- Date posted
- 6y
- Date posted
- 6y
this is irrational I know it is hard to distinguish between that and rational but it is OCD and you have to stay strong ?
- Date posted
- 6y
I do this all the time. I found an ant in my room the other day and I had to completely strip everything from my room and vacuum each individual object. Although, I knew it was illogical, I knew I had to do it. I would try exposing yourself to more uncomfortable situations, similar to the one you had today. Distract yourself with a show or music, and after awhile you’ll realize that you’re okay. The germs didn’t harm you, you’re still here! My therapist has been teaching me this. She’ll make me touch the ground with my hand, and once we start talking, the thought kinda fades. It’s still there, but not as bad as when I initially touched the ground.
- Date posted
- 6y
actually try not distracting yourself and sit with the anxiety. if this is to difficult then resist for as long as you can then end the exposure and set it aside for a day your feeling stronger. Distractions may not always be where you need them so sitting without distractions prepares you for when you get anxious and have no physical way of calling yourself down. just my opinion hope you all feel better(:
- Date posted
- 6y
Sounds like this is really distressing to you. Keep going though-resist those compulsions ?
- Date posted
- 6y
I literally don’t know the difference between logical and illogical anymore!
- Date posted
- 4y
I can totally identify! Loving the ERP related replies.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 25w
So earlier I posted this.. "I had socks on and I stood on something kind of hard, and I looked at what it was and I couldn't tell if it was like a tiny piece of poop (from cat) or chocolate or something. I took my socks off obviously but now I'm worried that 1) I should wash my feet and 2) I should change my trousers because they kind of trail on the floor a bit. I just don't know what to do." And I'm still really panicking. Because I've been in my bed – I napped. My trousers and my feet have been in my bed. And I just don't know what the "right" thing to do is. My brain is telling me I need to accept uncertainty. Fine. But then the logical side of my brain is telling me "YOU COULD HAVE POOP ON YOU. LIKE SERIOUSLY COME ON ANYONE WOULD WASH THEIR FEET". I have no idea what to do. I'm so stressed.
- Date posted
- 24w
Sorry if this is tmi. In advance, I know some germs are fine - I'm all for that, and it definitely does ease some contamination anxiety. But I have lots of anxiety surrounding going to the bathroom, specifically number two. Again I'm so sorry if this is tmi. I went yesterday, and obviously my hands were contaminated because well, they are when you go to the bathroom. But also because I accidentally brushed the back of my hand against myself. When you're done in the bathroom you obviously put underwear back on, and trousers or whatever, but I wash my hands before touching my trousers but not underwear. So I do that bit before I wash my hands, but my hand, the very contaminated part, touched like a bit of my skin at my waist. At the time, I brushed it off, thinking that my trousers will cover that anyway for the time being. But then today, I wore leggings that are kind of small on me and they weren't as high waisted. And then I got in my bed, and had a t-shirt on, and probably touched so many things. I changed my t-shirt, meaning it touched my hair as I took it off. So now I'm paranoid I have poop particles all over me. I'm convinced I need to have a full shower again and wash my hair. I'm okay with having a shower, but I barely have enough energy for that let alone washing my hair too. I don't shower every day, so with my schedule, I'm not due to have one until tonight. I just want to be able to get up, get dressed, and go about my day. But how do I do that when my bed feels contaminated and I feel like I need to change the bedsheets. How do I cope when it feels like poop particles are in my HAIR. And that could totally be possible. I know some germs are fine. But I just don't know what to do.
- Date posted
- 10w
I’m so scared. Part of me feels ok and part of me feels like I need to clean everything off. Basically my sweater had a stain on it from food it was newly washed but I decided to throw it in the wash again. While throwing it in the laundry basket I noticed a specific type of clothing that scares me. I quickly put the sweater on top of the used laundry and left. My phone was in the living room and I’m pretty constantly scared it will get contaminated by laundry I’m not sure why but that fear started randomly. Anyway I had to walk past the living room to wash my hands in the kitchen because someone had to use the bathroom badly and was waiting for me to just throw my laundry in to go to the bathroom. Anyway I’m scared I went near my phone or contaminated it with my hands. I can’t remember the details fully either but I just remember walking straight to the kitchen but I don’t know. I’m really scared and I want to clean everything like my phone and everything it was near. The thing is my fear is real because used laundry is so gross. What do I do? When throwing clean laundry in a basket should you wash your hands? Do most people? Even if the article of clothing isn’t dirty? Because maybe my hands accidentally went near the actual gross laundry I don’t know
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond