Contamination OCD

I'm having contamination OCD since past 6 months . I wash my hands infinite time a day . My hands become all dried up and blood comes out frequently from the cuts which are formed due to OCD I'm a teen but my hands are like a old human in their 90's or even more than that. I'm not able to concentrate on my studies I finish 1 bottle of liquid soap in just 2 days due to overhand washing please help me overcome this I'm not able to handle this anymore.

Contamination OCD

eaxelson

Date posted: 1y

Hi. You are not alone. I did this as a teen. One trick that worked was to use an egg timer and shorten the length of washing by a small amount each time. Another was to have a goal where I washed 1 less time per day. If I met the goal I would get a reward. This also showed me that there were no consequences to washing a bit less. I hope this helps you. If you are able, ask a family member to help you with this.

alayaoberoi

Date posted: 1y

Hey, thank you so much for your suggestion. I would be really helpful if you can guide me more about this . Like what's the current update have you completely overcome this

eaxelson

Date posted: 1y

@alayaoberoi Hi, well first of all, please know that I am not a therapist. But my story is: that was when I was a teen. I am now 48. While you are never cured from OCD, on a scale of 1-100, I feel like I got mine down from a 90 (really really bad) to a 10. We are all different though so your path may be different. The point is that there is hope and a light at the end of the tunnel. It took me about 4 years to get it down a lot. And another 8 to get it down even more. But the first step was the timer in the bathroom, the gradual lessening, the contest with myself, and the support of my aunt who I lived with. My guidance counselor and school and my mom were also great.

eaxelson

Date posted: 1y

Don’t focus on the finish line. Just start with the next step. Try implementing these ideas and see if they work for you. Wash a little bit less next time, use a little bit less soap, etc., and see that it will be ok.

ans06

Date posted: 1y

This is the worst I hate when I get like this. For me if I realize that I have started to wash my hands excessively I wash my hands without soap some of the times so at least I'm going through the motions. I think the timer idea is also really helpful.

helpneeded

Date posted: 1y

Same thing with me. I’ve been trying to heal my hands for a couple months now. First and foremost, medicine helps. A LOT. try wearing gloves at home and even if you need to switch them out, you can do it. Nothing can get through gloves.

helpneeded

Date posted: 1y

Sadly they won’t heal until you wash less so if you keep washing they won’t ever heal. That was my problem.

alayaoberoi

Date posted: 1y

What's the current update like have your hands healed

helpneeded

Date posted: 1y

@alayaoberoi They have gotten better but they aren’t healed completely yet. I didn’t really get blood or deep fissures but they aren’t retaining any water on the palms so that’s my current problem. It’s been a few weeks where it’s been super dry only on my palms because I think I have trans epidermal water loss. Apparently that takes weeks to maybe months to heal not sure. Surprisingly in the past in my early twenties, my cuts and bleeding would heal pretty quickly when I kept moisturizing them but you HAVE to stop the washing/Cut it back. Idk what gender you are but when I go pee, I’m wearing gloves now and not washing because I have to stop the contact with the soap and water to have them heal.

helpneeded

Date posted: 1y

@alayaoberoi Anytime you can wear gloves to prevent you from washing, do it. Even if you’re home and can’t touch something else after touching another thing, gloves will help

S. L.

Date posted: 23w

Contamination OCD

Does anyone have any tips on how to handle contamination OCD?

user2826728292

Date posted: 23w

how do you beat contamination OCD

If anyone has beaten or gotten a lot better with contamination ocd how long did it take and how did you do it? I don’t see myself getting over this theme for a long time but I’m worried for my future like getting a job , I’m scared I won’t be able to cope with bacteria in a workplace and stuff like that. Just feeling lost in recently :(

tfland7

Date posted: 18w

Obsessive hand washing

I obsess constantly about my hands being dirty and feel like I can actually see the germs and bacteria crawling all over my hands if I can’t wash them as soon as I touch something. It’s really embarrassing since people in my life have noticed this “weird” behavior but it’s a huge problem for me and I don’t know how to make the obsessive thoughts stop.

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Contamination OCD

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