Fear of germs, bodily fluids, and dirt: Doctor explains contamination (cleanliness) OCD

[@Livinglife595]

My ocd comes from the fear of people not washing their hands after going to the loo. So absolutely anything anywhere can be touched by any one who doesn’t wash their hands after coming out of the loo. I can’t cope with this any more. I’m tired

[@melplayssims2812]

same here. my dad almost never washes his hands :(

[@Livinglife595]

@@melplayssims2812 i don’t understand people who don’t wash their hands afterwards. I felt better during covid because everyone started washing their hands like it was some new craze

[@CP-jk8nm]

This is my reasoning as well. I've seen plenty of people do this after using the loo and then they touch everything.

[@vaishalipatel8249]

How are you dealing with it Im struggling too

[@NishaSharma-pw4gm]

This!!!

[@jimenajs5121]

All of my life my family has told me that I am "exaggerating" and that "there is no need to take a shower first, just come as you are" and it genuinely hurts me. I can't do sleep overs, I can't go into public restrooms because I know that all I will want to do is leave and go home and shower. I hate the feeling of someone's bed sheets being dirty and smelling not-clean, or sitting on a chair and knowing that it probably is contaminated and that no one has cleaned it in many years. After 23 years of struggling with this, I finally asked for help. I went to a psychiatrist and she explained to me that meds will definitely help but I have to go to therapy to change my behaviors. Thank you for sharing your knowledge! It truly helps me feel like I am less alone and that there are other people out there struggling with this, too.

[@iamsexxy]

I dont think its a problem. I think your “ocd” is rational because anything public is really dirty! 🤮

[@bonniea8189]

Yeah my family and partner want me to change and I don't really want to. My contamination OCD isn't as bad as yours, but it does sometimes affect things.

[@jimenajs5121]

@@bonniea8189 I hope that soon you can find help and live in peace 🤍 Wishing you the best

[@bonniea8189]

@@jimenajs5121 Thank you, same to you!

[@NiceIce923]

You're definitely not alone, I used to feel alone too for a very long time, in fact...I had OCD for about 6 years and never knew what was wrong with me, until someone saw my box of hand sanitizer I brought 4 years before covid and asked me if I have OCD, I just laughed it off (because I thought someone with OCD lives extremely neat), it always stuck with me why he thought I have OCD, then one day I thought maybe he was right, maybe that's what's wrong with me, so I started to Google and saw that I have many of those symptoms (obsessions and compulsions) and that there are many types of OCD! I was shocked but I felt some relief knowing what's wrong with me. Covid made it worse, but I'm a lot better now (thank God), I also find it hard to sit on chairs... when I visit someone, it would take me really long before I sit, many think it's strange, but luckily many know now about my OCD, because I talk about my struggles. However I also don't like to sleep over nor to visit people and eat at their place, I always avoid such, because it's always very awkward and very hard for me.

[@rachelwalker1135]

The issue that I have is that they assume that those of us with contamination OCD is about illness, but for me it is the fear of the bodily fluids and not disease. I don't think anything bad will happen. I just have a fear of the grossness of the fluids, It would be helpful if OCD therapists covered this too,

[@TheShogun88]

My Cleaning OCD started during Covid, and now I overdue washing my hands, and overdue using hand sanitizer. My work area im always cleaning using Lysol disinfectant spray on my desk, inside my office, door nob, light switch. I understand that I’m overthinking germs, and I overdue the disinfecting,but old habit are hard to break I’m so fearful of getting sick, and giving to my family because I didn’t wash my hands enough or use enough hand sanitizer when at work.

[@MusicLuv80]

My ocd makes me clean everything but I can’t use Lysol or other cleaning chemicals because I am also ocd about chemicals. I use baby wipes.

[@ikewhite6832]

I know logically I won't die, but emotionally, I don't want to risk it.

[@breezem77]

THIS is ocd. Its hard to understand until you have it.

