- Username
- Greenery99
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Do you worry about spreading germs in the bathroom due to OCD?
OCD and bathroom
Does anyone fear spreading things to others by using the bathroom? Do you keep needing to wash over and over?
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- Username
- Erin PErin P
- Date posted
- 1y ago
I used to - big time. Yes. ERP helped this a lot.
- Username
- Greenery99Greenery99
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Did you go through a therapist on here? What's one thing you did that helped most?
- Username
- Erin PErin P
- Date posted
- 1y ago
My case is too severe for NOCD so they gave me some referrals. But my initial appointments were good and I will use NOCD when I’m back to a better level with my OCD. Hard to say what helped most but I would say having a good hierarchy of fears and a good therapist to encourage and support me during / after exposures. My OCD was much better due to ERP pre-pandemic but the pandemic tp shortage, trying to get my son to do homework after he had remote learning all day and other stressors related to the pandemic and life / family and trying new meds that made me worse have set me back. But I’m not in the horrible state I was in before extensive ERP treatment. And I can pee in public restrooms on a mostly non OCD way without fear of harming others - so that part of the treatment has lasted. My issues are more around self contamination with other restroom trips. Sorry it this is TMI - my ramblings probably mean I need to get some sleep.
- Username
- Greenery99Greenery99
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Oh ok, how do you know when something is so severe and do they give referrals for in person therapy? That's ok since talking about it helps esp when someone is going through same or similar things. What mainly causes you to fear contaminating others? Sorry you went through all of that. During the pandemic a lot of people were affected. It wasn't easy to find a therapist even. If you ever want to talk let me know we can exchange emails or something .
- Username
- Erin PErin P
- Date posted
- 1y ago
@Greenery99 Thank you for your kind offer. An ERP therapist uses a number of factors to determine severity and what level of treatment is needed. They have a referral list for higher levels of care (which are in person). I was afraid people would get sick if I contaminated them from restroom or my germs - ERP resolved that part of my fears.
- Username
- whatever.whatever.
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Yes it’s my number one fear. I don’t touch anything in the bathroom. Not even the toilet. I have to put toilet paper down on the seat before I use it, and if the tp slips off and I sit on the toilet, I get in the shower and scrub my whole body because it feels so DISGUSTING. I also wash my hands up to 15 minutes sometimes. Because of this, I waste a lot of money, toilet paper, and soap. so fun right!! lmao
- Username
- Erin PErin P
- Date posted
- 1y ago
@ocdtingz ERP can help for this. I used to clog toilets bc I used so much to to wipe the seat and then I’d still put a protector and/ or to on the seat. Now it’s a pretty quick seat look and wipe. So much less stressful than it was before treatment.
- Username
- whatever.whatever.
- Date posted
- 1y ago
@Erin P omg i’m glad i’m not the only one who messes up the bathroom because of my ocd lmfao.
- Username
- Erin PErin P
- Date posted
- 1y ago
@ocdtingz You are so not alone in this. But I am glad I did enough ERP that this part of my OCD is in the past. It would help you too.
- Username
- Greenery99Greenery99
- Date posted
- 1y ago
If you don't mind me asking is there a particular fear of it you have like contracting or spreading something? I totally understand you. It takes up so much time. It's exhausting! Have you ever tried Erp therapy?
Related posts
- Username
- hitsuji
- Date posted
- 5y ago
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!
- Username
- Treasure
- Date posted
- 2y ago
Struggles with hygiene
I have contamination ocd and have been struggling with using the bathroom and showering. Everything is done in excess, so I’m constantly over wiping and washing to virtually no end! ironically, I feel like my hygiene has actually gotten worse because of this. Just looking for advice.
- Username
- miss down ba...
- Date posted
- 26w ago
hygiene ocd and going to the bathroom
Sorry in advance if this is kinda gross lol Does anyone have any advice for checking compulsions?? in particular, cleanliness compulsions?? i’m currently having a flair up but i don’t know how to handle it. I can barely stand going to the bathroom, because i never feel like i’ve wiped enough or i’m not clean enough. In particular if I have to poop, even after i make sure i’ve cleaned myself thoroughly i still feel the urge to go back to the bathroom to check. And whenever i pass gas I feel the urge to check my underwear just in case i’ve had an accident. It’s getting so stressful and annoying at this point :// I’m wasting so much time and tissue when I check myself, but i can’t help it. It bothers me so much. I want to stop, but I don’t know what to.
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