Major health theme

@ezzieorsomething Hi there! Thank you so much for your reply. I’m treating everything as it should be tomorrow morning. He’s getting his monthly deworming pill (I use cestem) and I’ll look for a prescription of flea meds. It’s true that I’ve only spotted one and there are no signs of tapeworm segments, but I guess this is just a huge spiral because I sleep next to him! :(

@anonymous_purple💜 TW: Gross pet stuff and parasites No I totally get that. I will say I worked in kennels, animal shelters, and vet office for years around dogs with active parasite infections even treated dogs for parasites, and haven't caught anything. (I've had dog feces flung probably on every part of my body at some point T__T) I know I can't give you 100 percent assurance of course. Parasites are nasty I totally get it. But I sleep in bed with my dog too. (He's in my picture!) He's usually under the blankets with me. I've caught a stray flea bite or two in my life. also, Dawn dish soap is a good impromptu flea bath. (To get rid of any active fleas on him) It's used on kittens and puppies (who are always COVERED In fleas when they get dropped off in shelters) to help get rid of it. it's more gentle on his skin than harsh flea shampoo. The dawn dish soap strips the fleas waxing coating so they drown. but if you can get some kind of flea shampo that will also help keep them at bay while you get medication.

@ezzieorsomething I’m aware that people work with ongoing and more dangerous infections everyday and don’t usually experience any of the worries I have. However, I just can’t stop myself from getting absolutely scared over everything. Life’s been tough this summer, very tough. And this was just the last thing I needed to go through. I know I can’t do anything else today and that I’ll handle everything tomorrow. I’d say that the huge spiral is because objectively I am next to my dog everyday and he sleeps on my bed. But I think that in different circumstances, my brain would latch onto whatever it could anyway. Thank you so much for your tips again, I can never stop thanking you. Also, your dog is super cute!! ^^

@anonymous_purple💜 Oh of course! no worries. And as you said, you can't help what your OCD latches onto. And also it's not like parasites are some irrational thing. You did deal with your dog being infected before, which I'm sure is compounding the stress you're already going on. My ocd loves to latch onto health and real life stuff too so, I'm in the same boat. Hopefully you don't think I say that stuff to point out that your fears are "flawed" or anything like that. Just offering you some experience of my own dealing with that stuff over the years. I've actually had parasite spirals before myself. It's totally understandable. I'm sorry you're going through a tough time, and yeah, the last thing you needed was to deal with fleas. Try to take it easy if you can. (Also thank you! I love that little weird he's my tiny angel!)

@ezzieorsomething I think that what haunts me the most about this subject is the harm that could be caused to others. You know, the usual worries of: what if it affects my dog or my family? It’s a little sad because I don’t care much about myself. It’s just that there’s too much going on my life right now. It’s a mixture of harm, real event, contamination and health themes and it’s driving me crazy. Also, dealing with this during a heartbreak…what type of punishment is this :(.

@anonymous_purple💜 Yeah, I'm kind of the same way. I don't often care what happens to me, but when it involves people around me I get very upset. (Like even trying to send replies on here, I'm extremely concerned if I'm overextending, being too much, or coming off not how I intend and hurting or freaking someone out.) Life really likes piling up on people for no reason :/ I know this isn't a lot coming from a stranger, (and sometimes I tend to not be able to take compliments myself) and we only talk on here, but you seem like a caring good person and I feel terrible you're going through this right now and hope that things can get better for you in some way.