[@hilenijoseph8496]

Suffering with thus so bad it's affecting my life and people think I'm crazy 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@BackToSquare1]

Idk if I have OCD but I worry about this way more than everyone else I know. It’s so difficult living like this because I’m always worried about stupid shit. It definitely ramped up after covid messaging was about cleaniness and it made me think about how all the germs move around and contaminate things. The worst thing is living with a shared dorm bathroom. I take at least 5 minutes wiping down the toilet and I just feel so bad using the bathroom it’s so terrible and stressful

[@anthonykonecny5907]

I definitely can agree with you on that. What's weird for me was that before Covid hit I never really worried about Germs because it never really phased me. During Covid (I had just gotten out of 10th grade) I remember not going anywhere, except my best friends house, mainly because I didn't drive at the time plus I was worried of going out amongst people who could have Covid. I haven't been to a Therapist before but I can kinda tell that I had some form of ocd. Of course I've gotten better but it still lingers on the back of my mind whenever I work around gross stuff at my 1st job at times

[@coolso0oz]

Me too

[@rolbebas]

How to tell the difference between a real danger and an OCD thought? Having contamination OCD I don't want to expose myself to the harmful thing

[@Krrrish10]

It really helps❤️.Thanks for posting such videos otherwise this topic is so much underrated in the society I’m living..Expecting more such videos regarding contamination & dirt kind of OCD 🙏

[@hlwanrubyaung1064]

Idk if i have ocd but I'm a late teen with a weak immune system. I've always been very paranoid about germs, especially bodily fluids. My family knows about my extreme disgust towards contamination and weirdly textured stuff but I was basically scolded me out of my germophobia lmao. I've become more willing to dirty myself now but I still can't fully let my guard down. I know this sounds silly but my family just made me do a lot of dishes as a joke and I am completely overwhelmed by it. The leftover food and scraps that people leave in their plates digust me to no end. I'm here trying to finish this pile with tears down my face and gagging as I watch this video to calm myself lol.

[@isabellaraylahrose570]

I hope you strengthen up and move out. Honestly, they do not need to feed your habit abd have u cry over it. Family should understand and respect your fears. Everyone has fears. In the meantime, just so u know u can live with a little germs. We can start working on our immunity. Listen to some frequencies, do some meditation or find someone to talk to. My best wishes on your recovery on it one day. All the best!

[@davidstearns4624]

I struggle a lot with "perfect" hand washing, this could help alot, thank you

[@MrEightleggedfreak]

My problem is I don't have fear of germs or bacteria but i'm like death for example physical dirt like olive oil , stains , grease , and afraid if I not clean it instantly I will walk over it and spread it the whole house and even take it in my bedroom... I don't allow visitors in my house because I don't know for example where they have been sitting on before they came in to my house. Like I don't have control over it.. And than I panick etc. I really wanna get over it. I really have it only with my house. I'm not having it if i'm on vacation..... Can anyone help me

[@meelamiela]

I have been telling my friends I have a fear of poop particles (the air after flushing or going into a bathroom after someone has numba two’d) as well as a fear of dirty small spaces (the gap between the stove and counter, the space between the fridge and wall, right under kitchen cabinets where your feet can sometimes go). Also, MOLD, COBWEBS, AHHH. Other than that it’s weird cause like, I don’t really think about other dirty things 🤷🏾‍♀️. Atleast it’s helps me be clean I guess🥲

[@stranger_45276]

same here 😢 I don't know why i hate poop it just feels disgusting to me .. always thinking if people have washed their hands aftr poo what if not how many places they have touched and many more thoughts 😭😭 after sitting on pot always thinking about my clothes are now dirty 😭 I'm so frustrated...i just want I'll have hearattack n I'll die in peace

[@meelamiela]

@@stranger_45276 YES like im permanently infected 😭. Im sure it’s OCD lol.

