Dear all, I could really do with some advice from someone having experience with ocd about washing. I'm soo fed up with it right now. Whenever I'm out with someone they usually touch all kinds of surfaces that a million people before them have already touched, they touch their face, eat without washing their hands before, they touch me and it's grossing me out. I can literally see the germs being transferred from one surface to the other and I can't stop worrying about it (these days it's even worse due to Corona) and it's so bad that I'm having troubles following the conversation. It's really annoying and I want it to stop. Can anyone give me some ideas about how to tackle this? Suggestions for exposures? Experiences? I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you for your comment. Avoidance is not really what I'm looking for, it will only make it worse when I don't wear gloves then. How did you get better in the end?

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DU6D-YA25RfQ&ved=2ahUKEwis69H9tYnoAhWlhXIEHaUMD5EQjjgwAHoECAEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2ptleBszBRzgZErquS5AGc a video

@NOCD Advocate - Katie Thanks so much, I guess that's what I'll need to do then. It seems very hard ?

@Maybe It is, but you can start small to build up your confidence

@Maybe That’s very advanced. I started erp 3 weeks ago and right now I’m not allowed to use hand sanitizer, I need to write out all my obsessions & compulsions each day so I’m more aware of them, and at work I can only wash hands before eating or after using bathroom and at home on weekends - other than bathroom & food, I need to try not to wash my hands more often than every 2 hours. For things I think are contaminated, right now my focus is lean into it. Eg if my boyfriend is wearing a “dirty” jacket, I should hug him. This is hard but easier bc I love him and want to hug him. When you’re with someone in public, it sounds like your compulsion is thought spirals about contamination. So try to just set aside contamination thoughts and don’t ruminate. Even delaying compulsions helps. So even if you tell yourself, I’m going to think about the contamination tomorrow or when I get home, that delay - ideally - will make you lose interest in thinking about it.

@??? Thanks so much. Your post really helps me to see how to start this. I take it you are seeing a therapist? And since you mention your boyfriend, may I ask how he is involved? Is he understanding? Does he wash his hands before touching you for example? I had huge fights about it with my ex because I wanted him to wash his hands whenever we came home, but he either refused or did it grudgingly.

@Maybe Yes been seeing therapist for 3 weeks but been on meds 20 years. My bf is pretty clueless. He knows I have ocd but doesn’t ask details. I didn’t want him to accommodate my ocd because I had a prior long term relationship where they accommodated all my washing hands, shower and laundry requests — which just fed the ocd. Def don’t do this. My bf also has slight contamination ocd which may be why he doesn’t ask more. One of the reasons I fell for him was because he carries around hand sanitizer ??‍♀️

@??? Hahaha okay well in this case I'd say it's great that you found someone with kind of the same issue, I think it must make things a lot easier. And I find it awesome that you decided not to include him into any rituals! :)