- Username
- Spudz11
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Yeah
Took me 20 minutes to brush my teeth today 2 hours in the shower and i still feel dirty. Any tips?
- Username
- VGHVGH
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Allow that feeling to be there. You need that unclean feeling to get better. Don’t engage with it in any way. Engage with your life, what you have to do today. Every time the thought pops in your mind, label it “OCD thought- moving on”. Don’t rationalize with the thought in any way, don’t try to remember what you did. Just “nope- moving on”. It’s not going to feel good☹️. It’s going to feel so hard, irresponsible etc. that ok, you need to feel those feelings (and do nothing about them). That’s how you get your life back. I’m here to tell you, if you do this( and it takes practice) you will start to feel better. The trick is doing this hard work has to come first. All the best! You are stronger than you know and there are lots of people on here rooting for you!
- Username
- mattypmattyp
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
I think the best route would be to go the rest of the day feeling dirty without showering again.
- Username
- Jewels1Jewels1
- Date posted
- 1y ago
I agree! No matter what your mind tells you. Tell yourself. I showered. I’m clean! Because you truly are! You showered for 20 mins that’s plenty of time- and you are clean.
- Username
- VGHVGH
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Yes, no matter what the theme, it is ultimately about uncertainty. That was/is my theme (health). I used to think, oh I can’t take a risk with my health, I needed to know “for sure”. The truth is, to get better we have to be willing to take a risk, allow uncertainty. My NOCD therapist gave me the tools, after a lifetime of compulsions around health anxiety. Also “Needing to Know for Sure” Seif &Winston helped. As did this https://youtu.be/RPH27Z3IzNY. Take care!
- Username
- Jewels1Jewels1
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Even with health OCD? ^ that’s what I’m struggling with so much right now.
Related posts
- Username
- Lark G.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Hi Everyone- I’m going to give myself 2 weeks to see if I can make progress battling contamination OCD using the tips and tools from people here. Some that I have found super helpful is sitting with the uncomfortable thoughts and letting them be vs doing the compulsions. I have major contamination issues with the public dirty bathroom feeling like it spread all over me. Any other tips on how to battle those thoughts? If I am unable to reduce 1.5 hour shower time I’m afraid I have to take my meds but I am avoiding it if I can try the “tools” first. I don’t have a therapist yet but my GP gave me my prescription. So if you have contamination tips and tools, please send them my way! For those who already sent your tips in the past, thanks so much! Lark
- Username
- Lark G.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Any one manage to reduce over washing hands or long showers? What did you do to wash less? Especially during days you feel contaminated.
- Username
- Aalexander7
- Date posted
- 1y ago
How not to shower for so long?
I take really long showers that cause so much stress cause i get obsessed to make sure every part of me is covered in soap and then repeat the process on certain parts/have to reapply the area if i touch the curtain. And i worry about what wil happen and that the house will be filhly and germ ridden if i miss a part or touch the curtain. I shower as soon as i get home and wait on the porch cause i dread the shower. Any advice on how to not be so obsessed or get over being so concerned about it? I want to shower and get clean, but cant bring myself to shorten the shower/go over the top. I dont like anytning in thr house that isnt sealed before hand and i can open it and drop it so no on3 else has touched it. It is causing alot of trouble for me. Thank you.
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