- Date posted
- 41w
Digital Contamination
Hello everyone, I’m coming on today to talk about my unique subtype of contamination OCD that I haven’t been able to find anywhere else online. FYI, I only recently found out that I had OCD after finally giving in and seeing a mental health professional about my severe anxiety and odd thought patterns that had confused me for many years. I have a huge fear of the internet, specifically types of content found on the internet. Roughly 4 years ago, I unfortunately fell into the world of adult content. I was young, and didn’t know the mental complications damaging content like that could cause. Eventually, I would start to get severe OCD surrounding the topic, having thoughts like,“what if my device has a virus or malware from visiting those sites? What if Instagram or Facebook knows I visited those sites? I don’t want that linked to me!” I was absolutely terrified of my device being “digitally contaminated” from viewing that content. I went as far as deleting and creating new online accounts CONSTANTLY, fearing that those other sites or apps had collected info about the adult content I had accessed on my device. I would constantly factory reset my iPhone, delete apps and reinstall them, even deleting and creating my email constantly. Friends and family thought I was insane, but this was the only way I could get relief. I was terrified by the thought of other online services collecting info about me viewing that content, since in the modern world most view it as a very taboo subject and not something people publicize. I really don’t know why I have these fears. I would still look at adult content online, but I was EXTREMELY cautious, going as far as buying a whole other device to look at it so I didn’t contaminate my main phone. Recently, my fears got so bad I completely got rid of my old phone, bought a new iPhone, deleted all my online accounts for the 100000th time, new email, even as far as a new phone number, with the fear of the content I viewed somehow being linked to my phone number that was on my device. I know, this all sounds really crazy, but it’s really hard for me to explain these thoughts and fears I’m having. Well anyways, I’m still having extremely scary thoughts, like, “what if my brand new phone is contaminated because I connected to the same internet connection as my old account?” And, “what if my new Facebook and Instagram accounts notice my IP address and link it to my old deleted accounts where I would look at taboo subjects and link it to my new identity?” I sent as far as setting up my new phone at a coffee shop so it didn’t immediately connect to my home internet, in case it somehow recognized me and linked me to my dark past. Everything had to go a VERY specific way in setting up this new phone so it would make me feel comfortable. I even wrote out a very long list of the order I was going to do things in. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago, I fell back into my old habits and visited an adult website on my brand new phone. Now I just want to get rid of my new phone. I keep comparing myself to everyone else, having thoughts like, “since they probably don’t visit adult websites, their phones are completely uncontaminated and safe, and all their online accounts are fine, where I’m stuck with a dirty online presence and unsafe and contaminated phone.” I didn’t even care if there were no signs of a connection. Even if everything was happening behind the scenes, on a computer somewhere, I hated the thought of being linked to my old activity and now my new, $1000+ iPhone feels like a piece of garbage, like it has this “aura” and feels contaminated. I don’t even enjoy using it anymore because of this in specific. Everything on it feels so dirty and unenjoyable to use. I know this sounds absolutely crazy, but I really have to get it off my mind. I feel like I’m going insane. I’d really appreciate some comments, maybe some who could relate to something similar or provide some insight. Thank you for reading!