- Date posted
- 5y
- Date posted
- 5y
I was just going to say what Ramblin'Guy said, that it is very much a doubting disease. I've also read that it attacks or zeros in what you care and love the most in your life and makes you work hard overtime to protect that. So, say you're scared that you may have a STD and may pass it on to a loved one. The OCD zeros on to this and makes you believe that you haven't done enough, that there are more tests to be done to confirm. Falling into this trap, you avoid all intimacy with your partner because of this. Taking a STD test is being proactive and smart, but having to go to the OB/GYNE several times a month just to have tangible proof is OCD (here I'm just listing an example, not saying you've done such a thing, I don't want to offend you).
- Date posted
- 5y
Can we ever be 100% certain of everything in life? It drives me bonkers at work because they keep emphasizing they want 200% reliability out of everything we do. No joke! I just have to laugh at that one.
- Date posted
- 5y
So, you know if I answer your questions it will give you reassurance, which is counterproductive. I'm so sorry you're feeling this way right now. Do you have a therapist you can reach out to? The "what if", and the "buts" sound like OCD.
- Date posted
- 5y
If you're still on the train and feeling anxious, it helps to take slow deep breaths. I hope you seek help from a mental health provider ot therapist. There are some really good ones out there. There is also a number on the Nocd app that can help you find a provider.
- Date posted
- 5y
Ahahah, crikey this OCD really does make us think silly things ? Also - advice for next time. Possibly, rather than calling a sexual health helpline, call a mental health helpline instead. The issue here is your OCD not your sexual health, and it sounds like you've been using the helpline unnecessarily as a compulsion. If you use a mental health helpline instead, and tell them you have OCD, it might help you cope with the anxiety in a more helpful and healthy way ?
- Date posted
- 5y
It could be classed as a checking compulsion. If you're doing something "just to make sure" when you're feeling anxious, then it's likely to be a compulsion. You just have to stop looking for the reassurance
- Date posted
- 5y
I mean, obviously if it was that simple none of us would be here. I’ve struggled with Harm ocd, rocd, HOCD, contamination which included STDs. Yet when I get caught in a moment I still can’t see this for what it is. I mean I’m dealing with HOCD right now and I clearly cannot accept this or see it.
- Date posted
- 5y
It sounds like a health anxiety OCD thing to, if you've taken so many tests to confirm that you are STD-free, but need more tangible proof. I want to use caution here because I'm not a professional, but I do share your anxiety about having or needing 100% certainty in order to get on with life.
- Date posted
- 5y
Please stay strong! You're not alone!?
- Date posted
- 5y
Thankyou guys I had to sit with it because I was on the train I did call a sexual health helpline and they said it was unlikely but get tested if I’m THAT worried, but something in me said nah fuck that I’m sick of testing I told my partner when he picked me up too and he asked “was the blood on your hand fresh?” I said yes and he said “well then it’s yours then isn’t it” Logically speaking if my hand was bleeding and I touched a seat and there’s blood there it probably WAS mine...can’t believe I need these things literally spelled out sometimes ?
- Date posted
- 5y
It’s because it’s the doubting disease unfortunately.
- Date posted
- 5y
Is it literally that simple?
- Date posted
- 5y
I actually have done exactly that I’ve had 13 negative tests in my life (never been told I have one) and I’ve had four negative tests in the last two months
- Date posted
- 5y
When I was diagnosed with OCD, I was devastated. I'm the person who is used to getting a clean bill of health everytime I visit the doctor. I'm in and out of the office in less than 10 min. But with this thing that I have now, I don't know how long it will take to get better. I've learned to accept it, adopt ways to manage it, and get on with life. So if I had a fear of contracting a STD and the worst case scenario did happen to become true, what are my options? I would seek medical advice, get treatment, use protection. OCD would tell me to withdraw from the world, avoid having any relationships with people, etc.
- Date posted
- 5y
Well they said that it’s silly to get tested again now on the sexual health helpline unless I had sex with someone other than my partner (which I haven’t)
- Date posted
- 5y
I have washed my hands so much all my skin is cracked and bleeding. I just got on the train and I’m pretty sure I touched the plastic seat head rest thing because there’s what looks like blood there now. What if it’s someone else’s though? And it got in my cut? Will I be infected now?
- Date posted
- 5y
Oh I never thought it was a compulsion ?
- Date posted
- 5y
I called the clinic I visited previously twice yesterday too to make sure I DEFINITELY had a rectal swab because my brain couldn’t remember if I had or not!!...I called my friend too and she was like “yeah I’m sure you would have, the amount you worry of course you would have had it all done” I’m just really scared to relax. Relaxing feelings negligent now
Related posts
- Date posted
- 22w
Hey all, I’ve been having some ebbs and flows in recovery, but for the most part I’ve really had a lot of improvements in quality of life since starting treatment in 2023. Something that really trips me up is ruminating on my past and looking for “evidence” or “proof” that the things that I’m obsessed with are real and not OCD. I spend quite a lot of time doing this. I wasn’t fully aware I was doing it until recently. Example: that I’m secretly gay and lying to everyone (I’m bi), that I’m a horrible person deep down, that I’ve never actually loved any person including my family, that I have the “wrong” political or religious beliefs. I look for proof in every corner of my past. It makes some sense that I think this way because with my previous therapist, who I saw for 8 years and did not diagnose me with OCD, we would look for evidence and proof that my obsessions are irrational and I learned to deal with them that way. At the time it was a lot of health concern and contamination themes, but I literally learned to ruminate and search for relief. But I just kept getting sicker and sicker until I got diagnosed with OCD. It’s a frustrating compulsion that keeps showing up for me. What if these scary things are true? What if it’s not OCD at all and I’m in denial? Have I lied my way into thinking I have OCD? It’s so hard. Anyway, I’m curious if anyone else has come across this in recovery? Let me know your thoughts and I hope you’re well. ❤️
- Date posted
- 20w
My OCD is continuing to have me constantly check and check and check! I keep doubting and am very confused! How can I get out of this trap!!!!!
- Date posted
- 12w
Does anyone else’s OCD look for “evidence” to help convince you whatever you’re worried about is true. Half the time the “evidence isn’t even evidence “ it’s just reaching and connecting the dots where there are no dots. If I try to disprove it it’ll be like yeah but what if this or what if that or maybe it could be because of this etc. like the other day. I could know the truth and ocd will still try to convince me otherwise. I was at the store with my bf and we were facing each other talking I saw two guys and two girls walking towards us then I looked away to talk to my bf they walked behind me and I saw my bfs eyes look down to the side for a quick second then look up at me. My brain was like oh he was looking at the girls butt because they walked behind me and he looked down to the side. I couldn’t tell you because I don’t have eyes in the back of my head. Plus other people could’ve walked behind me idk. My ocd kept bothering me so I asked him about it he said that he saw them but he looked because there was someone that almost hit me with their cart which that makes sense. However my brain still continued to try and convince me by being like he was lying if someone was about to hit u with their cart u would know or you would’ve saw them coming like the other people etc etc. Is that just OCD trying to convince me and disprove what my bf said or is my OCD right? It doesn’t bother me if that was the case what bothers me is my ocd coming up with stuff and then trying to disprove me and make assumptions and connect dots where there aren’t any. Like this is what I’m talking about, I can’t see behind my back, there are 30 other things he could’ve been looking at. He already gave me an answer that makes sense. I don’t know why he’d lie or how he’d come up with that on the spot. Feel like if he was lying he would’ve been like no I wasn’t , not told me what he was looking at. There were plenty of other people in the store that day etc.
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