I have contamination OCD

I’m afraid to catch HIV and give it to someone. I avoid a lot of things like shaking hands but I’m doing better to set one example. I’m afraid that people will have cuts or I always think that there’s going to be blood present or a syringe present. I’m afraid that if I touch anything in public that there is going to buy some chance be a syringe or that’ll step on a syringe or that I’ll stick my hand somewhere at work and there will be a syringe hidden. So it’s like this obsession of like thinking there’s going to be a needle anywhere and everywhere. I know it came from Having experienced people around me who got poked by accident and a public bathroom or in a hotel room so now that has stuck with me and it freaks me out even when I go to a public bathroom now. Does anyone go through this? I hate it

Contamination OCD

Stevieb

Date posted: 2y

I have a had a very similar experience, for most of my adult life. When I worked in the homeless ministry for many years and came in contact with many

Stevieb

Date posted: 2y

triggers it finally helped me be more comfortable with exposure. Twenty years later, I got HIV. I know I can't just say relax and do any good and you already know your concerns are exaggerated. ERP therapy should help you tremendously. You are on the right track to talk about this and get help and insight which will improve your perspective. You can get to a state of mind that gives you the freedom to enjoy being out and about. Best of luck on your journey to freedom.

strawberry c...

Date posted: 2y

Hey steve so just curious what are the things you did to help you get over your fear? Can you give some examples? Thanks

Mooooni

Date posted: 2y

@Stevieb Sorry for the delay. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It is definitely work and I’m glad you’re in a better space. I have gone through therapy for it and now on my own and taking initiative to do erp everyday.

Stevieb

Date posted: 2y

So sorry for the typo, twenty years later I NEVER got HIV.

strawberry c...

Date posted: 2y

Omg this is exactly how i feel.. I have this horrible fear of catching hiv.. I don't use public restrooms, i avoid anything that looks like it might be blood, i get completely horrified if i see someone bleeding even if its just from a minor cut! And the list goes on! Is horrible living like this😢so i totally get you

Mooooni

Date posted: 2y

@strawberry cupcakes Thank you for sharing. I feel you about public bathrooms. I don’t even want to drink water at work because I’m trying to avoid the restroom which is a trigger for me also and I even take photos of the toilet I use just for my comfort which is bad. But I know the more I use public bathrooms the more I feel better about my trigger. Erp is like re wiring your brain and trusting yourself and uncertainty more than anything. It’s not easy but allow yourself one day a week and do a small exposure to start. We’re in this together :).

Mooooni

Date posted: 2y

@strawberry cupcakes And to add, we have the same exact triggers. Like you wouldn’t believe it but reading your comment is everything I avoid or don’t like. You should’ve seen me at the stores, I look at the packaging and anything red, I don’t touch and someone cut themselves at work the other day and I had to step away cause I was afraid if blood would get on me and be infected. I’m learning to shake hands again. Again, one step at a time :)

Stevieb

Date posted: 2y

Examples of how I came down off the HIV/OCD cliff. 1. 100's of exposures, never got it. 2. Realization/Acceptance from research and experience. I'm 1000 X more likely to be a car accident than get stuck with an infected needle. 3. I just got tired of losing so much of my life / joy. Please y'all, get therapy now, don't wait, your lives are all ahead of you. So smart to be in this app and seeking and sharing.

ynnej

Date posted: 24w

What do I do?

For the past couple of months, I’ve had a really big fear of like my hand basically going down there or objects going down there and like being contaminated. This basically leads me to be scared of being on my own and doing things without people near (because if I do everything in front of someone they would tell me if I did something), also tucking my shirt. This started last October too and I remember crying for like hours everyday. Now I’m better but I do compulsions like tucking my shirt in a specific way so I know my hand couldn’t reach there. I’m scared to even get ready for the day, brush my teeth, etc with my shirt untucked because I’m scared those objects will be contaminated or I’ll do something to contaminate them. I’ve been trying to stop this compulsion of tucking my shirt in for a while but I’m not really going anywhere.

S. L.

Date posted: 24w

Contamination OCD

Does anyone have any tips on how to handle contamination OCD?

Luke Sapir

Date posted: 22w

Is this a form of contamination OCD?

Hi there. I’ve recently joined NOCD and wanted to ask: does anyone have a sort of mental contamination fear, such as believing that interacting with people will “infect” oneself in a psychological manner? Just wanted to reach out and ask if this is an experience others had. Also looking to share experiences with others. Thanks.

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I have contamination OCD

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