Germs
I can’t enter my room without being clean and this makes daily life impossible, if I leave the house I take a shower. Also I always wash my hands like a lot and if I touch a doorknob I immediately go wash so I don’t contaminate anything in my room. Please give advice on what to do I am really lost and scared that I won’t be able to enjoy life since I keep my self in my room all day
I have been where you are many years ago. I couldn't get treatment, so I made a plan and diminshed all the rituals step by step. It worked!! It took me half a year to act in a more normal way, and I began to work in a caring home with all kind of possibilities to get contaminated, it was such a victory! Recovery is possible!
Are you in therapy? I'm not a therapist so I can't give advice, but the therapists through NOCD can. I can recommend a book that I've read, "Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder" by Dr. Jonathan Grayson. It talks a good bit about contamination OCD and gives concrete advice on how to overcome it. Have you always been had these fears or have they gotten worse recently? I know that my OCD has gotten worse over time and I start doing things that I never did before.
@Chase615 I’ve just recently discovered I have OCD I never understand my fears and did research and came to this conclusion, I have other types of OCD but Contamination is definitely the biggest rock in the road. I’m not in therapy I want to start but I am nervous and thank you for your help I will check out that book!
I have the same type of ocd. It terrifies, controls, saddens. Remember please, please, they are lies, thoughts, and nothing more. Get therapy if you can. Try to not wash your hands once after touching a doorknob. Start slowly. It takes time and it will feel absolutely horrible but it’s the first step. I watch Ali Greymond and her approach helps a lot. She also had contamination ocd so she understands.
@2621 I can try to not wash and thank you for you help and I will check Her out. I’ve never realized that there were other people like me it is so comforting to know that you can overcome these feelings one day, thank you again!
I’m exactly like this too. it’s exhausting and feels like it’s impossible to do exposures. Hope u feel better soon 🩷
Hi all, I'm currently struggling with getting my hand washing under control. I have a rather intense fear of illness (due to nearly dying at 11) and as cold season approaches, my washing gets to the point of cracked bleeding hands. Any advice on how to approach this? I am also in therapy however would like to ask you all just incase!
I can’t deal with this OCD bullshit anymore. It’s to the point where every time I walk out my house and come back in I have to sanitize my shoes then the floor where my shoes stepped. I even have my boyfriend doing this and he doesn’t have OCD. I can’t even enough life like I use to anymore I have constantly be cleaning and disinfecting. All these chemicals that have gotten on my skin I know that can’t be healthy. I’m scared the thought of even walking in with my shoes and not using disinfectant triggers me so badly that it ruins my whole day. This all happened when weeks ago I saw a skunk at night walking through the apartment complex I lived in. Then I took my dogs to the vet to get their vaccines. Even though there was no contact I still freak out about rabies. Then the vet assured me that everything was ok. Then I see this stray cat that walks around the apartment complex and he is always trying to come up to my apartment door or the walkway then I’ve seen him walk we’re the skunk area was so now I’m like what if this cat has rabies and I walk where it walks and track it in my house and get rabies. God forbid. It’s to the point where we have a shoe rack and we have to disinfect every time we walk in and out. The other day I had guest and when they left the whole entire house was mopped and I even had bathe my dogs too since they were walking around where everyone was stepping. I even threw away their dog bed and bought them new ones. Please help I can’t live like this anymore.
Prisoner to contamination OCD here and the "things" I "have to" do to stop the. feeling of some imaginary plague overtaking me just keep multiplying. The whole Covid lock down and sanitization really made my OCD spiral. I'm still wiping groceries. I can't touch anything public or money without sanitizing. I wipe any surface I come into contact with or have some kind of plan of how I will conduct myself (what to wear, if I can cover my head, come home change, shower) just to make it through, say a dentist appointment or a manicure. Yes, I can complete the tasks, but the thoughts of the ritualistic washing just looms and makes me more anxious and depressed. I know not to go into specifics here, but can anyone chime in? I only have a good day when I don't have to come into contact with things or use my coping compulsions. Unfortunately nocd doesn't have an available therapist that accepts my insurance. Anyone here have success with ERP? I just think it would be extremely difficult.
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond
