Help to change thinking
How do I go about changing my thoughts about covid I want to think of it as any other viruses but my ocd is just taking it into catastrophizing mode
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.
@Anonymous Thank you this was helpful!
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 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
10% of the reason we suffer is because of thoughts. 90% is because of our reaction to it. To fight OCD, we have to change our beliefs of our fears. OCD takes our worst fear and turns it against us. We need to lose our fear. We need to stop believing that our thoughts are significant or they show our true feelings which cannot be more untrue. Tell yourself it is okay if you harm your love ones because it is not you but your ocd making you do it. Tell yourself it is okay if you feel attracted to your own gender, you will just focus on the opposite sex even if you feel attracted to your own gender. Change your mentality if you want to escape the madness.
I'm finding it very hard at the minute in relation to Covid 19. Ocd tells me contamination is everywhere, even just walking past someone in a shop, even they haven't touched me I feel that they have contaminated on me by things shedding from their clothes. If they aren't wearing a mask I feel they have contaminated me by just breathing. I was stripping off my clothes after coming in from outside but I'm tryi g not to do that and I'm finding it very difficult. It very hard at the minute to distinguish what is a rational thing to do and not a safety behaviour. Just in a constant state of worry. Can anyone relate or help in any way?
Anyone else struggling with contamination OCD more than usual since covid? I have contamination OCD that has spiraled out since covid which causes my anxiety and panic disorder to spiral out too. I was checking my temperature 6 times a day, my hands are raw from washing them so much, I have only been able to go to work then I have to rush home to shower, etc. I am just starting out on my exposure therapy journey, so hopefully it will really help. I feel like everything has covid and I can't rest until I have sanitized EVERYTHING! Does anyone else feel this way? What is one thing that has really helped you?
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