Hi, I need a wee bit of help. I realise I've posted alot on here lately and Im concious everyone else needs help too so I will try to help others as best I can but I am in the middle of erp at the minute and struggling everyday. Due to corona virus I hve a ritual around washing clothes. I strop off clothes that may have been cintaminated frim outside and I put them in the wash basket. When I am doing the washing I'm so careful not to cross contaminate do I bring the dirty washimh downstairs and then I wash my hands an the basket that I touched, and the washing machine handle and then my hands again before I put the clean washing in the basket to hang up. I rarely let my partner do the washing as I know she thinks this is over the top. She did the washing today and I'm having anxiety as normally the clothes sit in the basket for 24 hours before I do the washing and clothes that were in the basket from being out last night were on top. She did none of my cleaning behaviours so now I am freaking out that the clean clothes are no longer clean and that corona virus is all over them and the house. Again If it was a totally irrational fear I coukld rode out the anxiety but corona virus is real so now I'm scared that we will get it. What do I do?? Are my behaviours that I have outlined over the top irrational?? Did she do the right thing?? Are we safe??????? Please help.

I’m sorry you’re struggling! I think probably many of our fears have a thread of rationality to them. If we could prove beyond a doubt that our fears are irrational, then there’d be no need for an app like this. The uncertainty is what eats away at us. I suggest sitting with the uncertainty.

Help please

Ugh I'm so sorry. I'm struggling with this today too. I went putntondo gardening today and my partner stored some paper goods we just bought on the shelving in the garage right up next to my work gloves. I didnt notice, grabbed my gloves and went and sweated and wiped my face and nose and all that stuff with my gloves. Only when I got back in did I see the recent purchase where my gloves go. I asked if that was indeed the new purchase and he said yes. I'm losing my brains because I was touching my face with the dirty gloves and sweating into my eyes nose and mouth. I've been crying for two hours and ruminating. Nothing can be done now because in my mind I've already inhaled it and its touched all the mucous membranes in my face. I feel so betrayed and terrified. My partner is at his wits end with me. He blames me. And maybe hes right? Realistically, both you and I should not have to worry. The cdc doesnt tell us to wipe down recent purchases or change/wash clothes when we get home. I'm freaking out. I dont even believe what I just wrote haha. But I'm trying to be positive.

Are you seeing an OCD therapist?