Any Gym goers that suffer?

Hi everyone, I’ve been spending more and more time at the gym and with that means I’ve been spending more time disinfecting and washing my hands. There are certain numbers I try to “hit” when carrying out tasks like the number 4. When washing my hands I will pump the soap 4 times. But then I think about how the running water + paper towel used adds on +2 pts and so I end up at 6 but I don’t like the number 6. So to combat this I will do 4 steps of 4 actions because I don’t like numbers in relation to 3,6, or 9 ( bc of course washing, rinsing, drying 3 times would not be adequate in my mind). But I’ve gotten to the point where I’ll mess up a sequence of what I’m doing and then try to combat the compulsion I feel in the moment and try to forget the number of actions I’ve just carried out. In my mind doing something “♾️” times is better than knowing I for sure didn’t do enough. (In cases like these I equate ♾️ to an undefined/ unknown #). It’s gotten to the point where I feel like I’m wasting so many resources and a lot of my time too but I still struggle to stop until I feel like everything is fine again. I spray my sanitizer spray 4 times on a paper towel and tell myself that 4 sprays + 1 paper towel is okay because at least 4x1 =4 and 4+1 =5 but it really just drives me mad but because 4-1 =3 I have to combat that with wiping an adequate amount of times.

viceshaa

Date posted: 19d

Yes i kinda a similar situation but nowadays i have tried certain mindful exercises as guided by my collage therapist it really help . I suggest the same to you.

sey-tei

Date posted: 19d

@viceshaa Can I ask what some of them are like?

viceshaa

Date posted: 19d

Yee most of them involved constant remainders to yourself about its its just a thought it come and go not need to stick with it also involved some breathing and postive affirmation journals as well. For as disliking certain number as just try to fact yourself its just number you got no control over them they come and go as needed so you bothering liking or disliking.

Anonymous

Date posted: 18d

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how much effort it takes just to feel part of the world. Going to the gym has become one of those places where I push myself to stay connected. I wash my hands constantly, wipe down every surface I touch, and still feel the weight of contamination fears. But despite all that, being there reminds me that I’m still showing up—I’m still trying. I’ve also had a long-standing relationship with numbers. For years, I’ve studied numerology and let it guide many of my decisions. Certain numbers carry meanings and energies that I’ve learned to avoid. It wasn’t until recently that I realized this might be tied to my Contamination OCD. That connection was eye-opening—and honestly, a little overwhelming. Living with OCD is exhausting. It’s not just the rituals—it’s the constant mental noise. I’m now considering therapy and medication, which feels like a big step, but also a necessary one. I want to move toward healing, even if it’s slow. I’m learning to be more compassionate with myself and to recognize that seeking help is a strength, not a weakness. If anyone else here relates, I’d love to hear how you’ve navigated this path. I’m just beginning mine, and it helps to know I’m not alone.

learningtore...

Date posted: 25w

Multiple Exposure Therapy???

Does anyone else have compulsions that mix in with each other and you have to end up picking what one makes you LESS scared or uncomfortable but it’s still overwhelming? Like rn I used all my hand towels, need to wash and dry them but no clean ones to dry hands with currently, a bath towel makes me feel like whatever was on my hair or body even after a shower is contaminated cause I don’t want it on my HANDS, but there’s one DRY and untouched towel but I think it’s contaminated by something else so I’m too scared to use it…. What do you do in this situation? It happens a lot when they intertwine and I dunno what to do ….. also what one is more or less valid…which one would help me more in the future. Regardless I’m sitting here thinking I have bleach or another chemical on my hands cause at the time I decided to dry my hands with the hair towel…

Young adults with OCD

tfland7

Date posted: 18w

Obsessive hand washing

I obsess constantly about my hands being dirty and feel like I can actually see the germs and bacteria crawling all over my hands if I can’t wash them as soon as I touch something. It’s really embarrassing since people in my life have noticed this “weird” behavior but it’s a huge problem for me and I don’t know how to make the obsessive thoughts stop.

Anonymous1486

Date posted: 18w

Is this OCD?

I’m hoping to get some feedback or hear if anyone else experiences similar things. Lately, I’ve been noticing a lot of repetitive behaviors and thoughts that feel hard to control. Some of those things are: - I often get this uneasy feeling, and if I don’t do certain things in a specific way, it just doesn’t feel "just right." - I have to wash my hands until it feels "just right," and if I try not to, I get a thought that something bad will happen if I don’t. - I dislike using public bathrooms and even shared bathrooms at home. - When I shower, I have to wear socks before stepping on the floor. If my feet touch the ground, I feel like I have to shower again. - I get hyper-fixated on cuts, worrying about them getting infected, and I avoid touching water or anything else to prevent bacteria, even if I can’t cover them with a bandaid. - I can’t use dishes that have just been washed because I think they haven’t been cleaned properly. Instead, I use the ones that have already been dried and stored. When I type (like on emails or texts), I’ll fix what I write over and over, trying to make it "just right." - I have a strange dislike for certain numbers (7, 4, and 6) and feel uncomfortable around them. - I also have to follow routines, like making my bed in a certain way, and I can’t stop until everything is in the right order. - I get stuck on intrusive thoughts, like needing to wash my hands repeatedly or constantly checking things (like if I turned off the stove) because I fear something bad will happen if I don’t. - I’ll even repeat things in my head, like words or phrases, to make the "just right" feeling go away. - Sometimes, I treat inanimate objects like they have feelings and worry about hurting them, even though I know it's not real. - I’ve always felt like I’m being watched, which causes a lot of distress. There’s more, but these are some of the main things. I feel like these thoughts and behaviors control a lot of my day, and I just can’t stop them even when I know they’re kind of irrational. Does this sound like it could be signs of OCD, or is it something else? Or just normal behavior?

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Any Gym goers that suffer?

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