[@joyyu7753]

I honestly feel like most people could do more with hand washing, I feel like im making up for people's lack of hygiene in the outside world

[@carrotcakelover2]

exactly!!!

[@rosielee6221]

I have fear of uncleanliness as form of OCD but mainly from myself as I am scared of touching everything at home that I think has been exposed to contamination. I clean everything with military precision and it is more to do with feeling out of control and being back in control with the precisions and not being afraid of dying.☹️

[@harrysmith8329]

How are you now? How does uncleanliness ocd work because I think I have it but I’m not sure

[@rosielee9973]

@@harrysmith8329 being OCD is all about in control of yourself as you feel everything around you is out of control and it is all about being unsecured. My stemmed from childhood...four of us siblings were toddlers when we got sent to Hong Kong to be under the guardianship of our grandparents.From being small we thought our grandparents were our parents. When we got to around the ages of ten, my eldest two sisters got sent back to UK to live with our parents and basically they were complete strangers to us. After the departure of my two sisters, I kind of inherited what was left of her belongings and her top bunk bed. I recalled pinching myself repeatedly after they left as I was upset and feeling insecured. Now they call it self harm as a feeling of being not in control of your situation. I was afraid of being sent back to UK like my sisters. The self harm disappeared and came back years later as a form of OCD with cleanliness. Something in my life happened and it triggered it off. I am learning to control it.

[@isabellaraylahrose570]

Hi, I know that feeling. I lost control as a result of failures and depression. After 3 decades of depression and 5 years of ocd, I am beginning to understand that it is because i lost direction as that is why I fell to ocd. I am trying hard to regain control of my life. Hope you find peace soon.

[@myanimallifeannavanrijnswo5273]

Thanks for this video, i have struggled with this form of OCD for a very large part of my life, having it start in childhood. What i also have is that things can feel dirty, like after shaking someones hand i get so uncomfortable and anxious, and it's almost like my skin is on fire if i can't wash my hands emediatly after, same with something like a public table, especially if it looks gross. Also anything sticky or wet makes me feel so gross and anxious, i have gotten panic attacks because i couldn't get the sticky substance off my hand 🙃 Also have a shower routine, and if i have touched something dirty, handwashing or a hygienic wipe or hand sanitizer, if i feel something dirty or touched something dirty emediatly after, i need to redo the process, resulting in a never ending circle, especially when at home. Any tips to break such a cycle? Once i start i can't stop.. Anyway sorry for the long response, i love your videos and learn a lot from them and make me feel less completely loco 😅

[@isabellaraylahrose570]

I totally feel you… I was like this a few days ago. It was triggered by stress. But I have yold myself that it is ok not to wash so many times and I did it. I want you to know that you can. We can live with it and not die.

[@isabellaraylahrose570]

I have struggled with OCD for years, brought on by COVID which I reacted terribly to after contracting it twice. My best wishes to your recovery. I hope you find peace soonest❤

[@joshawafrith4797]

i honestly hate the cure because i cant contaminate all my stuff

[@hoffmanite33]

I think this video was great, but….. Unfortunately I’ve realized through decades of 1) meditations 2) CBT 3) ERT 4) general therapy that you can’t get rid of the “initial thought or fear” Yes, you can acknowledge it. Yes, you can down play it. Yes, you can compromise on it. Yes, you can prioritize this list per say. BUT YOU CAN’T GET RID OF IT!!! I find myself in an internal world of contradiction & chaotic thought processing. IT SUCKS!!! I find myself going to further extremes & trying to “bypass or find loopholes” the in computer system (CPU) aka our brain 🧠 I feel like I will eventually end up in an empty room alone forever. Ugh With that being said, I will always look for other suggestions & advice to OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES. But it’s few & far between “at best” THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEO 👍 ps) a good distraction for me is numbers, musical notes 🎶, science, architecture, history, culture, language. If I can’t live side by side with people in the real world, at least I can learn about it.

