Anonymous
- Date posted
- 8w ago
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.
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 8w ago
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.
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 8w ago
@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 ❤️
Emmy JayEmmy Jay
- Date posted
- 8w ago
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.
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 8w ago
@Emmy Jay Thank you for this, and I can relate- the anxiety can be crippling at times 💔
r.m.1r.m.1
- Date posted
- 8w ago
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
Related posts
Anonymous
- Date posted
- 14w ago
STD/STI
I’m new to this page and have been experiencing some thoughts which I think can be associated with health anxiety or OCD I recently participated in sexual intercourse with someone and I can’t get the thought out of my head that I contracted an STD The one night stand was about 7 weeks ago and it was “protected” however, I can’t shake the thought that I have and STD/HIV I’ve tested 4 times since the encounter and they’ve all come back negative however every time you read something on the internet it says you may have tested too soon! Now I find myself wondering if I have bad results. Also, I find myself wondering if every physical aliment I feel is related to an std that hasn’t shown yet. Has anyone experienced anything similar?
malolin_21
- Date posted
- 8w ago
I feel anxious
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…
Lost in the ...
- Date posted
- 6w ago
Lost
I cant afford therapy which is why i’m not diagnosed with ocd. The first time i had heard what ocd was truly abt was 6 years ago when i overthinking my sexual identity and it fit. Additionally, i struggle with debilitating health anxiety and when i was in a rlt i was extremely anxious that i might not love my partner. This is the third year i experience distress around my sexuality but this year it feels real. And it could also explain my rlt anxiety. Comphet is a concept that really scares me. I dont want to be with a girl. I would rather die than discover i was lesbian. I cant accept uncertainty cz i dont want to be homosexual. Chat GPT told me it wasnt ocd + the thoughts dont distress me anymore. I experience 3 intense weeks of anxiety prior to now. Maybe its internalized homophobia. Maybe its comphet. I do find women to be attractive but i dont wanna be with them. Maybe i’m in denial. Idk anything anymore. I’m remembering times where i would find an actress attractive and try to shift my focus towards the man cz it would make me anxious. I’m not well at all.
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