Don't be fooled by the song's poppy appeal. There's a dark undercurrent to its charm. "Sweet Janine" is about a toxic person*. Someone who takes advantage of you rather than lifts you up. Takes you for granted rather than appreciating you. It's funny because my girlfriend, Caitlin Murphy plays "Sweet Janine" in the music video, and she is the complete opposite of a toxic partner. She is loving, caring, kind and emotionally intelligent. Which makes it even cooler that she's willing to take on such an infamous role as Janine.
I'll be putting on holiday-themed shows at Spit&Vigor Theatre every month, the rest of this year. On October 26, I'm simultaneously promoting for my newly released song, "Sweet Janine", and tipping my (witch) hat to Halloween, especially when I improvise. Hope to see you there!
"Sweet Janine", the song, is not correlated at all with my musical, "Hiccups". It is a stand-alone pop tune.
The thing about ROCD is that it attacks any and all relationships that are most important to a person. Potentially healthy relationships are not safe from its wrath. By any means. The disorder actually loves a good relationship. There's more to make up. More to be irrational about. And one thing ROCD is exceptional at is being imaginative. Ironically, people with intense relationship anxiety, famous for setting the bar high -- with their much-too-long list of requirements for partnership, including inflated and unrealistic elements -- are very likely to end up with good partners, granted they get the help they need. Because relationships are of high value to them.
I was always good at not dating Janines in my life. I'VE set the bar high. Which I'm grateful for. But you're never gonna hear a traditional OCD sufferer, obsessing about finding every stray piece of lint in an over-cleaned carpet, say they're grateful they live in a clean house. No. To them, their house is never clean enough. Nothing is ever good enough to an OCD-infected mind. IT HAS TO BE TREATED. The pest will eat its host alive.
Please comment on this blog with any thoughts or questions on OCD, or if you have had any experiences with it seriously affecting your life or someone you love. Or go ahead and email me via the contact section of this website if you'd like to speak privately. I will then either quote you on this blog (anonymous is fine), or simply have a discreet chat about OCD. I'm here to help, inspire and connect. With music as my olive branch.
Stoddard.
*Sure, when relationships are overflowed with anxiety and unrealistic expectation, saturated and tainted by constant reassurance-seeking, then it can become a toxic situation I suppose. But ROCD is not about being toxic. Or narcissistic. People who suffer with OCD (in love or otherwise) are victims of their disorder. They need Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy and possibly medication to help them. To rewire their brain. And to heal from the overwhelming ego-dystonic shame that the OCD can cause a person to experience. Seek help today. Don't wait.
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