I guess this is kind of reassurance seeking, but I'm curious as to what is "normal" for non-contamination ocd people. Do you guys wash your hands after handling things in your house? After literally just stepping out of the shower, I just accidentally touched something I purchased today. Normally I would wash my hands, but my husband discouraged me from doing so because he knew it would start a spiral of still not feeling clean and wanting to wipe things down. So then I had to open my drawers, put on my pajamas, and get into bed/touch our clean bedding. I'm obviously veryyyy uncomfortable. Is this something that would even register as a red flag on anyone's radar? I know some people have taken to wiping groceries down during the pandemic, but that's not the concern in this case.

I completely understand. I do the same thing ?. It’s so frustrating!

First, that’s awesome you went ahead and got dressed and got into bed, etc., despite feeling very uncomfortable. Well done. Second, I think your husband is “normal” (doesn’t havencontamination issues), right? It sounds like he doesn’t wash his hands after touching things in your house. It’s likely he could be a good role model for what normal looks like, maybe? Whatcha think? Again, that was brave of you to get into bed when you still felt dirty. I understand the need for bed to be “clean zone.”

Totally relate to this. And good job in doing an exposure

In my mind, I handled the item (a package of soap) after being in my car touching the dirty steering wheel and so its covered in germs from money and other people

I mean everyone’s OCD is different and there are so many ways it can present in self. And while ocd is much more debilitating than just washing hands after touching things, it can definitely be a symptom. For most people, their contamination ocd had been going on wayyyy before covid happened. So basically, ppl with ocd have a scary intrusive thought and their ocd tells them “if they don’t wash their hands or clean that down or do this ritual...so and so will happen.” Often times it’s more serious than just germs. It’s usually like “if I don’t clean this, my daughter will touch it and get sick and die” “if I don’t wash my hands enough than I’ll contaminate an older person” “I have to do this or something terrible will happen” or at least that’s what it feels like for me and of what I’ve heard from other ppl. I definitely don’t wanna discredit what you’re feeling, I just wanted to explain it more because I’ve seen a lot of people during this pandemic become more hyper aware of germs and jump quickly to thinking it’s OCD.

Also a lot of contamination OCD isn’t just germs. It often shows up as a fear of people places and things. Like I can’t let somebody who I don’t like, touch some thing of mine. I have to throw it out. Or like I can’t have certain furniture in my room because it’s contaminated with a bad thought or memory. Stuff like that.

That should say “easier said than done”. Dang autocorrect