Anyone with contamination ocd struggle with feeling irrationally contaminated by their triggers either just by being close to them or thinking the air spreads contaminants that stick to their bodies? Really struggling with this right now as the public bathroom I used today was not great. The period trash bins were full and I felt like as I pulled the toilet paper roll to get toilet paper the air got me contaminated. Really trying to sit with the anxiety and having such a hard time.

Thanks February. With time it passed. I still did my long shower but that is usual for me. I am trying to shorten it with each day.

It’s hard rachel. My job is at the mall so that’s my only choice :( and the trash bins inside the stall are always overflowing especially late in the day. I already filed complaints but they haven’t done anything about it. Sigh.

Lark - it’s about little steps and gradually pushing yourself out of your comfort zone - even if it was sitting with the feelings for longer than you had the previous time, that is still a huge milestone! Keep pushing and believe in yourself :)

Thank you February

i can’t ever use public restrooms ... i know how you feel

It’s difficult to sit with those feelings of contamination at first, when all you want to do is give into your compulsions to fix it - but remember that only gives you short term relief and strengthens the obsessive thoughts. Sit with the feeling for as long as you can - eventually (everyone’s eventually is different - could be 5 minutes, could be hours) your feelings of contamination will settle! Think of the long term solution rather than the short term relief. (This is from someone who went through this too ?)

Pinky- unfortunately, I have no choice and cannot avoid it. I also heard that avoiding just makes your ocd worse so I’m also trying not to avoid.

Picky try baby steps. Maybe wash your hands first or try to find a clean stall. I don’t have a choice so that’s what I do. It’s not always great but it’s not always bad either. Sometimes I find a decent stall like today but yet that’s not enough for me to not want to shower for an hour at home. Still trying to lessen it.

Picky- it’s hard. Even today the bathroom is ok and I still showered for 40 min. It’s slightly shorter but not as short on days I don’t leave the house. Can’t complain as my anxiety was low but I wish I can be back to my normal ways of 10 min showers.

Also I’m majorly anxious for what tomorrow will bring. There are no two good days in a row