how to deal with it

My child is sick with atypical pneumonia. So far they’ve been doing well but up until now they’re still sneezing and coughing on my items and now all I’m thinking of is literally throwing things out, and not knowing how to disinfect certain complex items like my papers I use for my craft or clothes items, makeup.. just now they sneezed over all my desk items because they were playing around in my desk chair.. and I don’t want to throw anything away but I also don’t want to keep it if I know I can sick from it if I can’t properly disinfect it.. I’m so mentally exhausted..

Amara

Date posted: 1y

It's understandable, you are feeling overwhelmed by fears of contamination after your child, who has atypical pneumonia, sneezed on your desk items while playing. Educate Yourself: Take the time to research information about atypical pneumonia, such as how it is transmitted, its symptoms, and the recommended precautions to prevent its spread. Understand that atypical pneumonia is typically spread through respiratory droplets and is less contagious than some other respiratory infections. Impact on OCD: By learning more about atypical pneumonia, you can gain a better understanding of the actual risks associated with contamination from your child's sneezing. This knowledge can help you differentiate between realistic concerns and irrational fears driven by OCD.

oddish

Date posted: 1y

@Anonymous here Thank you for this. It’s so hard for me to break things into parts. I feel like when I do research I always fall into a loophole and get anxious seeing “highly contagious” and being afraid of not being able to catch it on time..

Amara

Date posted: 1y

@buni You're welcome. I truly understand how you feel. Just try Mindfulness and some affirmation it will help you. Believe yourself , and trust your body you are stronger and get through this also your child is get well soon.

Amara

Date posted: 1y

Focus on High-Touch Surfaces,Cconcentrate on disinfecting high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, countertops, and other surfaces that are frequently touched You can also consider quarantining those items in your desk for a period to reduce less cleaning and reduce your anxiety. Open Windows, Eensure proper ventilation in your home by opening windows to allow fresh air to circulate. Fresh air can help reduce the concentration of pathogens inside

oddish

Date posted: 1y

@Anonymous here The open window thing has been my go to a couple of days ago! And still continuing that but the quarantined items gets tricky for me. I still have quarantined items from months ago and still haven’t opened the bags and not sure what to do with them.. it eased the anxiety but then I feel like if I open it I’m opening a bag full of potential germs, disease or illness.. :(

Amara

Date posted: 1y

It's understandable that managing quarantined items can be challenging and triggering for your OCD concerns. These tips that may help you navigate this situation: Set Time Limits: establish a specific timeframe for how long you will quarantine items before deciding whether to open them. This can help you avoid indefinite delays and provide a sense of structure to the process. Gradual Exposure:consider taking a gradual approach to opening the quarantined bags. Start with one bag at a time and expose yourself to the contents in small increments. This exposure can help desensitize your anxiety over time Use Protective Gear:If it helps ease your anxiety, consider wearing gloves and a mask when handling the quarantined items. This can provide a physical barrier between you and the perceived germs or contaminants. Remember that it's normal to feel anxious about confronting your fears, but facing them in a controlled and gradual manner can help you overcome your OCD symptoms. Be patient and compassionate with yourself as you work towards managing your OCD

oddish

Date posted: 1y

@Anonymous here Thank you sooo so much! This is beyond helpful and very doable. 🥹 I will be putting this advice into practice. Thank you for taking your time to inform me and help guide me through this.

Amara

Date posted: 1y

@buni You're welcome. I hope your life returns to normal soon, and that you and your child are healthy.

cupcake11

Date posted: 25w

Any tips for construction and contamination

I live in my parents’ house and they are currently redoing the roof and the insulation in the attic. My parents’ house is at least 50 years old. The only way into the attic is through my room. I knew I would have to relocate but now I feel like my room is contaminated and can just never been clean. I feel like everything needs to be thrown away that was exposed to the old insulation or touched by the workers. No matter what I do I just will always think that my room is dirty. Does anyone know how to push past getting stuck with these thoughts? Or dealing with people making you feel worse because they don’t understand?

GuiltyGrapes

Date posted: 6w

I feel so filthy

So Im staying at my uncles house until Saturday or Sunday and I feel like I’m filthy and making his house infected and idk what to do so when I first got here his house had grass I walked through to get to the door so I made sure to wipe my feet at the door and leave my shoes close to the door but I still feel,like I’m infecting his house he gave me and my little brother a room to sleep in and the first think I think of is how I need to wash the sheets when I leave. The first day was hard because I couldn’t shower and I felt so dirty because we had to go on a walk and I was sweating and we also had to water the grass outside and I had the same socks on as I did yesterday and I just felt like they were filthy and I was walking with those socks around the house so now his carpet is filthy and the bed I was laying in is now filthy. And I couldn’t shower because I didn’t have any cleaning supplies to clean it after I was done because I didn’t want to wash in their shower and now clean it afterwards. But I got someone at the store and took a shower and changed clothes and I felt weird about where to put my dirty clothes I hung them on the shower curtain rod but I feel like I just infected the rod. And afterwards I tried to spray off the shower with some Clorox foam cleaner but I feel like I didn’t clean it good and even feel bad about cleaning it because I was afraid the chemicals I tried rinsing off the shower and the bottles I was using in the shower but still feel like it’s infected. And don’t get me started on how I feel about the bags I’m keeping my clean clothes in and also the other bag I’m keeping my dirty clothes the bags are laying on the floor and I feel like my clean clothes are getting dirty from the floor and my dirty clothes are dirtying the floor and the towel I was using I used to dry the bathroom floor and asked where to put my towel he said on the dryer but there was stuff on it so I put it on a box above the dryer but I feel like I just infected everything and also Ik he touched the towel WHST if he gets THISE germs on his kids . Also the covers me and my little brother were using fell on the ground and his kids were playing in them and stuff like that but my little brother said it was fine and still used them but idk and his cover he brought touched my dirty clothes and the floor and he still used them and I just feel kinda ill about that. And today me feeling filthy just multiplied because I can’t SHOWER again today because someone’s toys are in the shower and idk how to get clean becuase we leave soon and idk what to do do I just change clothes? Idk about wipes because I can’t just ask for baby wipes and now I’m walking around with no socks because I only brought one pair and my others ones were put in my dirty clothes bag and now I have to go places no socks just in my flip flops. And last night I went to the restroom because I didn’t want to have an accident in the night because I’m always anxious about that stuff and I went but I feel like I just infected their toilet and I washed my hands after but I went back into bed but my feet touched the bathroom floor so now the bed is hay I feel actually infected and since I’m laying in it I’m infected too. Idk why I woke up so depressed and feel so filthy and guilty idk if it was the pose I was sleeping in or if I think I had an accident idk but we a lot of places to go today and idk what to do I was going to get Lysol at the store today to spray stuff but I don’t think I can get everything and I feel so sick he has kids what if I give them bad germs I can’t live with that

GuiltyGrapes

Date posted: 6w

I feel so filthy

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Share your thoughts so the Community can respond

how to deal with it

Related posts

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Be a part of the largest OCD Community