Does anyone else with Contamination OCD have a problem with bathrooms in general? Most of my more bothersome routines are bathroom related (hand washing, showers, and wiping) and it makes it hard to talk about my OCD with anyone, just from the fear of embarrassment. I still would like to find support, but I haven’t met anyone with similar issues to mine. Any pointers etc would be appreciated!

Right? It’s tough when it comes to things like that, because it’s natural to want to be a certain level of clean, but OCD gives you a ton of anxiety along with it, where other people aren’t so concerned. I think that’s where it gets you though, because you start to lose that sense of what level of clean is ok to worry about.

Totally, it’s especially aggravating when you have to hold a door, this is where the extreme anxiety comes in because it always seems like forever, but I get where you come from....and you’re completely right about levels of clean and the added anxiety for ocd

Exactly... I just can’t handle public places anymore. I also use tissues or in the worst case scenario, an article of clothing such as my jacket etc... it’s just disgusting in my mind to touch something hundreds of people touched...it’s plain nasty

@hitsuji — Trying to act normal in situations where you don’t want to seem weird. Yes, every day of my life ? Glad I’m not alone.. But on a serious note, public bathrooms are a huge trigger for me! And then especially when I get home and have to shower after using a public toilet. I def think it helps doing ERP and forcing yourself to use public restrooms, etc and just “sitting in the mud” with the anxiety. I made a rule for myself that I would try to use a public toilet once a day. Can’t say I’ve been doing exactly that. But. I’ve been trying more and it does seem to get easier the more you force yourself and sit with the anxiety. ❤️

Hi everyone. This is the very same issue I struggle with. Every day I use a public bathrooom my entire being is contaminated and I shower and clean for 2 hours at the end of each day. I am trying to get better but I’m struggling. Any tips here??

Hitsuji. You sound very similar to me. I have a pile of clothes I consider contaminated and those are the only ones I wear for my days when I have to use public bathrooms. And when I get home it cannot touch anything. I got to the shower for about an hour then I clean everything around me for another hour. This happens daily. It’s sooo hard.

I completely agree with you. I can’t touch the stall,door to the bathroom knob, knobs on the sink, or anything in the restroom in general. Everything is done with palms of my hands- after which I sanitize- just for my own mental well-being because I can’t stand public restrooms- not to mention other public places....

Same with me. And any clothes that have been in public places and bathrooms are considered dirty in my mind. Once I get back home, all of my clothes that I wore have to be put aside and I won’t touch them again until I have to go back out. And if I have to touch anything in public, I’ll usually use a tissue instead of my bare hand or I’ll deal with touching something (which is super stressful) and then wipe or wash my hands after.

Oh yeah, holding doors is the worst. Plus you have to act normal about it while you’re holding it for someone, so you don’t come off as weird lol. It’s kinda hard to do when your brain is screaming at you.

I have a major issue with being in specific bathrooms. Like if the floor has a gross texture I feel like my feet are immediately dirty. Public bathrooms are a no, but I’ll use one if I absolutely need to.

That’s so true!!!! Today I had to gin on the train for a class field trip, and I practically wanted to die....it was the nastiest thing I’ve ever seen...

Uggh yes, trains are gross!! I had to take the subway in New York once, when my OCD wasn’t quite so bad, and I still got super anxious when I had to sit down or hold the bars. You never know who touched them before you. *~* And it’s generally known that you shouldn’t really touch anything when riding the subway anyways so

Same here! I have to wipe off completely with antibacterial wipes before I can touch anything at home. Taking showers would be better, but it gets too exhausting to do every day, combined with my other routines. (Plus, I used to take 8 hours showers, so that wouldn’t have been ideal!) ?? But absolutely, learning to just accept being dirty out in public works wonders for reducing anxiety! It doesn’t help too much for the cleaning when you get back home, but it brings you some peace for the rest of the day ?

I’d love to hear some tips for cleaning at home too though! I’ve tried lots of different things that work temporarily, but I haven’t found anything that sticks yet.