I’m trying so hard to not feel anxious about the coronavirus but I feel like everyone around me is panicking. They’re canceling all of the sports at my school and they just cancelled prom and there’s talk about closing school for two weeks. I’m trying not to freak out but how can I not when I’m surrounded by panic??

It’s hard not to for sure. Especially for us with OCD, when people without OCD are freaking out about health it makes people with OCD feel 10x more vulnerable. My suggest would be to just take the precautions you can and sit with the anxiety. This is a case where it’s ok to be cautious and worried. If intrusive thoughts are really bothering you try doing some distraction activities! Avoid getting online or reading the media the best you can and have people only tell you what you absolutely need to know

I feel you...its been a ton of surprise information all at once!! Maybe try altering your perspective on them closing school. HHow can this be a good things??..it is as a preventative, its good public safety, you get extra time off work or school!! More time to relax and rest to avoid germs and others. Plus as a ocd suffer I already lysol everything and dont touch doorknobs so for me it My OCD seems normalized. Good luck! I know its its scary... you are not alone

It’s really hard because people are enabling OCD behavior, so how are we supposed to get out of the cycle? I have contamination OCD and GAD so I’ve been giving into my compulsions big time. I have allergies right now but my brain keeps saying ‘what if’. I literally just had a panic attack and don’t know what to do