highly appreciated. I wont bother you if you dont want me to.
bob says:
i thoguht since it was an unknown address it might have a virus
bob says:
where r u from?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
from Karachi,
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
and yourself
bob says:
lahore
bob says:
wat did u want to talk about?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
do you have OCD ? you dont have to answer that if you dont want to
bob says:
no i dont
bob says:
do u?
bob says:
do u have ocd?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
yup i do. Some how or the other i got the impression that you did have it. Thats why i emailed you.
bob says:
well
bob says:
i dont but im studying clinical psychology as majors i might be able to help a little
bob says:
have u seen someone for it?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
oh yea for 11 yrs now
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
when i saw your nick i thought you would be able to relate with it. Thats why i sent you the mail.
bob says:
who a doctor or a therapist?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
both,
bob says:
which nick?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
neah, it went had to abt comedy and you had OCD mentioned in it
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
went was a typo *
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
can i ask how old are you ?
bob says:
im 19
bob says:
yeah comedy doesnt exist without OCD that one?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
yup, that one
bob says:
so how effective is therapy for u?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
so you are pursuing your bachelors, is it
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
if it was effective i woundnt be adding strangers over msn maam
bob says:
well
bob says:
im sorry to say therapists in pkaistan r not very good
bob says:
lack of education and training both
bob says:
the oogd ones mostly go abroad anyway
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
ammm, i had 5 years of therapy in the states too.
bob says:
ahan
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
OCD is complex, the general span of time before being diagnosed or getting a suitable medicine which suits you, or bring you to a moderate level of functioning is 17 yrs
bob says:
i am again sorry abt the american health system
bob says:
and its efficacy
bob says:
but then againi dunnt know to wat extent ur problem interferes with ur life
bob says:
OCD can be manageable but not completely curable
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
you are quiet intelligent for a 19 yr old. Are you pursuing your bachelors in clinical phys
bob says:
yes
bob says:
but i might ;eave it
bob says:
leave
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
where from, if i may ask
bob says:
punjab university
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
hmm, and why would you leave
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
arent enjoying it enuff
bob says:
its over taxing sumtimes n frustrating
bob says:
in punjab university
bob says:
and i have sum personal reasons
bob says:
where did u get my email id from by the way
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
i saw it on a friend's msn list, got the address while he/she was not looking.
bob says:
which friend
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
after the OCD had caught my eye
bob says:
which friend if i may ask?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
ammm that wouldnt be very prudent. I am sure as a physe student you are aware of the sensitivity which patients feel about their indentity
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
identity *
bob says:
but i wudnt know u nonetheless
bob says:
i just want to know where u got the address
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
do you know rasham
bob says:
rasham,?
bob says:
no
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
rasham akbar
bob says:
no
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
hmmm ... well i wont bother you any more
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
thanks for the time,
bob says:
sure
bob says:
if u need any help
bob says:
or talking
bob says:
u can always talk abt it
bob says:
im sorry i didnt take ur mail seriosuly
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
nopes it ok. Can you spare a few minutes right now
bob says:
yeah im already doing that
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
true. Actually the condition of OCD is compounded by reoccuring depression
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
and ppl in Pakistan deal with all this very negatively. As a taboo
bob says:
wat kind of obsessions do u have?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
perfection,excellence. Not the usual hand rubbin type
bob says:
hmm
bob says:
wat do u do
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
what do i try to do would be more apt
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
since it hardly ever gets done
bob says:
wat?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
OCD is instumental in lack of functionality. Sometimes even common day to day functions. Thats why i said, ke what do i do se behtur is what do i try to do
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
I am pursuing my masters
bob says:
i know but i meant to know wat do u do nonetheless
bob says:
in?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
busniess (mba)
bob says:
from?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
University of Illinois at Chicago
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
do you feel that ppl in Pakistan view pshycological illness as smthing negative
bob says:
yes they do
bob says:
why did u leave chichago to cum to pakistan
bob says:
by the way ppl do dat eberywhere i think
bob says:
things they cant explain they hold negative views about them
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
hmmm, you know what. I was involved with this girl for 5 yrs. Really liked her, i mean in for marriage n all that. She broke up with me 2 weeks after i told her i had OCD
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
i guess you are busy.
bob says:
no you go ahead
bob says:
she didnt realize u had ocd
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
neah, i told you mine is more on the depressive side. Rather then the hand rubbing.
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
and other physical stuff
bob says:
ok
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
do u think she was justified ?
bob says:
i think u have a right to be liked howver u r and people shud like u with the knowledge of the fcts of ur life
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
so do you think i mislead her for this long ?
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
when i did tell her, she left. So was it my fault
bob says:
sumtimes things r not anyones fault they just happen
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
hmmm
Stranger in d@ mirror says:
ok bob, thanks for your time. Its really appreciated. Allahafiz
bob says:
alrite

The following message could not be delivered to all recipients:
alrite
(the names have been replaced)
the conversation ended up nowhere but yet i saved the conversation and my thoughts still linger with the idea that maybe just maybe it was someone in pain and i in my folly chose to ignore it.
MORAL OF THE STORY: too obvious!