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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How to stop thinking about a married colleague

5 replies

Yuitub23 · 13/12/2023 21:42

Just that?!

I am so fed up with myself and genuinely asking how to stop this. Is this a form of mental health issue or an anxiety issue to cope with the stress of work?!

We have been working together for some time and this fascination with him drives me insane. He’s not even great objectively.

There are periods when we don’t speak for weeks or not in the office simultaneously, and I feel relieved. As soon as we are together, he will come over for a chat - like you do with any colleague, I guess. But we will then run into each other, like you do with any other colleague, and will talk repeatedly.

No, we don’t text outside work, and no, we don’t do drinks or anything like that. We speak of our families. Honestly, I don’t understand what I like about him, and even if we were both single, I wouldn’t date him.

I avoid him as much as possible, preventing us from working together. For the life of me, I don’t get why I am doing this - and why can’t I not ignore him? I have read a lot about limerence, and I don’t think it is that.

My only rationale for this is that I am working full time with two kids, and my husband and I hardly have any time for each other. And he is there at work listening to me, looking at me intently and praising me.

Can anyone suggest anything that worked for them? Please, no suggestions about thinking of your & his families - I do. As I said, even in the universe where we are both single, I wouldn’t go there. He can be very grating.
And I don’t know what I am fantasising about - my fantasies are just the two of us chatting and him looking at me attentively. This is completely nuts. Theraphy perhaps?!

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 13/12/2023 21:46

You're overthinking this, in my opinion. You fighting against it so hard is what's making it worse. So what if you have a bit of fantasy? We all do to varying degrees, and certain times of life, like peri-menopause, can exacerbate it. You're not going to act on it and that's all that matters. You're making this into a big deal when it really isn't.

Possimpible · 13/12/2023 21:46

Sounds like you have a crush, probably something to focus on because work is boring. Jumping to therapy/mental health issue seems OTT. It's very normal, you are not special (I mean that in the nicest way possible), you are just convincing yourself this is unusual. You just need a distraction (hobby, new friend at work) or to make your work busier or more interesting

Yuitub23 · 13/12/2023 21:52

Thank you for your answers. My work is too stressful, and I feel maybe this is a distraction to lessen the anxiety. I understand it is nothing unique, but I don’t like feeling like this! I don’t want to be having a crush on some grating work colleague! Perhaps it is a peri-menopause thing…. I will do some reading on it. Thank you

OP posts:
MrsElsa · 13/12/2023 21:53

You just want attention sounds like. There's nothing wrong with that!! Enjoy it!!

bonzaitree · 13/12/2023 22:20

I would try and stop worrying about how you feel. Nothing inappropriate is happening/ has happened.

Easier said than done to say « stop worrying » but maybe just try and sit with your discomfort. Observe it.

Its not a disaster to have a weird work crush! It’s normal- you’re a human and you’re not going to act on it.

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