- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
I hope that the following won't qualify as reassurance for you, it's just information/a personal experience: As a fellow cOCDer, I think the thing you can do is be equiped and respect the distancing measures as much as possible and try and see it as enough. It's completely understandable to worry about this, even without OCD in the current context. It's a palpable real life concern/pandemic. You can't fully do ERP in this case, one has to avoid contamination/protect themselves without going to an extreme. I would encourage telling people/coworkers in a polite way that I feel umconfortable when they're too close, if it's possible in your workplace to observe the distancing. If you have to eat, if possible, do it alone/outside/after opening the window for a little bit. The key is the mask though, because one can't control other people's actions and beliefs, and if you have to take public transportation to get there for instance. FFP2/N95 masks are legit, just remember to change them after 8 hours in a closed space or if they get too moist or get damaged. I'm in the medical field and most colleagues I know who got contaminated got it outside of the workplace or when they weren't using the right mask, even those dealing everyday with positive patients since march 2020. In summary, in this specific case, try and not be too hard on yourself ERPwise, these are not steps back, it's a very special situation, especially at the moment, so protect yourself with the basics: masks, distance, fresh air and hand hygiene, without going overboard (I don't know your compulsions) and try to see these as enough, and sit with the anxiety, but sit protected/masked. Good luck!!
Thank you for that. No that didn't seem like reassurance. So thank you. I only have KN95s though is that equivalent? Or do I need to find N95?
@Catperson10 They are interchangeable and offer the same level of protection (95%, present in the name), one is approved by a US Institute, N95, KN95 by a chinese one, the other differences are technical and don't impact the level of protection. You've got this!!
@Anonymous* Oh perfect! I'm worried that they gap at the sides a bit but I have to get latex free ones too because I also have a latex allergy. But thank you out sounds like what I have is good. And so far so good.
@Catperson10 You're welcome! If the gap is tiny at cheek level and your skin then "blocks" it at some point, it's okay (not a native speaker, hope it makes sense). The fit around the nose is important and one should use both hands to mold the clip/flexible part to the shape of your nose bridge after having put on the mask. Good luck!!
@Catperson10 Got it I think it's the cheek. I have glasses too and they fog up but I put the bridge high and make it formed to my nose shape
@Catperson10 Perfect!
@Anonymous* Thanks again
@Catperson10 You're welcome :)
In ERP, but have made no progress. I’m also on medication for ocd. I actually feel like I’ve resorted back to when I was at my worst. Is this normal? I feel ERP helps everyone and not me. It actually makes me more anxious and want to stop, esp because my ocd is on something physical (imperfections/hair color) I’m not giving up & going to continue through this journey regardless. I long for mental stability 😭
Hi! I've been on my OCD healing journey for about half a year and I have seen a lot of success. I'm reaching out for advice, I am very willing to do exposures because I know the more I do them, the more I get better, but I struggle with the response prevention part. I don't know how to control my brain when it comes to facing the fears especially since most of my compulsions are mental. I can tell myself the typical things "I am okay with the uncertainty of this happening", etc. but its like my brain doesn't believe them. I've been stuck in this disconnect for a while and would love advice you have heard from a therapist or learned that has really help you.
sorry this is super long i just wanna know if anyone else has been thru something similar bc i feel super alone 🩷 i have super bad contamination ocd. it was bad already but my house was like my safe space until a few months ago someone brought something into my house that i considered ‘contaminated’. and so then i felt like that part of the house was contaminated, then it spread to everything outside my room (since family is moving around touching stuff) and then somehow i got convinced everything in my room except my bed is contaminated and i need to wash my hands after touching it. in my mind its like the contamination just infinitely spreads to things after the tiniest bit of touch. idek what im afraid of anymore or even what the original thing was but i can’t let it go. when i have to wash off contamination i have to wash at least 4 times or until it feels right, or sometimes take rlly long showers and wipe down all my stuff. i even throw away food and clothes or just whole items sometimes because they feel so contaminated i don’t want them in my space. i can’t be super near people or have anyone touch me, and i also can’t bring anything new into my room since it had to go through the entry of my house which feels contaminated. i feel like all i do is lay in bed and then wash my hands and do compulsions so i can go eat or do other stuff around the house. also i never go out because i’m bc people outside make me feel dirty, and i hate thinking about how many people have touched stuff in stores or in public and stuff. so im just in my room worrying all day. i feel so trapped and the contamination/avoiding it is all i think about anymore i barely have time for anything else and im never present when i talk to people because im worrying about if i accidentally got contaminated. im starting erp next week and knowing that im going to have to expose myself to things is really freaking me out. does anyone else have this kind of ocd ? im exhaustedddd 🥲🥲💔
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