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 🩷
my ocd is controlling my life. I can’t stop washing my hands and I always think they have to be clean before I go anywhere or else my whole day will be ruined. I hate the thought of being unclean and I don’t want to spread germs. I wash my hands even when I don’t have to. Anyone have any advice please?
i have really bad contamination ocd and i can honestly get through my days without panic attacks but it always requires that i have hand sanitizer, wet wipes and access to wash my hands and be able to shower afterwards. i’m feeling like there’s no hope because i can get through the days okay and i try not to let other people know about it because i deal with it all privately but i’m afraid i’ll never be able to stop with all of the cleaning throughout the day. does anyone have tips to stop cleaning their hands or anywhere that may have gotten “dirty” or anything like that? thank you (:
Good day, you awesome people! I struggle with spreading my own (bathroom/groinal) germs and "contaminating" others somehow. Logically I know it's not necessarily going to make anyone sick, but it's coming to the point where I have to wash my arm if it touches my behind at all while wiping (in case waste travels as it sometimes does)--and this morning I felt I had to wash my hands after touching the shell of my ear. It's clear that a lot of washing I am doing is to avoid guilt--I feel like I am "being sneaky/doing something terrible" if I don't do it. Some things are justifiable, yes, but the line has become so blurred I have changed many of my routines around this and I cannot tell what constitutes as "acceptable" or "normal" hygeine anymore because anything less than what I have started doing feels awful. I even wash my hands after drying off after a shower... though that I am trying to stop. I am wondering if anyone could help me out here with suggestions? Thank you so much for listening to my woes. I appreciate you all immensely.
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond
