TW- covid and gems. Vaccine mentioned and workplace mentioned. . . . So my work has been pushing our in person date bc of covid. And just now they literally said most of you will get covid anyway. So I'm actually for real though high risk. So I feel like I've taken several steps back in my progress with this. Reassurance is one of my compulsions so please none of that. Just wondering what you all did to help move your ERP along with cOCD and having to be in a place with other people?

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!!