NOCD

User type: Staff

Date posted: Yesterday

If public health headlines feel scary right now, we get it

OCD has a cruel tendency to target the things we care about most, like our health, our safety, and the safety of people we love. So, when public health news starts dominating headlines and social media feeds, it's not uncommon for OCD to seize on it and amplify fears. And, since many of us have painful memories of the COVID-19 pandemic, anything that recalls that time can feel especially triggering. If that's how you’re feeling right now, please know you're not alone—and there are ways to navigate this moment that can make it feel less overwhelming. First, give yourself permission to step back from your phone. Even the most rigorous researchers don’t have every single answer right now, but OCD hates uncertainty and may try to convince you that constantly checking the news, doomscrolling social media, or excessively searching online is the best way to calm your fears. In reality, however, these behaviors can feed the OCD cycle, heightening anxieties and making it harder to make informed decisions or determine what information is actually helpful. Instead, consider setting limits on how often and how long you engage with news coverage. Second, remember that public health experts exist specifically for moments like this. There are people all over the world whose job it is to watch, respond, and communicate. Right now, those people are busy gathering all the data they can and communicating everything they know. You don't have to (and can't) monitor everything yourself. No one can tell you exactly how the future will unfold, and OCD might tell you that's unacceptable. But sitting with that uncertainty, rather than reinforcing its power by trying to fight it off, is one of the most useful skills you can practice. The uncertainty is real, but so is your ability to handle it—and if you need support, this community is always here. Our therapists are also available, especially if you need help with managing OCD during these times. Does this resonate with you? Let us know how you're feeling in the comments. You're not alone. 💙

QuinnBie

Date posted: Yesterday

Totally resonates with the Hantavirus headlines. Definitely triggering.

thegirlwhocr...

Date posted: 20h

This is a great reminder. My biggest issue right now is trying to trust the "public health experts." Mostly because I have no faith in the U.S. government. But I trust the individual scientists that do the work to protect us. 💕

AnonymousDud...

Date posted: 19h

@thegirlwhocriedbirb That’s common for a lot of us these days. You’re not alone on that.

brianna97

Date posted: Yesterday

I definitely needed to see this. I've been spiraling so hard with the public health news tonight, and having a hard time with the uncertainty- I keep having this feeling that I need minute-by-minute updates in order to feel certain and stable. This post was a great reminder that living with uncertainty is okay, and no amount of searching for answers right now will bring me certainty 🩷

Teal kitty

Date posted: 20h

@brianna97 Minute to minute updates and the need for cleanliness

kazen

Date posted: Yesterday

Yes I had to delete facebook and tictok because it’s my whole feed atm and I kept scrolling looking for answers that I couldn’t find

TheObsessive...

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: Yesterday

@kazen God same. And i dont know what to do. ERP brain knows to just sit with it but i feel so stuck and can’t stop scrolling??!’

kazen

Date posted: 22h

@TheObsessiveCompulsiveL I don’t know much but I do know that looking for answers via social media or even the internet in general only helps for a little bit but it’s a bad habit that will make you feel stuck and hopeless this virus isn’t new is what I keep telling myself and it’s true but it’s hard for me to believe myself sometimes yk it’s definitely bad and I wish I wasn’t scrolling social media yesterday morning I was doing good until boom and that’s all I have been thinking about convincing myself I have it even though I know I don’t I feel crazy sometimes yk

TheObsessive...

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: Yesterday

Im getting worse flashbacks than ever to when the first outbreaks happened. Hearing about the hantavirus makes me feel like my brain is going to explode. I just want to cry

Chessmixxd

Date posted: 19h

My reaction to this post is a lot different than everyone else's. I was unaware of the viruses existence before now. Maybe if it had popped up on my social media first and then had seen this post, I'd feel more calmed. But... I don't know. Like most, my OCD "demands" answers, and I find it's worsened by vagueness. I'm unsure of where that comes from. I hope this doesn't come off as me being critical! I'm just... I just feel *more* upset now, and I wanted to explore it in case other people felt the same? Like, my OCD wants to believe that this is situation is serious because a post had to be made about it, as if that indicates a level severity.

