Hey all. Long time reader/liker, first time posting. Any tips on dealing with contamination/health concern OCD with rabies? I (30/f) held a lemur yesterday at an aquarium and spent hours afterwards researching and validation seeking. I know it’s just my OCD convincing me “what if you were bit or scratched or licked without realizing it”. Is the exposure not seeking validation and information? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I’m on vacation with friends and this is ruining these last few days with them. Thanks, friends.

^ thats just reassurance and makes OCD worse. Dont do that. Its hard but just recognize its your OCD. Tell yourself its just trying to play a game and you’re not going to play today. You’re strong and you’re able to fight this! Hype yourself up, sounds strange but standing in a mirror and telling yourself YOU are in control NOT your OCD puts things into perspective. Youre on vacation! Youre in a happy place and your OCD wants to take that from you, dont let it. ?

I’ve had this happen with medical issues, like for example my stomach hurts and I start to think the worst after googling the symptoms. In my case my girlfriend is a medical student and she’s great, so every time I have an ocd induced worry about that she reassures me and explains to me why it’s not possible, that usually calms me. Maybe try to talk to someone who can tell you why you don’t have rabies or something like that? Sorry if I’m not being much help here ?

OCD totally sucks, I'm sorry it's getting in the way! This is one of those situations that's not a realistic risk. If the lemur had rabies it would be noticed by the staff and very sick. Since I don't have this specific fear I'm able to realize that but I can totally relate because when it's about something I am afraid of my mind comes up with all these what if scenarios also!! My exposures are mostly about accepting some degree of unlikely risk, not seeking further information, and not compulsively cleaning. So in this situation I think you would say if I was infected with rabies I would have noticeable obvious symptoms and I would deal with it at that time and until then I'm not going to worry or do further rumination and research or checking. Also OCD might try and make every sensation like a slight headache into something greater than it is so try to be aware of this and acknowledge that it's OCD! I hope this helps I can totally understand what you're going through!

Anytime!! The part about research to 2 am made me laugh! I've been there! It's great to be able to connect to others and even help process triggers with them, it helps me process also!

Thank you both for the responses! Yeah, I’ve definitely been doing a ton of reassurance seeking, and I know that I truly do need to tell myself that I can handle sitting through the unknown and anxiety and not let OCD steal my good time. Thanks so much for the motivation to fight it, it really helps hearing it from someone ❤️

Thank you so much for this- it really is helpful to understand how I can best navigate this kind of fear and obsession and how to not fuel it more. And especially the accepting of risk even if it is unlikely, and choosing to move on, not doing research (until 2am, reading actual laws about vaccination of zoo animals....ha!) and not checking is what I really need to do. Thank you for helping me feel validated and not so alone in this!

I know sometimes I have to just laugh at some of the things OCD makes me do. I think it helps me put it all into perspective. ? Yeah I love that connecting with others and giving and getting insight definitely helps us all get through it.

For sure!! It's definitely nice sometimes to be able to laugh at how ridiculous OCD can be!