- 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
My OCD fear of herpes constantly makes me think my mouth has touched random left behind drinks from stores, lipstick testers, one time I even thought maybe I kissed a homeless man. It makes it so much harder to fight when I could just clean to alleviate some degree of stress. : ( I don't want to accept the risk when I feel like there's something I could have done to prevent it (clean enough) I don't think I could live with the guilt if I infected others.
Hello Everyone! I could really use some support, or perhaps advice with how to deal with this! 3 nights ago, I was at a house party and a girl offered me her e-cigarette. I rarely smoke except for a select few occasions, but decided to take her up on it. I noticed a small red bump on her lip, and politely asked if she gets cold sores. My OCD revolves around contamination and a fear of illnesses, and I also wanted to be a bit safe. She replied with a no. Later that night, she explains to me that she LIED and didn’t think it was a big deal. I met this girl through a family friend and presumed I could trust her. We even both shared something in common: OCD. She blatantly lied to me, knowing about my fears, because she hated the “stigma of oral herpes”. At my expense. At this point... I am enraged. This entire incident has me giving into my compulsions... I am terrified I have it, and I am terrified I could spread the infection to my genitals. I was wondering if any of you ever had a similar experience? Or have cold sores and have any tips on how to resist compulsions? Am I taking the contagiousness of the virus way out of proportion due to my OCD? Or is it generally pretty serious? Any advice or support would be greatly appreciated! I know the disease is common and nothing to be ashamed about! I would just love some advice from someone who may be going through something similar. Thanks!
Hello everyone, I'm new here and have severe contamination ocd that has been happening the past four years since I was 20. I'm 24 now and it seems to be getting worse. I don't want to be around kids because I know they're germy little gremlins and carry the main thing I fear that caused my ocd to worsen. I shower whenever anything above my chest has been touched (neck, face, hair). I wash my clothes after one wear because they feel contaminated after the use. I refuse to let people touch my bed or clean clothes. If I hear that anyone in my family is sick I freak out intensely and have to stay away from them. I also shower if I've been in public and people were coughing near me. If I don't feel like showering and that my above triggers aren't contaminated I just wash my arms up to the elbow and go to sleep because I sleep in short sleeve shirts and my arms touch everything all day. I refuse to touch my face, neck or hair after touching my phone or anything else. I bring a travel blanket with me but have to wash it after every use. I use my shoe to open doors and press the cross walk button. If I can't use my shoe I use my pinkie and immediately handsanitize sometimes twice just to have my hands feel clean. I have to use a utensil to eat when in a restaurant and would ask to change it if I see it touch anything. I work at a place that requires me to use a phone so I have to shower and wash my ear. I hold my breath when walking past people. I can't sit back in the car or on the couch because it'll contaminate my neck and hair. I also have to do a double wash with my hands to feel clean. I used to do it for 20 seconds but I do the hand wash for 20 the 1st time then 30 for the second. I can't wear purses with straps that touch my shoulders, same with back packs. And I use so much soap and lotion that don't help keep my hands moisturized. And if I get triggered by anything I sit there in a quiet rage and ramble in my head because I know saying anything out loud will have me look crazy. There are times though that I get angry and close to tears when it feels like I've been contaminated and when my family makes fun of me for things I feel I have no control over especially the intrusive thoughts, emotions, anger, fear, and tiredness I feel on a daily basis. I'm scared of doing exposure therapy because I know they'll have me touch something contaminated and have me touch my face and not wash it how does that help it'll just make me angry.
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