- Username
- Lark G.
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Thanks everyone!! All your posts helped a ton. The anxiety did go down a lot. It helped for me to acknowkledge that I have done what I can and disgust is not going to harm me. It’s hard but I’m trying to move on. Thanks again for all the tips
Disgust is a harder emotion to habituate to than anxiety. Be patient with yourself. It's going to take a longer time without doing rituals for the feeling to fade
I know this feeling so well, not with blood anymore but other things like toxic chemicals etc. I know how it is to feel like something is “on you” and feels disgusting even if it isn’t a danger. I can say that with blood, germs etc I had to start sitting with it and exposing myself to it intentionally without washing afterwards. The exposure is so hard but after a couple months I would go to clean a bathroom and forget to even wear gloves until after I was done... or feelings of anxiety would sometimes come up when I was around blood and I would almost instantly let it go and forget about my OCD. ERP if consistently practiced really does help ! When I’m unsure if it’s my “OCD brain” talking or my “rational brain” I simply ask myself “how would someone else react ?”
This is my absolute worst ocd fear as well, Lark, so I get how you feel. Focus on that you've taken a shower w/soap, which means that you are clean, fact! (even if it feels like you're not). Most people probably wouldn't even notice, they would have just gone on with their day (and maybe not have taken a shower until the next morning). I understand how disgusting it must have been (not only ocd people would think that). But try telling yourself that "yes, that was gross, but I took a shower and I'm clean now, so I'm moving on from this." :)
God I fucking hate people. Dirty bastards!!!!!!!!! No fucking need for that howling behaviour, why don’t they clean after themselves it’s grotesque I’m sorry you’re feeling this way I would too if it’s any consolation. I’m not sure if any other techniques but people always say the anxiety decreases eventually so hang in there ?
Thanks guys. As an update, yes my anxiety has come down a lot. BUT. I’m still feeling dirty and I’m sure when I shower tonight I’m going to be long again. Even washing the clothes I wore, it may take me many times. I’m definitely frustrated that I didn’t check or notice it since I typically do and I’m frustrated that people are so rude to not clean up but trying not to focus on that. It’s so hard as even now I feel like I can still feel it in my hand which I know is not true. It’s almost like I was forced into a high exposure.
Sometimes that happens, no matter what our fears are. If possible, redireyrhe anger at the person to be anger at the OCD and use it to fuel doing the opposite of what OCD wants
Everyday I see a trigger that most people can walk away from but having contamination ocd I’m really struggling. Today I saw blood on the public bathroom floor and while I saw it before I stepped in the stall, I’m just really struggling now as I got close to it and public bath and blood are my trigger. Really looking for tools to fight that ocd voice please.
Trigger warning for contamination ocd. I saw a dark water spot on the bathroom floor. While it looked like water and not blood ocd keeps making me paranoid it was blood which is my major trigger. How should I deal with this uncertainty and what are some coping mechanisms I can use? Thanks in advance.
TRIGGER WARNING-Contamination OCD Today started with a crazy amount of stress due to the intrusive thoughts. Have a huge issue with the toilet in general, especially the flushing without the cover on. My brain believes that bacteria and microbes in general will fly from there to me and my things, and causes a big amount of distress. I am trying to be logical with it and understand that nothing will happen. But even the thought of being covered in that makes me wanna clean everything I have and shower. Let’s be clear mum’s bleaches it every day, but still when she does and gets out to continue her chores I’m afraid she carries something that will get on me. I am sorry, this is gross to everybody, but I need to listen to voice of reason, as this is getting every day more difficult to handle.
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