- Username
- Doubts123
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Oh yuck! That's so nice to have friends than can be a support!!
Thanks so much for answering!! It really helps!
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.
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
@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?
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 :(
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.
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.
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 :)
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!
Omg I relate with y’all sooooooo much
Hi everyone. First time here. I suffer from Contamination OCD. I have a good support group in friends, family, and my boyfriend, but I have not met anyone else with OCD and I needed to reach out to others to find help. I first got OCD when I was 17 (I am now 33) and was able to go into remission, but COVID brought it back. I was struggling at work (which was outside with the public). I found a therapist and she wrote me a doctor’s note suggesting I be allowed to work from home. My work was not accommodating at all and only offered me FMLA leave, so I took it as my only option and eventually got on Short Term Disability. The whole process took forever and was incredibly stressful. My leave was supposed to be a time of healing and it just made my OCD symptoms worse. My employer basically treated me as though I was trying to get out of work and proved to me that though they talk about the importance of mental health, they don’t take mental health seriously. I ended up having to leave my job “involuntarily due to health reasons” as they would not grant an extension nor let me return with any restrictions/accommodations. My therapist seemed good at first, but it became clear that she wasn’t really helping me. She would often use our sessions to vent about the insurance company and in one session, she basically called me a hopeless case and kept saying “I don’t know. I am concerned. I don’t know how you are going to be able to function” and threw out the word hospitalization, though she did backtrack on that one. I struggle everyday. I am worried that something from outside of the home touched something clean and is now contaminated. I need help working through this. I am constantly looking for reassurance, question if things are clean, wash my hands, use too many disinfectant wipes, and take showers upwards of 50-60 mins. I feel like my mind is being taken over by my OCD, I’m losing time, and it’s straining my relationship. For anyone who is struggling with contamination OCD brought on by COVID - any tips? My therapist never gave me anything specific to work on with this - to help me focus on something else. I am in the process of finding another therapist, but until then - any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
I am brand new to this app. I've been seeing a therapist for a while, but not one that specializes in OCD. I'm having a hard time recognizing when a thought about something being contaminated is just an OCD thought, and when it is rational. I mean, germs exist - so a thing can be contaminated with XYZ. I don't know when I'm over estimating how easily things are "spreading" (which because I have a diagnoses, must be an OCD thing) and when I don't need to worry about something anymore. I'm getting caught in loops with rituals until I satisfy the anxiety or I have been at it for too long to continue. Does anyone have tips for recognizing when something is indeed an OCD thought rather than an rational concern?
My ocd recently latched onto the idea that I may have herpes, all the signs aren’t there but then again reading about it they don’t have to be. So I’m constantly checking my body, finding a new spot to hyperfixate on and then freaking out. I’ve been in a relationship for almost 3 years so it’s confusing for me to even have it, and have these issues now but they’re so debilitating. I even spiraled a couple weeks ago, and had to have some medical workers look at it, they said it was fine I even had a friend who had herpes look at it (with gloves) and I’m still freaking out and focusing on something else on my skin. I’ve been shaving more lately so I’ve been having razor bumps and now it’s really bothering me. I also heard that blood tests aren’t recommended or accurate So I’m not sure what to do, ERP Wise It just keeps going back to the chance that I do have it and could be spreading it and not knowing.
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