Contamination

I deal with contamination OCD. I’m doing better now, dealing with it, then I was before.

I have contamination OCD, specifically in relation to environmental toxins and my kids. I'm not getting along very well these days. I see contaminants everywhere. I have a very difficult time differentiating between real and perceived risks, and in determining risk levels. I start therapy tomorrow and am hopeful. But I can't get past the idea that I should be as worried as I am, or that I'm doing things wrong.

Glad you're beginning therapy, good luck!!

@Dulse I can relate so much! I have PP OCD and it pretty much all relates around my baby! I catastrosize everything and that’s what what makes it feel impossible to come up with exposures on my own. Because let’s face it everything does have some risk and I have a really hard time accurately discerning risks and sometimes underestimate real like risks because I’m so busy overestimating the risks that follow my partial ocd themes. I have a hard time determining if the exposures are actually putting my children at risk or not and they all feel like they are and like it’s too big a risk so I stay stagnant. For me I think that’s the biggest reason I need a therapist!

Search treatment! You can manage so much better with the right help.

I do and it really sucks! It can be frustrating in because others who don’t have this theme are sort of dismissive about it because of frustration about the stereotypes without realizing that their attitude is further isolating those of us that actually do have the contamination subtype. Especially when someone who does have OCD will say something like I wish my theme was just contamination. But that’s the thing about OCD it latches onto whatever you personally value most and can’t accept uncertainty about. So their dismissive attitude about it is exactly why it’s not their theme. It certainly is distressing to those of us that do suffer this theme though. Also our theme usually has more observable compulsions and physical side effects from the overwashing which further complicates it. Sorry you’re suffering with this crappy theme too!!

I agree so much! Spot on! Contamination issues can lead to much problem, an isolated life and son on.