Hello Everyone! I could really use some support, or perhaps advice with how to deal with this! 3 nights ago, I was at a house party and a girl offered me her e-cigarette. I rarely smoke except for a select few occasions, but decided to take her up on it. I noticed a small red bump on her lip, and politely asked if she gets cold sores. My OCD revolves around contamination and a fear of illnesses, and I also wanted to be a bit safe. She replied with a no. Later that night, she explains to me that she LIED and didn’t think it was a big deal. I met this girl through a family friend and presumed I could trust her. We even both shared something in common: OCD. She blatantly lied to me, knowing about my fears, because she hated the “stigma of oral herpes”. At my expense. At this point... I am enraged. This entire incident has me giving into my compulsions... I am terrified I have it, and I am terrified I could spread the infection to my genitals. I was wondering if any of you ever had a similar experience? Or have cold sores and have any tips on how to resist compulsions? Am I taking the contagiousness of the virus way out of proportion due to my OCD? Or is it generally pretty serious? Any advice or support would be greatly appreciated! I know the disease is common and nothing to be ashamed about! I would just love some advice from someone who may be going through something similar. Thanks!

I am so sorry your going through this, maybe try doing this. It might be hard but let your thoughts pass by writing each thought down and think “is thought something I can change right now”? And if not go onto something you can and really try and let it pass and focus on things that really make you feel good and that you enjoy.

Over two-thirds of the world has herpes. So chances are you’ve already come in contact with it many times. I’m not saying there’s no risk, but there’s a high chance you either already have the virus for another experience or won’t get it from this one. Also, I dated someone with it for years and never got it. He didn’t take anything for it. https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/28-10-2015-globally-an-estimated-two-thirds-of-the-population-under-50-are-infected-with-herpes-simplex-virus-type-1

@pureolife Thank you so much for sharing your experience and knowledge! I appreciate it, this definitely provided me with some information to better tackle my Triggers. I am hoping that is the case for me! I have a grandparent with them, as well as several friends, and even teammates from school. Im hoping all is well. The girl herself tried to backtrack, saying that : “she never gave it to any boy friends” So I’m hoping the same goes for me! I have a really bad cold right now, so we will see. I’ve really appreciated all of the advice all of you have offered. Relenting my control and understanding the situation better has made me feel so much better! I just can’t believe someone would lie like that.

I understand that, and that’s scary ya know. But what’s so scary about having herpes ?

Well it can be quite unpleasant to deal with outbreaks, plus there’s a stigma attached to it. But I think for this person it’s also a huge trigger for contamination OCD. You don’t have to personally fear someone else’s OCD theme/triggers to understand how that likely makes them feel. Whatever your theme is, just imagine dealing with a big trigger for it.

@Jazmine_Leigh It is more so that it is a severe trigger for me. Especially since many rumors about self contamination are out there: essentially that if I touch my mouth, then later my genitals, I could get outbreaks there aswell. My OCD surrounds contamination, and this whole situation has opened a can of worms (or more so a can of all new triggers) for me.

I think it would really help since I don’t have the type of OCD you have. So I’m sorry if I’m not much help. But a ocd specialized therapist will help so much I just started seeing one.