- Date posted
- 22w
Anxious ab HIV
I’m anxious about HIV. What if I get it? That’s a scary thought to me. And then I’m scared/worried about giving it to others, not knowing if I have it, etc.
I’m anxious about HIV. What if I get it? That’s a scary thought to me. And then I’m scared/worried about giving it to others, not knowing if I have it, etc.
Lots of hugs to you. Can I ask you, are you aware of how HIV is contracted? What helps me is exploring the facts of something. My fears are rooted in C-19 because I am a healthcare worker.
@Anonymous Yeah, I’ve googled lots, but like I accidentally touched trash in the bathroom (at an hiv/std testing clinic) with my sleeve and then what if it got from my sleeve into the cuts on my hands, etc. I might ask about Prep or something even though I feel like it’s silly but I would rather be safe than sorry I guess 😣 I’m sorry you have anxiety about c-19 too ❤️
I have this same kind of OCD. Constant intrusive thoughts about if I was careful enough during intimacy, what if I got something I’m unaware of even though used protection and get tested after every partner. What if they lied to Me? It has burdened me so badly in the past to where I stopped dating all together and was bed ridden with fear for weeks on end. My body would create false symptoms to go along with the lies I was telling myself. It was the only thing I could think about for weeks on end. While isolating myself from opportunities for intimacy helped in the moment, I realized isolating myself from love long term wasn’t going to be helpful. What has helped me in the past when Im spiraling over which make believe std I have that day, I get tested to ease my anxiety, even when realistically I know I have been safe. Talk with any potential partners you have about their sexual health status. Go get tested together! Use protection. Remind yourself that even people with hiv live long lives. I have general health anxiety, but I believe the social stigma of shame and embarrassment made up surrounding stds is what makes these OCD thoughts feel so powerful sometimes. Remind yourself you are healthy and here right now, with nothing to be ashamed of.
@Emmy Jay Thank you for this, and I can relate- the anxiety can be crippling at times 💔
I know this post is old but how did you get tested? if you look at my post I have this fear after experiencing sexual things no vag intercourse with a man for the very first time last year and after months of fear I got a urine test and it came back negative but I feel its not enough and that I need to get tested with my blood. Eventually after the test I did ask the man ( I no longer talk to now) if he's clean and he kept reassuring me but deep down I don't know if I can believe him. we did oral but nothing got in my mouth because I personally think its gross, tried it analy and he didn't have a condom one time and I don't think he was all the way in but he didn't get anything in me.sorry if this is gross I just want someone to understand me. the very last time we seen eachother he had a condom but we didn't do anything really because of the pain so I stopped and that was the very last time. still to this day I'm scared of HIV. these fears started the day I first ever experienced oral sex and I got home and a TikTok popped up saying " God said to leave that man alone.hes going to kill you and give you HIV" my heart immediately started racing and yet we continued seeing eachother for a few months (we didn't see each other every day and at one point we didn't see each other for 2 or 3 months ) but this is the only man i touched and let touch me I just wanted to experience things at that time but I no longer want to do anything until marriage
You can follow rules AND do ERP to handle this. Before any new partner, you can get tested- it’s simple and easy and recommended. But make that the only action you do (rule) or else you’ll be feeding the ocd with compulsions. You need to do ERP and sit with the uncertainty and fear and it WILL lessen and leave you less anxious 1. Have rules about actions to take. Do them 2. Do ERP for remaining fears
I’m on my period and o think my ocd feels a little worse today… I feel anxious and like something bad is about to happen, like I can’t move or talk cause I’ll freak out or snap and do something. Also I had a gronial response about an SA topic and I feel horrible, I’ve noticed that I do have these gronials as if I’m actually into that but idk if it can happen that you have the gronial and think “oh I’m horny, not about this but I am” is that possible? Idk how to say it… also I think I just want reassurance but I’m also scared…
I haven’t been diagnosed with it, but I feel like nothing else describes me better. If you do have this feeling and thoughts, what are some ways to lower your anxiety ?
hi peeps today i found out i have mono, and for someone with contamination ocd that sucks even more than usual. am i really supposed to be worried about who i might infect for the indefinite future? and the fact that i wont know for weeks if i got anyone sick? and i’ve got a big trip with my family planned in a couple of weeks and im worried that one of my family members is gonna end up having symptoms before we go. has anyone else ever been in a similar situation? how did u deal with it without missing out on everything?
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