- 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
I don’t really know how to start this honestly. It may be long winded. I’m not sure that I have OCD, I’m not trying to take away any experience from anyone but I don’t know how else to explain when I obsess and feel consumed and disturbed by thoughts like this. I’ve been good for a while, thoughts have been at bay, I haven’t googled anything either or had any bodily responses/urges. But I saw something in the news today that brought it back up and disturbed me and I’m back in that headspace again if worrying I’m a danger or a freak or gross. I’m feeling alone in this, I don’t know how to talk about it, and I don’t know how to move through it.
I don’t know ir this happens to anyone else, but everytime I see a really violent or disgusting new in TV or something I can’t get it off my head in all day, or even week. I have this now, and is really bothering me because when I saw the new, I was painting my room, and I just can’t stop thinking that when I finish painting, I will be like: Oh, remember?, when you were painting you saw that awful thing on the news. It always happens to me, when I buy myself clothing and I have an intrusive thought I’m like: Oh, now everytime I wear this I’m going to remember... I’m looking for a way to distract myself for that thought, to relax, or just see things in a more positive way, any recommendations?:(
Hey, this is my first time posting and to be honest my first time really openly talking about my ocd so I’m just going to talk into the void and see if it helps. I’m having a really hard time right now and I’ve seen that for a lot of people here that NOCD has a good community of people. There’s a lot overall to unpack but right now the thing I’m really struggling with is contamination (particularly focused around death and what objects might have come into contact with people who have died, basically.. my wife’s grandmother just passed and I’m having a really awful time. My mother passed a few years ago, which caused me to get really sick and this is the first death I’ve dealt with since and with everything coming into the house that belonged to her (she died in her house.) I keep feeling worse and worse. (This plus covid has been.. awesome.) Multiple showers, hand washing, changing clothes.. I feel really frustrated with myself and completely ashamed because I’m obviously not being a good enough partner. My wife has been there.. she’s trying, she’ll shower or wash her hands if I ask but not without getting furious with me first, she acts as if I’m lying if I say she touched something that really bothers me. She takes it very personally and tells me that I don’t trust her enough (if I’m Anxious and need something repeated.) tonight I got called crazy and honestly I just feel like an ass of a person.
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