Help to change thinking

I am having the same problem! I have almost zero social life because I got Long COVID and now I'm so scared of getting it again. I also feel weird because I see almost everyone just moving on, not wearing masks, and thinking I'm the odd one for caring so much! I think just taking proper precautions should be a start like you can wear a mask in public places and around a lot of people, wash your hands when you've been out touching things, etc. I know in ERP therapy a lot of my exposures are trying to get back out there slowly and facing what I'm scared of. Maybe this therapy can also be helpful for you! I know it's difficult, so don't give up!

I want to first off say that my therapy did help with my fear of Covid. But mostly I want to say…of course it’s different. Have you had to live through a pandemic of any other disease that has changed life as we know it? Sure, most non-ocd-ERs dealt with it better, but did anyone REALLY just chill through 2020? Hell no. However, Covid alpha was a much more destructive disease than omicron. We have moved forward. The disease has mutated into a different disease essentially. A friend who works in the ER says that she now sees more flu than Covid. The fact is that you could still have an awful outcome from Covid. But your chances now vs in 2020 are SO MUCH better. So update your level of fear just like we have updated our treatments, knowledge, and hell, even the virus has updated itself! Try to think of it as “ omicron” and not “Covid” and it’ll help.

I wish I had an answer for you. I don't. But I saw your message and assume you're struggling today. I'm struggling today too. I sincerely hope your day gets better.

Dotty, NOT ALONE! The pandemic is OCD’s field day for us with Health themes! I am holding onto my victories of 2022 getting out there and living! Was it with masks? Yes, but the victory was not avoiding life. We still mask because I am struggling in that space too and still living restricted activities compared to pre COVID life, but you are not alone and we can only take one step at a time. Lots of grace and self compassion just know YOU ARE NOT ALONE in these thoughts and thinking ❤️🌻

Thanks everyone for ur comments i really appreciate them. I've been doing alot of work to get myself out more during 2022 and it's definitely helping it's more when I or my parents who I live with have had covid and its in the house that i start to lose all control like I shut myself away in my room until I or they test negative (which has been 11 days before) I won't us the plates, cups or cutlery (I use disposable)I won't touch anything in the house without gloves and then there is the giant clean up after we get the negative result it takes hours and hours I clean everything and rewash all the plates, cups and cutlery to make sure no covid is on them but even after that I still don't feel the house is clean enough and I think someone is going to come into the house and touch something and get covid. I'm not like this with any other virus I normally just carry on nd hope I don't get whatever they have but I can't ever imagine sitting with my parents knowing they have covid and I don't know how to change my thinking