- Date posted
- 6y ago
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Oh yuck! That's so nice to have friends than can be a support!!
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Thanks so much for answering!! It really helps!
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Contamination OCD is so debilitating. Ive been getting better but I start to think now that I know of all these germs that are out there (because of googling due to having this OCD theme) how will I ever become okay with being “normal”. I hope the best for both of you, I understand the struggle and it sucks.
- Date posted
- 6y ago
I also struggle with contamination, please let me know if you find anything that helps! I’ve just been trying to fight my thoughts but of course we all know it’s so much more than that
- Date posted
- 6y ago
@hannahlach101 for sure! I've slowly let myself come into contact with items I find dirty such as throwing away others' trash without washing. When I do feel like I've come into contact with something contaminated I don't know when to stop washing! Do you ever have false fears that you touched something contaminated by accident even though you're not completely sure if you did?
- Date posted
- 6y ago
My fears aren’t so much the physical touching (it’s INSANE that I have fear of contamination and I’m a WAITRESS and have no problem touching people’s dirty napkins, silverware, glasses, etc!). I guess I’m just a bit more worried about the possibility of diseases rather than actually rationally thinking about how I’d get them, if that makes any sense. However when it comes to blood (there have been instances where people will leave bloody napkins on their tables!!) I FREAK out :(
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Interesting!! Those are some of my biggest fears right there! I actually did some exposure work with these because I was thinking of picking up some waitressing shifts and knew how my OCD might get in the way. I think I understand it's the rumination about diseases? Gross about the bloody napkins!! One time someone cut their hand at work and I literally bolted to the other side of the room to stay far away from any possible splatter.
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Actually if you don't mind me asking, for some of my exposure work I am supposed to survey general cleaning routines of other people, when you touch customers used glasses and silverware do you ever wash your hands after? Would you touch your face, use the bathroom, or touch clean silverware after? This really helps me gain perspective on reasonable casual contact with everyday items.
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Yes definitely, waitressing is great money!! Worth it and I’ve been doing it for 3 years now and I’m still doing just fine :) Omg one time I was on vacation and some drunk guy threw up outside and they decided to clean it up by spraying the sidewalk .... it was literally running through the patio and people were stepping in it! Luckily my best friend who is amazing at helping with my OCD was there to talk me through it but MAN I was triggered. It’s times like that though that make us stronger :)
- Date posted
- 6y ago
And to answer your question, if I’m just continuing to touch other peoples dirty things then no. However before I roll clean silverware, or get people bread, and especially use the restroom yes I will absolutely clean my hands!
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Omg I relate with y’all sooooooo much
Related posts
- Date posted
- 23w ago
Can I please get someone’s opinion on this. I am scared of having my own baby. I’m terrified of the diaper changes. I have the same intrusive thought that I would kiss my child’s genitalia during this. I feel like I could possibly justify it by saying it’s out of love. I’m sure there are parents who have done it in a non sexual way which scares me too. I don’t know if that’s a real possibility but my brain tells me it is. I’m scared that I don’t know if this is right or wrong. And I’m just scared I’ll love my baby so much I won’t see anything wrong with it. I know we’re supposed to sit with uncertainty but this one is killing me and I don’t know how to deal with this.
- POCD
- Mid-life adults with OCD
- Young adults with OCD
- NOCD Therapy Alumni
- "Pure" OCD
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- Older adults with OCD
- Date posted
- 20w ago
I have contamination OCD that causes me to excessively wash my hands/clean items with disinfectant wipes. I know I just need to start with small exposures but how do I do that without spiraling? I tried a while back by just touching the outside of my dishwasher and not washing my hands after and it led to me being unable to even exist in my house. I basically lived on my couch for three weeks as it was the only 'safe' space that I had not touched with my dirty hands. I had to take a week off work to clean my house to make it somewhat liveable. I still haven't got round to cleaning everything though so things like my kitchen are still no-go zones that I don't enter. I just don't know how to start ERP without it making everything worse. Any advice would be appreciated. I am not seeing a therapist at the moment due to financial constraints.
- Date posted
- 13w ago
I’ve been feeling the urge to avoid intimacy or purposefully engage (for reassurance that I won’t give into a compulsion) because of intrusive thoughts and fear that I’ll “check/test” my reactions. My OCD is making me so scared that I’ll purposefully think of a child and try to see if I like it. It’s so complicated but I guess I’m mentally checking if I would mentally check during intimacy. I’ve even envisioned myself checking and it’s making me so nauseous. I know it’s a compulsion like any other but the sound of “touching yourself to the thought of a child” sounds atrocious and vile. I’m terrified I’ll automatically start checking next time I am being intimate. I truly feel so worried. If anyone has gone through something similar, I’d appreciate hearing your experience. Or if anyone has any advice?
- Harm OCD
- POCD
- Students with OCD
- Mid-life adults with OCD
- Older adults with OCD
- Young adults with OCD
- Real Events OCD
- "Pure" OCD
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