- Username
- OCDWarrior17
- Date posted
- 40w ago
Hi
I have contamination OCD which I’ve had since 2016. Does anyone have any steps or plans to start to overcome it that I could try? I’m on medication and have had long term therapy.
- Username
- A23A23
- Date posted
- 40w ago
I think within the general framework of OCD treatment, contamination OCD can be treated by accepting uncertainty and I'll provide some examples "Maybe this item is dirty, maybe it isnt" "Maybe I will get sick from that item, maybe I won't" "Maybe I am dirty, or maybe I am clean enough" I think acceptance of uncertainty and imperfection, as well as limiting compulsions, can help treat this theme effectively I'm sure a session with NOCD can also help if they are not your current provider and if you haven't seen OCD specialists before (because sometimes talk therapy isn't enough or helpful, particularly for OCD)
- Username
- cyc1017 cyc1017
- Date posted
- 40w ago
My daughter has contamination OCD and is finally functioning very well. She went to a doctor who started her on Sertraline and did exposure therapy with her for a year or so. Learning to accept uncertainty (as you stated) is key. Also learning to live more in the gray rather than having everything be black or white. We are amazed and oh so grateful that our daughter has overcome her "living hell."
- Username
- A23A23
- Date posted
- 40w ago
@cyc1017 That's amazing to hear, glad it's working out well
- Username
- cyc1017 cyc1017
- Date posted
- 40w ago
@A23 Thank you. She has 2 precious sons and she fought through for them ❤️
- Username
- JennielouisesJennielouises
- Date posted
- 40w ago
@A23 Yes I agree with this, although I haven’t managed it myself. I’ve done exposure and had times I’ve been able to manage my ocd but it always comes back as I haven’t treated the route cause. I can’t accept uncertainly as I don’t think I’ll cope with feeling uncomfortable. I therefore feel I need to control everything
- Username
- A23A23
- Date posted
- 40w ago
@Jennielouises Maybe some sort of long term anxiety therapist would be beneficial?
- Username
- JennielouisesJennielouises
- Date posted
- 40w ago
@A23 If only I could afford that. Others have learned to accept uncertainty so it must be possible
- Username
- A23A23
- Date posted
- 40w ago
@Jennielouises Yeah some insurances also cover short term anxiety coaching, there's a program called AbleTo
- Username
- A23A23
- Date posted
- 40w ago
@Jennielouises Long term strategies that may help also include exercise, meditation and journaling
- Username
- JennielouisesJennielouises
- Date posted
- 40w ago
@A23 So I find for me, journaling makes me ruminate. But I do think I need to do the others. I also feel for me that doing daily mental exercise will help. I haven’t had a chance to focus on my mental health since Jan as my son has been so ill. So I’ve lost my fitness, just like you would if you stopped going to the gym
- Username
- A23A23
- Date posted
- 40w ago
@Jennielouises Oh, best wishes for your son to recover 💙
- Username
- TanyaShelby22TanyaShelby22
- Date posted
- 40w ago
hey, i really feel for you dealing with contamination ocd since 2016, it sounds incredibly tough. sticking with medication and therapy is a big step, and i admire your dedication to finding more ways to cope. 💪 have you heard about "unstuck"? it's an ai-powered therapy tool specifically for ocd (unstuckmyOCD.com). it's been a game-changer for me this past month, and i think it might offer you some new strategies. someone here recommended it to me, and i only wish i'd discovered it sooner!
Related posts
- Username
- Chellie
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Hello, I'm new here. I wanna recover but I feel like I don't know how to do that properly on my own. I have been waiting for treatment for months now, I have received wrong treatment before (from a therapist that encouraged compulsions/reassurance, I developed my contamination OCD because she suggested I would do compulsions to cope with my germophobia actually). I want to connect with people who have recovered if possible, so they can guide me on the right way. I feel like I don't really know what I'm doing. I've tried ERP on my own but I don't know if I am doing it correctly as I do not see progress. I cut one thing out and another gets worse or a new thing pops up. Anyone experienced with this? Is it normal? Anyway thanks for reading and have a nice day!
- Username
- Chellie
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Anyone got contamination ocd recovery stories? I heard this is the hardest form of OCD to overcome from my doctors and I feel honestly discouraged.
- Username
- Anonymous
- Date posted
- 4y ago
I’m new to this app and really happy to be within a community of people working through same thing. I have been working through contamination ocd since the start of the pandemic. It’s debilitating mentally. It just wants me to seek certainty in every compulsion and also reassurance and researching online incessantly. Anyone else struggle with this specific ocd? Wiping down doorknobs every time someone touches them. I can’t even sit outside in the grass I’m afraid of the pandemic. I won’t touch my groceries for three days. I miss my old self. I literally feel like a different person since March.
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond