*not seeking reassurance* just wondering if anyone can relate... my contamination OCD has many things throughout my house that I avoid, but I find myself THINKING I touched them when I walk by them or got too close. Does anyone else experience this? And how do you handle it? Because the “WHAT IFS” have been kicking my ass lately! I just want to enjoy my life and stop walking on eggshells everywhere! Even in public! A 15 minute target run turns into an hour because I have to avoid walking to close to others or if a kid runs to close to me I have to put everything back and get a different one of each because my OCD tells me then I’m taking these “germs” home with me...

I'm the same with the sink. And it's as if it doesnt matter if I clean it, it's like it gets dirty again as soon as someone washes in it.

@catattak Yeh I would love a germ expert to talk to me about these things and put my mind at ease that the sink is fine etc .. I need the scientific / expert opinions to shut my brain down and silence the doubts and what iffs

YES! I deal with the same thing like washing my hands several times and I go through so many clothes because if my foot touched my shorts (especially at bed time) then they have to get re washed! Or if they fall from the dryer on the floor=back to the washer they go! It’s sooo frustrating because not only is it more work but I spend so much money on laundry detergent and my water bill and everything! And my BF and I just bought our first house so having all these utility bills and then having them be so much higher because of my OCD just makes me sooo angry!

@StefH I'm the same with too much clothes washing. I literally am just dealing with it now in terms of letting it go but I really think that's my meds doing it and erp working. If I wash my hands and some soap splashes on my shirt before I feel my hands were clean (meaning the soap splash wasnt clean either) it drives me bonkers. Previously that would have made me change my shirt. Now I'm just sitting with it. And honestly like my hands try not to touch that specific spot during the day but at least I'm not changing my shirt anymore and I hope I keep progressing.

@catattak Yes! That is progress!!! That’s awesome! As far as ERP what are you doing to reduce the amount laundry of laundry

Cool that's good to hear ?

I liked how you worded it as it doesn’t truly matter! Pretty much reminding ourselves there is more important things in our lives then these irrational fears. Even though the OCD makes it feel like it is the only thing that matters and that we can’t move on until we give in. But it’s crazy to think how much time (at least I know myself) waste doing the compulsions! And not only time but money! For how much soap I go through and Lysol wipes and all that. It all adds up! What frustrates me is that I know all this and how much of a waste of time, energy, happiness, and sometimes it also almost gets to the point where it costs me my relationship, why isn’t all that enough to ignore the compulsions?????

It doesn't truly matter ! I like that

Yeah it’s so frustrating and when you said about walking it made me think about how when I am out in public and there might be something on the ground that is either a tissue or the worst for me is like a clear plastic bag because my first thought is what if that was a condom and I touched it with my shoe or my arm was down at my side and it could of touched it and then it’s just a whirlwind of anxiety and fears and irrational thoughts

@StefH I totally get you on this. I have scanned the streets after condoms too. Everyday I try to "just walk" as normal people...but its hard.

Your not alone!!! I’m glad that I’m not either! Since it isn’t really like any of my other compulsions but it really is an avoidance compulsion!