- Username
- Martin1
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Contamination
Anyone here suffer with contamination ocd and how are you getting along with this crappy theme?
Anyone here suffer with contamination ocd and how are you getting along with this crappy theme?
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!
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.
Yes I've been suffering with it since I can remember, it is exhausting, depressing and debilitating. Every day is an effort to will myself into doing the most basic things. I hate it.
I deal with contamination OCD. I’m doing better now, dealing with it, then I was before.
Search treatment! You can manage so much better with the right help.
Hi there I feel rather alone with my OCD Iv suffered from contamination OCD for almost 20 years, I have OCD about a unattractive girl who went to the same high school as me, I feel compelled to wash my hands with disinfectant if I come into contact with anything she may have touched I also have a mild dose of intrusive thought OCD and religious OCD I’m just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar in regards to the contamination OCD
Does any one else really struggle with contamination ocd? For me I struggle with laundry and feeling like it’s not clean enough, and taking a shower. My showers go on for close to an hour because I feel like I didn’t wash enough or it needs to be a certain amount of times. I also struggle when it comes to the bathroom and compulsively wiping. The hand washing and the anxiety just take up so much of the day and it really drains me. I have been struggling with ocd for years and have been working with a therapist with it but it still feels so consuming. I started taking medication, but everything still feels so overwhelming, and dreadful. I was wondering if anyone could relate, because I’ve been feeling really alone with the severe contamination ocd.
Hello everyone, I'm new here and have severe contamination ocd that has been happening the past four years since I was 20. I'm 24 now and it seems to be getting worse. I don't want to be around kids because I know they're germy little gremlins and carry the main thing I fear that caused my ocd to worsen. I shower whenever anything above my chest has been touched (neck, face, hair). I wash my clothes after one wear because they feel contaminated after the use. I refuse to let people touch my bed or clean clothes. If I hear that anyone in my family is sick I freak out intensely and have to stay away from them. I also shower if I've been in public and people were coughing near me. If I don't feel like showering and that my above triggers aren't contaminated I just wash my arms up to the elbow and go to sleep because I sleep in short sleeve shirts and my arms touch everything all day. I refuse to touch my face, neck or hair after touching my phone or anything else. I bring a travel blanket with me but have to wash it after every use. I use my shoe to open doors and press the cross walk button. If I can't use my shoe I use my pinkie and immediately handsanitize sometimes twice just to have my hands feel clean. I have to use a utensil to eat when in a restaurant and would ask to change it if I see it touch anything. I work at a place that requires me to use a phone so I have to shower and wash my ear. I hold my breath when walking past people. I can't sit back in the car or on the couch because it'll contaminate my neck and hair. I also have to do a double wash with my hands to feel clean. I used to do it for 20 seconds but I do the hand wash for 20 the 1st time then 30 for the second. I can't wear purses with straps that touch my shoulders, same with back packs. And I use so much soap and lotion that don't help keep my hands moisturized. And if I get triggered by anything I sit there in a quiet rage and ramble in my head because I know saying anything out loud will have me look crazy. There are times though that I get angry and close to tears when it feels like I've been contaminated and when my family makes fun of me for things I feel I have no control over especially the intrusive thoughts, emotions, anger, fear, and tiredness I feel on a daily basis. I'm scared of doing exposure therapy because I know they'll have me touch something contaminated and have me touch my face and not wash it how does that help it'll just make me angry.
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