- Username
- Ceej
- Date posted
- 4y ago
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- Username
- sara235sara235
- Date posted
- 4y ago
I relate to this sooooo much. Based on my conversations with my therapist, I’m deferring to CDC recommendations. BUT the key is to not go above and beyond (i.e. not taking “wash for 20 seconds” to mean “wash four times in a row for a minute each time”). Totally understand that it’s a tough balancing act, but having good (reasonable, medically directed) hand hygiene is a good idea at a time like this. You’re definitely not alone. I feel like I’m living in one, six-week long ERP exercise right now.
- Username
- CeejCeej
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Yes. This. But the guilt is starting to get to me. My ability to self evaluate is totally shot, between the ERP treatment that lessened the contamination OCD down to nearly nothing and the American tendency to be required to work when sick. I don’t trust my brain anymore to tell me anything true regarding illness, and the additional confusion of jobs that would have penalized me for NOT coming into work sick, now expecting me to stay home (but still penalizing next) makes me just want to stay in this bed and not come out until it’s over. And since the CDC recommended that vulnerable populations try to avoid going out, and I live with members of that population, that might not even be unreasonable! What a mess. Also, every time I see that handwashing recommendation I just want to up it to 40 seconds. Let’s kill off norovirus while we’re at it
- Username
- Sunrise22Sunrise22
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Hi Ceej! I can understand how you feel that way. If it were me, I would continue with the treatment. The odds of this virus becoming a major issue in the U.S. seems really low. I’m assuming that your therapist isn’t having you avoid basic hygiene practices like good hand washing? If there starts to be an indication that constant hand sanitizer or masks are needed, then I think that would be appropriate for you to take part in but not at this point
- Username
- CeejCeej
- Date posted
- 4y ago
The problem is the stuff I was supposed to stop doing (avoiding touching doorknobs, using hand sanitizer, not washing my hands so frequently) are now exactly what I’m supposed to be doing by the CDCs guidelines. So it’s a conflicting situation where I’ve trained my brain to not do these things, now the CDC is saying do them, and I have loads of guilt because I WAS doing these things and STOPPED. Ugh. So frustrating.
- Username
- FathomableFathomable
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Oof yeah. It's like having an eating disorder when you're overweight. Everything and everyone encourages you to do behaviours which trigger ED compulsions or which are actually part of it. It makes me seriously angry.
Related posts
- Username
- Scanny
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Does anyone feel extreme OCD guilt for going out during this virus? I can’t get the guilt out of my head. I have been practicing social distancing and only going out when I need to now for the last week. I just keep thinking when I went to a store that wasn’t necessary what if I passed this virus to someone?
- Username
- Rosie38
- Date posted
- 4y ago
I'm finding it very hard at the minute in relation to Covid 19. Ocd tells me contamination is everywhere, even just walking past someone in a shop, even they haven't touched me I feel that they have contaminated on me by things shedding from their clothes. If they aren't wearing a mask I feel they have contaminated me by just breathing. I was stripping off my clothes after coming in from outside but I'm tryi g not to do that and I'm finding it very difficult. It very hard at the minute to distinguish what is a rational thing to do and not a safety behaviour. Just in a constant state of worry. Can anyone relate or help in any way?
- Username
- Amanda J
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Anyone else struggling with contamination OCD more than usual since covid? I have contamination OCD that has spiraled out since covid which causes my anxiety and panic disorder to spiral out too. I was checking my temperature 6 times a day, my hands are raw from washing them so much, I have only been able to go to work then I have to rush home to shower, etc. I am just starting out on my exposure therapy journey, so hopefully it will really help. I feel like everything has covid and I can't rest until I have sanitized EVERYTHING! Does anyone else feel this way? What is one thing that has really helped you?
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