Puzzlegirl91

Date posted: 19h

@Chessmixxd I 100% agree!

Buddy2024

Date posted: 20h

Oh bringing me right back to 2020

Teal kitty

Date posted: 20h

Since exposing myself with therapy, I feel very vulnerable my ocds that I once felt I had control of now have amped up and with something’s has gotten worse than others

Anonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 20h

I’m glad this came up on the feed. Definitely triggered and obsessing over this. Brings back bad memories of the pandemic.

Divinelixir

Date posted: 20h

This reach out couldn’t have come at a better time. Hantavirus is starting to flood my Facebook feed. As someone with multiple chronic illnesses that have been exacerbated by getting COVID numerous times, this has me on edge. I go camping every weekend, mice are part of that life - so of course this started to stir up some panic. Appreciate this and I will take it as a sign that my thoughts to deactivate are in my best interest!

Anonymous

Date posted: 19h

I get the intent here, but “public health experts exist” lands weird. It’s sort of dismissive, like saying “let the adults handle it.”

Zach H

Date posted: 19h

I didn’t know about this until this notification popped up from the app. Now I am currently spiraling and freaking out about it. I’m thinking that since NOCD felt the need to post about this that I should be seriously worrying about it. I’m only 2 sessions into therapy and haven’t started ERP yet. Anyone have any tools to help me calm down and not become absolutely debilitated by this news?

abbyg@tor

Date posted: 18h

@Zach H Something that helps me whenever I feel intensely triggered is to tell myself “I feel really anxious right now. That is okay. I can sit with this feeling even though it’s uncomfortable.” OCD tells you the anxiety is urgent and you must do something about it right away. But you don’t need to do something to neutralize the anxiety. You are capable of feeling it! Hang in there ❤️

Zach H

Date posted: 18h

@abbyg@tor Thank you! I’m trying my best to not check out the news and social media about this now that I’m aware of it. I know a lot of the information will be misinformation and some people just trying to scare/put fear into others.

abbyg@tor

Date posted: 18h

@Zach H Yes, avoid it all costs because people love to fear monger unfortunately

Alycia DiNardo

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 20h

Thank you for this ❤️

Anonymous

Date posted: 20h

I needed this!!!

kugolik

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 20h

Needed this today!

garren0712

Date posted: 20h

Literally started reassurance seeking with Google and chat gpt😭

Marisa F

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 19h

I really needed to see this.

rileyjo13

Date posted: 19h

I am spiraling. I need to stop searching it

Anonymous

Date posted: 19h

Thank you. I needed to hear this. I’ve been scrolling more and more and I can tell I’m feeding the beast, but it’s been very hard to disengage. This is a good reminder that I need to continue living my life and not allowing the cycle and fear debilitate me.

Anonymous

Date posted: 19h

I literally was re washing my hands right before I read this😭. I haven’t been googling at least

Price18

Date posted: 19h

Thank you! 🙏🏻

sas17

Date posted: 17h

Thank you for this post. My biggest fear right now is RFK Jr’s latest initiatives regarding SSRI’s. Antidepressants have helped me immensely and saved my life. I agree that ERP therapy, diet, exercise, etc. are all very important in recovery. But SSRI’s have helped me to do all of those. It’s a multi-faceted approach when treating OCD and I hope that this latest campaign does not undo decades of progress in treating this debilitating illness.

Jesse Mountain

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 17h

My OCD has always tried to make me feel like Covid and this current administration is all my fault. It’s really the reason I first sought out therapy in the first place.

tcamper23

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 16h

Thank you for the article. I’ve definitely been doomscrolling social media. Setting screen time limits for certain apps and muting words related to this news hasn’t been perfect but it’s helped reduce the feelings of spiraling.

mariecee

Date posted: 1h

This made me feel less alone. Thank you.

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