I have been clinically diagnosed with OCD (contamination, relationship, sexual orientation). I have to pick up my mother in law from the airport today and I am dreading it. I’ve thought about nothing else for the last 4 days since she asked me to pick her up. I’m doing it because I know it will be an exposure. But I am so worried she has been sick or currently has symptoms. My big thing is sickness that causes throwing up (emetaphobia). Anyone else?

Recently, I’ve been struggling a ton with what I eat/put into my body? I’m a first year college student with a few different health issues (including IBS), and lately it’s been hard for me to find food on campus that doesn’t upset my stomach. I also have pretty severe emetophobia, and feel extremely anxious when I feel sick. The ironic thing is that being anxious makes me feel even worse, so I end up sticking myself in an impossible loophole. My OCD has taken hold of these fears over the past few months, and it’s been such a struggle. Especially since people have been getting food poisoning from various dining halls on my campus lately. My OCD has gotten so bad that sometimes I’m too afraid to eat food other than what I buy myself. I feel so trapped. I don’t want my OCD to affect my physical health or prevent me from eating, bc I love eating!! It’s the fear of getting sick that’s the problem. And it’s even harder when everything is so unfamiliar. Just wondering if anyone could relate. Advice is appreciated!

I just found out today that a family friend will be staying over at my house (I live with my parents) for a night. And I have contamination ocd and that’s causing me anxiety. I fear that her being here will contaminate my home, which is like my safe place. It’s hard just sitting with the anxiety. I want this day to be over! Does anyone have anything to support me? Thanks

This is my first time posting - I have a fear of throw up and I’ve been told it is cause from my OCD (repetitive thoughts) which makes sense because if someone gets sick it replays over and over again and I can’t get it out of my head. It’s gotten a lot worse in the past maybe two years. I’m always on edge that someone is going to get sick around me. I’ve heard the “best or most common” way to help with this is exposure therapy and OBVIOUSLY I don’t want to do that. Anyone have any tips or anything for this (or maybe have done the exposure therapy)?