How can I manage bug-related OCD and skin picking urges?

Piojos

I’m having a horrible time today with my OCD. I worked a 7 hour shift in which the checkout line was consistent. There was many children in the line as well as all type of people, ranging from clean to smelly to outright dirty. All day I’ve been feeling as if there are piojos (lice) in my hair and even imagined the feeling of them falling onto my neck. I know I do not have them, but I have been picking at my scalp until it bleeds for the past hour because I feel as if there are piojos in my hair or bugs under my scalp. I keep having thoughts to take a knife and dig into my scalp to create an opening to pull the bugs out even tho I know there isn’t any and that I would only be harming myself. How do I combat my bug-related OCD??? And what is a healthy alternative for skin picking when I feel as if I have bugs under my skin??

Username: xX_XxxX_Xx

Date posted: 1y ago

I’m sorry that’s happening, that can be very scary, maybe if you have someone who can just give a quick (or thorough) check through your scalp to tell you there is nothing there. When I had many many years ago when I was young, that’s how my mom got it out, & a while after both me & my mom would get anxiety that we had lice again whenever we had a slight itch, but it was definitely reassuring to have someone check for you to say there is nothing there.

Username: hen7hen7

Date posted: 1y ago

The thoughts and feelings about the lice are not the issue here. Your imagination had given you this random image and you saw it as a truth or possibility. That’s the issue: the meaning you gave to these thoughts. Try and not pick at your scalp anymore. I know it’s hard but you keep feeding the anxiety and keep confirming to your brain that there is danger. It will only stop when you stop your compulsions. The fear will peak but also diminish when you stop engaging with your ocd.

Username: BugGirlBugGirl

Date posted: 1y ago

@hen7 Sometimes I don’t even realize I’m doing it until I see blood or someone else mentions it to me, it can be really nerve wracking because everyone around me sees it and all I see is the damage I cause when I’m done with the panic attack

Username: hen7hen7

Date posted: 1y ago

@BugGirl Is there no awareness at all? Or could someone around you tell you when you’re doing it? Working with a therapist to stay a little bit mindful during a panic attack could also help, maybe?

Username: BugGirlBugGirl

Date posted: 1y ago

@hen7 Sometimes there isn’t any awareness and I just do it. I didn’t realize I was doing it the other day till I played back some voice messages I had been sending and realized all you could hear was me scratching, and at that moment I realized I was STILL scratching and then started fighting the urge to itch and scratch. When I’m at work my coworkers mention to me I’m doing it bc they know it gets back sometimes and I start digging my nails into my skin or scratching for long periods of time and they’ll try to keep me focused on something else but I live with only one other person so most of the time I don’t notice till I look at my hands and see blood under my nails

Username: BugGirlBugGirl

Date posted: 1y ago

@hen7 Unfortunately I don’t have insurance to afford a therapist either

Username: BugGirlBugGirl

Date posted: 1y ago

I just showered in scalding water and picked at my skin so bad I’m bleeding now

Username: Jenn

Date posted: 6y ago

New to the group! I’m 38 and have had OCD since I was 8 (officially diagnosed at 34). My OCD used to revolve around order and cleaning. In the last year it developed into a chronic series of intrusive thoughts centered around parasites. Lice, bed bugs, fleas....you know it. I’m constantly checking beds, hair any surface. I’m now on my umpteenth attempt with medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. I feel like I’m the only person with these irrational sets of intrusive thoughts. It’s embarrassing and isolating. Anyone here who has a similar fear or focused fear that triggers their ocd?

Username: jassullivan

Date posted: 4y ago

My ocd has randomly become so bad this past week that i cant even get dressed. I constantly feel like i have bugs on me, i have started to hit myself when i get frustrated. Its never been so bad and i have no idea what to do. Every second im on edge i cant relax. Does anyone experience this or have any advice?

Username: oopsiedoesit

Date posted: 1y ago

STD OCD

My ocd recently latched onto the idea that I may have herpes, all the signs aren’t there but then again reading about it they don’t have to be. So I’m constantly checking my body, finding a new spot to hyperfixate on and then freaking out. I’ve been in a relationship for almost 3 years so it’s confusing for me to even have it, and have these issues now but they’re so debilitating. I even spiraled a couple weeks ago, and had to have some medical workers look at it, they said it was fine I even had a friend who had herpes look at it (with gloves) and I’m still freaking out and focusing on something else on my skin. I’ve been shaving more lately so I’ve been having razor bumps and now it’s really bothering me. I also heard that blood tests aren’t recommended or accurate So I’m not sure what to do, ERP Wise It just keeps going back to the chance that I do have it and could be spreading it and not knowing.

Contamination OCD

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How can I manage bug-related OCD and skin picking urges?

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