TRIGGER WARNING-Contamination OCD Today started with a crazy amount of stress due to the intrusive thoughts. Have a huge issue with the toilet in general, especially the flushing without the cover on. My brain believes that bacteria and microbes in general will fly from there to me and my things, and causes a big amount of distress. I am trying to be logical with it and understand that nothing will happen. But even the thought of being covered in that makes me wanna clean everything I have and shower. Let’s be clear mum’s bleaches it every day, but still when she does and gets out to continue her chores I’m afraid she carries something that will get on me. I am sorry, this is gross to everybody, but I need to listen to voice of reason, as this is getting every day more difficult to handle.

This was the first ocd issue I had! My ocd has changed over the years to other fears, but I still do not like bathrooms esp public ones. I had a co-worker tell me how when you flush, it all flies up onto pretty much everything around, and I was in panic mode too having to de-contaminate everything. But yes, the comments above on how your body should work to prevent you from getting anything, seems like that mindset would help the most.

Guys I have major issues with this and trying sooo hard to break through as I now have a crazy feeling contamination routine. I know I can’t get sick from the toilet but it’s still disgusts me esp seeing used products In the female bins. Nct2010- I like you have diff forms too. For awhile I had a fear of viruses and sickness. I’m trying to do erp but it’s been slow and hard.

it would be reassurance, i guess, but there are scientific studies on this - especially on the toilet flushing issue but also on aerosol generation in general (which is basically unavoidable when dealing with water - happens also in the shower or when washing hands). there is only acceptance of the fact that traces of stuff which was in the water will be in the air and as a consequence also on you and your stuff.

and, cleaning is always just a dilution process, that is, what you want to get rid off via wiping and especially rinsing will get less and less per round but there is no certainty that every last bit (cell or even molecule) will be removed.

if your issue is 'just' about microorganism you can trust your immune system. it exists for exactly this reason - and it is an amazingly capable and complex system.

Cfs: sorry if I seemed looking for reassurance, I didn’t expect no one replying but I guess subconsciously that’s all I wanted, facts, logical facts that would break the train that are my intrusive thoughts. Thank you so much for sharing a sense of knowledge. How do you know about this? Can’t thank you enough!!!!

i am dealing with the same issues - however, not bacteria but other 'germs' ...

Same, even when I’m logical about it, I’m disgusted that would go into my eye, etc..

How is it going with it? Do you manage to ignore thoughts and find logical knowledge to break the vicious circle?

haha, no. i am preaching water and drinking wine. actually, i am currently housebound. ... because I can't accept the fact that i HAVE TO bring 'my contaminants' into the environment. so, in my case 'i am spreading stuff'.

Learning about our bodies’ defence mechanism helped me a lot with this kind of acceptance!

yeah. but to me it is still just disgusting what enters bodies all the time...

Are you dealing with this still. ?