- Date posted
- 7y
- Date posted
- 7y
I like your idea of following the surgeon approach. Hadn't heard about it before myself!
- Date posted
- 7y
I have to disagree with using the surgeon's method (unless you are actually performing surgery). I am sure the commenter meant well but I have been dealing with hand washing compulsions off and on since I was 6 years old. My hands frequently bleed from washing too much. I even had my dermalogist tell me to STOP because I was going to end up getting an infection from the broken skin. When you feel the urge to constantly wash your hands even though
- Date posted
- 7y
*youve already thoroughly washed them, let the thought exist but resist the compulsion. Tell yourself it's just your OCD talking and try to resist the compulsion. It's much easier said than done - trust me I struggle with it constantly. Ocd will get weaker when you accept that your fear is coming from your OCD and then resisting the compulsion. It's so hard, I know. Hang in there and know you're not alone. Also, aquaphor helps!
- Date posted
- 7y
My suggestion was more something to start with – sorry if that was unclear. It was meant to help you get the compulsions themselves under control and to limit them; it isn't a permanent solution by any means. It's somewhere to start until you can make progress in therapy. OCD treatment usually starts with little steps – my compulsions are routine-based, and my treatment began with helping my compulsion to wear only certain articles of clothing to bed. It began with me changing my ankle socks to tube socks.
- Date posted
- 7y
I don't want to sound critical but I also have OCD- hand washing issues and I don't even wash for 3-5 minutes. That is way to long. And frankly, the suggestion is a tiny bit triggering to some with that OCD. There is a reason surgeons wash that long but we are not all surgeons. I can assure you, no amount of hand washing will protect you from ever getting the flu again. It's not like you can avoid that. I mean you can...if you live in a bubble but that's no fun. I've had the stomach flu so often I'm building an immunity. And I wash my hands and I still happen to get it. It is unavoidable but you can't live in a bubble. But I do agree that it would be very hard to cut out hand washing cold turkey. You can start by lessening the length of time. Or if you feel the need to wash when you really know it's an OCD compulsion, delay the compulsion for a little bit. It's hard and something I struggle with too, but it's possible! Talk to your therapist. I hope they are knowledgeable of ERP and how to help you fight through this urge!
Related posts
- Date posted
- 22w
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!
- Date posted
- 22w
Hi, I’m new to this app and newly diagnosed. Question for you all, What things did you normalize and do without a second thought that when diagnosed, you realized was actually your OCD? Mine was how concerned with germs I am. I hold my breath when I open a door so the rush of wind doesn’t infect my lungs from whatever is in the room. I thought everyone was really careful and concerned like me. But Ive learned it’s not normal the lengths I go to. What was yours?
- Date posted
- 21w
Im having a OCD specifically contamination OCD flare up all month and I don’t want to feel this way going into March, I’ve thrown out clothes, towels, stayed up for hours doing compulsions, washed my hands till they crack and bleed, I have washing pilling up cause I’m so overwhelmed by all the extra things I’ve added cause I thought it was contaminated. It’s completely draining me to the point where I’ve become sleep deprived and are avoiding part of my home because they are deemed contaminated to me…I only moved in a few months ago, I had a roach problem and using baits and insecticides really messed with my ocd too. anyone have any tips or tricks to make this easier? I wasn’t doing this bad in January :( thankyou in advance :)
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