Don’t feel like getting out of bed today because of all the ocd contaminated related things surrounding me. I need to return things back to three different stores because they are contaminated . I want to buy them again but my wallet is contaminated so can’t use that to buy them. Today just seems like a massive struggle already and I have no food to cook at home because I can no longer use my kitchen. Does anyone else struggle to eat or drink things they fear are contamination. I’ve struggled for over 22 years and don’t know how to go about help. My gp has never understood the full extent and just prescribed me drugs.

I have similar problems, had ocd for over 30 years and contamination problems since about 7 years, to this extent 3 years. I know that almost nobody understands.

I have a similar issue. One of my challenge is the mental idea that if one thing is contaminated then it contaminates everything else around it by just being around it when this is not the case. What have you guys done to cope with it? I also have a prescription but don’t want to start drugs. I want someone whos an expert at contamination to help with ideas. I’m waitlisted at the one place where I live for cbt but that’s a long wait.

Thanks for the book recommendation. I’ve been listening to ocd help ocd recovery by ali greymond( Spotify) which are short little helpful tips. It’s really hard when people don’t understand. I went on fluxotine a few times and it seemed to help slightly but I feel I need one on one treatment. Medication alone in my opinion doesn’t work and made me have really bad nightmares . I’ve got a nhs referral letter for group classes that i have tried before but I’d prefer to go somewhere where everyone is talking about Contamination ocd. A lot of the other members suffered with ocd such as checking if the door was locked etc and I felt a bit alone as that isn’t a trait of my ocd. Its so annoying being on a waitlist. I just want someone to come and be with me all the time who is trained to help me deal with things. I need to help in uncomfortable situations no away from them in a room. I just keep imagining what my life would be without ocd, I think it would be a pretty great life but ocd had ruined so much for me. Therapy is expensive.

Thanks both. My issues now it’s I always think contamination spreads like wildfire when I know it’s not. For example if I come close something dirty today even if I wash my hands I will feel like every thing I touched today is now contaminated which makes cleaning sooo haed

Hi 1Bob, same here. I have contamination OCD. I rarely get out of bed due to fear of contamination. Had to wash everything we buy from outside. When something falls on the ground even at our own house, I would get a panic attack and ocd worsens. It's frustrating. I'm taking Setraline 100mg. I used to take 200mg but my doctor decreases the dosage to help me not become too dependent on medication. I believe ERP is an effective method of managing OCD. It's extremely difficult. I've been struggling with it for a long time.

"The belief that ‘contaminants’ can transfer from an infected source to another person or to an inanimate object, which can then infect you, is a common one in OCD and totally without medical foundation. What is being transferred is the idea of contamination. "

That’s great you have started ERP well done it can’t have been easy to start and gives me motivation to do so too. ID situation was extremely hard for me, last year my 4month travel was totally disrupted because of it but this trip I’ve told myself it’s fine and not letting myself give in however hard it is. It’s was so hard giving passports in at check in as it meant I could no longer eat or feel safe at places. I don’t know how I’m coping so well this time I’m just trying not to give in. However my whole handbag and contents that are “contaminated” are still at home so I don’t have any cards on me or anything, one step at a time I guess. I clean things to make them feel safer but I wouldn’t advise it as it’s not the right thing to do. I just keep telling myself i can do it. Dreading going home though as I cant deal with the contaminated things at home

Templeout your comment helped me so much. I am struggling. My cousin who was picking her nose touched my phone. And while I briefly wiped it and then put it in my bag I felt like my bag and all the clothes that day was contaminated. I ended up wiping my phone 5x more after and each day but I can’t do the same for all the contents of my bag nor can I throw it away. 3 weeks later this is still bugging me like crazy. Same when I see things that are contaminated. I feel like every thing I come across that day is contaminated too.

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It’s so so hard . I also had a period when I was a teen where I was in bed for month on end.I am slightly negative to my family for not realising there was an issue. I understand about the floor touching ,when I order take out I have to get my partner to get it from the front door because sometimes the delivery guy puts it on the door step and I have to throw it all away. I’ve tried to quickly eat something if I fear it’s contaminated to not allow my brain to manifest over it and make it worse. . It’s so controlling, time consuming and super expensive with the amount I waste. ERP scares me so much, especially as my contamination revolves around a person. I’m so happy to have found this site to talk to you all. Makes me feel less alone. Also going on holiday today with a contaminated passport. We can do this

That contaminated ID I cannot control. How do you manage it?

Templedout it’s super hard I have a method of cleaning to make things better but I still remember that they are contaminated. I just went shopping and my partner put water on the floor and now I’m afraid to drink the water. I just had a sip and trying not to let the anxiety get to me. I hate living like this

Hi Bob, I also got mental contamination and just started ERP. Before that I thought I must be the only one doing 'crazy' things that I now know are just compulsions I need to learn to take.

Can you tell me how you handle the ID situation as that is my top fear.

Hi you both. I just started therapy and let you know how I fare and what approaches worked for me. I was on Escitalopram due to depression, made me tired all day, now I'm starting zoloft as it's said to be one of the top 3 meds for OCD.

1Bob I hear you. We are so similar.