Triggering for contamination ocd potentially. I just googled something bout therapy and the site gave me an example of a contamination thought that triggered me. "What if someone with aids and bleeding hands touched it". Can anyone help me through this?

Ah, yes. The infamous google searches that result in more OCD? I have gone through this quite a bit myself. So, though it is guidelines to not give reassurance, I will say this. I have heard many people go through this, and one common thing I hear is this. That this is NOT how you get that disease. I have heard numerous stories of people calling the disease hotline an irrational number of times just for them to say EACH AND EVERY TIME that it is not possible to get the disease that way. I hope that helps in some way!

Really? Even if you touch the blood with your hands and dont notice and put it in your mouth?

Sorry to ask! If the answer is an actual factual no I will be OK and it wont reoccur tho.

Reassurance kinda works for me with a brand new thought when its just a factual answer.

It's okay Chellie. I know you are going through a very difficult time, so I'll make you an exception! Okay, I just plunged a bit into the internet, and I am constantly reading that it is not possible. As a matter of fact, many of the ways people fear getting it are proven not to cause it. I have read, that having a strong gut bacteria can even decrease the odds of getting it even if exposed during the methods it is known to be spread through. And another fact is that outside of the body, the virus dies very fast. So, what I suggest is maybe start a good probiotic regimen, not just because of this fear, but because there are many benefits for your body if you do. There are even studies that certain probiotics can help with mental illness. Also, (I know this isn't the best advice to give knowing your condition) but just wash your hands before eating. I will say, that it is PROVEN that washing your hands for 15 seconds is more than enough to get rid of any bacteria/viruses on your hands(I know you have to wash your hands 100 times, but it is NOT needed). As long as you wash your hands before eating, you shouldn't have to worry about getting contaminated with anything. You could literally have thoushands of germs on your hand and nothing will happen to you, and if you just wash them ONLY for 15 seconds, then they will all be gone. I hope this helps in some way and doesn't cause any negative effects.

I'll be honest now I'm even more scared. I didn't wanna hear that I need to wash my hands to get rid of it... shit... I just wanted to hear that its impossible and that I can keep living life like I used to. I'm sorry but lets drop it I guess :(

No! I wasn't saying you have to wash your hands!!

I was saying that you don't need to wash your hands compulsively. I was saying that really, the only time you need to wash your hands is before you eat, and that you only need to wash them for 15 seconds.

I wasn't referring to this particular fear. I was referring to living in general.

Chellie, I am so sorry? I think you might have misunderstood what I was saying. To just clarify, I was saying that in general life (not this particular trigger) that it's really only necessary to wash your hands before eating and that it's only necessary to wash for 15 seconds. This is the proven science. I deal with contamination OCD as well, and this FACT has helped me a lot. I apologise if my words weren't clear and if during that misunderstanding I caused you more mental pain?☹️

HIV is spread by blood to blood contact and sexual contact. What helps me with my ocd is envisioning the worst case scenario and realising that I could live with that. If somehow you contracted HIV, you’d be okay. They’re just around the corner to finding a cure. They actually used gene deletion in a set of twins in Japan who were born with it, and a vaccine for it has started human trials. HIV is no longer the death sentence it was in the 80’s. People who have HIV now live relatively normal lifespans, and can have happy fulfilled lives. Sometimes you need to challenge the fear and consider the worse case scenario to realise that it doesn’t need to control you. If you for HIV, you’d be okay ! That’s the most important thing to remember.

Chellie, I hope you are okay. I was trying to give you some advice that helped me with the contamination aspect of my OCD, but it was kind of mixed up in the other stuff I was saying regarding your question so I feel like you might have gotten confused with what I was saying. I hope you are okay.