- Date posted
- Yesterday
Fiberglass exposure - Legitimate or OCD?
Hey everyone! Long time OCD sufferer and hypochondriac here. Wanted to get some perspective from people who understand the difference between rational concern and OCD taking over. I work in an office area adjacent to a manufacturing facility that produces fiberglass materials. I've noticed dust settling on my desk regularly. I've been experiencing sore throat and chest soreness, and I've been spiraling about whether it's fiberglass related. Here's where it gets complicated - I heard about two former colleagues who worked on the production floor for 10+ years each developed lung fibrosis. So there's a real history at my workplace. EHS is incompetent - there was literally an explosion and fire at the plant recently. One department even runs an air purifier in their area, which makes me wonder if others are quietly concerned too. For context on my exposure: the last two years I've been mostly remote with maybe 40% on-site presence, no mask during that time. It's only when I recently heard about those two colleagues that I looked into it and started wearing an N95 at my cube. Nobody else in the office wears one, they either don't feel irritated or choose to ignore it. I am the only one at my desk wearing N95 looking dumb lol. But here's what I know rationally: I work in an office, not the floor. Air locked doors separate production from office. I've been wearing an N95 for three months now. I understand it's peak allergy season. My OCD is making me seek reassurance constantly and I know that's the cycle. But I genuinely can't tell where legitimate concern ends and OCD begins. Do I have lung damage from inhaling microscopic fiberglass? I really need the job so can't quit right away. This is causing me immense anxiety.