Partner with contamination OCD

I don't have OCD myself and am relatively new to learning about it My partner is having a severe contamination OCD flair up. It's requires both of us to perform the same routine for things to not become contaminated. I understand the thought process behind it, but it is running our lives currently and I find there's not a lot of room for me to be able to make my own choices. He is in a bit of a crisis mode at this time and I don't want to escalate the matter. Is there a way to set some boundaries so I can be in a better place to support him without making things worse?

kennyd

Date posted: 1y ago

If your partner is doing ERP, perhaps you could attend a session with him and ask if there are any exposures you could try where you deviate from the routine. Have it planned out in advance, and let him come up with the exposure. I’ve never done ERP before but this sounds like a great opportunity for you to help your partner practice exposures instead of enabling his OCD to get worse.

Ash-rain

Date posted: 1y ago

He's not in traditional therapy right now. He's in a program that would be considered more alternative and it doesn't have exercises to work on. This means, it would just be between the two of us to figure it out and im not sure of the best way to approach it.

SDmeowwoofs

Date posted: 1y ago

Start with what seems easier/more doable. Tackle the least distressing pieces first. Remind them that they can do it and can tolerate the thoughts/anxiety. Just those words from my partner help when I’m stuck in a loop of checking.

EllieH95

Date posted: 23w ago

How do you do ERP without spiraling?

I have contamination OCD that causes me to excessively wash my hands/clean items with disinfectant wipes. I know I just need to start with small exposures but how do I do that without spiraling? I tried a while back by just touching the outside of my dishwasher and not washing my hands after and it led to me being unable to even exist in my house. I basically lived on my couch for three weeks as it was the only 'safe' space that I had not touched with my dirty hands. I had to take a week off work to clean my house to make it somewhat liveable. I still haven't got round to cleaning everything though so things like my kitchen are still no-go zones that I don't enter. I just don't know how to start ERP without it making everything worse. Any advice would be appreciated. I am not seeing a therapist at the moment due to financial constraints.

Contamination OCD

Anonymous

Date posted: 15w ago

My partners mad because of my OCD

Last night I was staying at my boyfriend’s house and couldn’t sleep. I felt like i desperately needed to go back to my parents and clean and organize my room. This has happened a few times before when I was staying at his place. Since then he’s been very upset with me. Does anyone else’s partner do this? Any advice? It’s been hard. He’s made me feel so shameful for having OCD. As if it’s not tough enough /:

Abigail_roads

Date posted: 14w ago

How can my fiance best support me

Specifically how can my fiance best support me without offering reassurance? I'm trying to encourage myself to grow and keep trying ERP, but I'm not sure how I can include my partner in a healthy way. I plan on talking to my therapist about it soon, but I wanted to hear thoughts from people who have been dealing with it themselves.

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Share your thoughts so the Community can respond

Partner with contamination OCD

Related posts

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Be a part of the largest OCD Community