[@paulaperez4736]

Oh my goodness, your comment just made me cry. I really hope you get to live a beautiful life. From someone who feels as if I won’t ever be happy because of ocd, I know how you feel. God bless you.

[@ChristyCalibuyot]

1:46 is so me 😐 What about fear of taking oral meds, vitamins? My brain tells me they're not safe and taking them could trigger more of my panicks.

[@sahibasah5451]

I hate it when it rains because that makes the surroundings you know really messy and I hate it whenever I have to go to work when it rains. I cry every time when it happens. Yesterday, my own brother pointed it out that how I hate to touch people and because I am someone who thinks low of people because I hate when people have dirt in their hands and I hate to eat food made my them. The image of dirt running in my mind comes again and again and I try replace it with something else. I hate the space right under the kitchen cabinets, my small bathroom, and the rented apartment where I live currently no one in my family is aware of mental health issues as neither they are educated enough nor understanding and they won't understand anything but use it against me when my signs of OCD are visible. Earlier, an abusive word just used to repeat again and again in my mind which my father and brother called me once. I do not know how to deal with this as I am 17 and I really want to live carefree and not in fear every day about every minor thing turning major in my mind.

[@hilenijoseph8496]

Feel like I'll go mad at some point in my life 😭😭, what's worse is my family doesn't understand and they keep on doing things that they know I can't tolerate, like sneaking in my room and contaminating everything 🥲. I use gloves and plastics to touch or clean "contaminated" objects, the clothes I go with outside don't make it in my room until they're clean again because I hop in the shower the moment I'm back from school. I really need help 😫.

[@NiceIce923]

I really feel for you, I hope things are better now (since you posted this a year ago), show them videos of people who have OCD...it worked for me, my mom I live with now understands me.

[@eleonorelovegood4445]

Im not sure that exactly what I have , but some part sound like and I was on that video to find answers . It’s started 6 month ago and it’s been really disturbing. Everything that was in contact with air is dirty for me but I can deal with not be so clean when I’m out . But it’s when I come back home that the hell start , especially in my shower, who is far for relaxing because I need to be 100% clean and I might take hours. I can’t sit on my sofa and things kinda annoying like that . Im really trying to work on it but it’s far from easy, especially when this problem is not so talked about and I don’t know what to do .

[@lizprado7087]

My kiddo is going thru a very hard time, she’s been always fear of germs, since the pandemic. But now is getting worse, long showers, long hand washing, I can’t give her a hug or enter to her room because I’m full of germs and dirt. She’s taking therapy but I don’t see any change or help, and she’s seeing to supposedly the OCD expert in the area. How can I help her, what can I do to help her?

[@laurenpicciolo3833]

Anytime someone sneezes near me I get so angry and start covering my mouth and nose and if it’s at home I instantly Lysol the area

[@jo69123]

loved the video, thanks for sharing it!

[@kokfoongtah2471]

How can I recover from this ocd. I scare of getting HIV all the time!

[@rickzmeitei6527]

Me too 😪

[@IndraShining]

Take it from me dawg. I never really wash my hands and I never get sick, or feel bad at all. I’m healthy as fuck dude! You won’t get sick homie and you won’t get hurt it’s a promise

[@kamranjaved4614]

Hi mam I m from Pakistan and i m using alot of water during poop in bathroom for cleaning but after that my mind is not satisfied he said u haven't clean well 😢😢😢

[@josiemcfarlands]

I can not be anywhere near bodily functions w out gloves. No sexual bodily fluids.. I fear contamination daily and worry about covid! I am constantly aware of it! To the point of exhaustion. So much anxiety based around contamination that I use diaper wipes in the shower to wash my entire body daily and throw into a sealed up bag. Can not go w out a shower daily. It's very exhausting( as I mentioned earlier). I get vaccines like flu shots the minute they're offered and avoid places w big crowds to avoid contamination. I never shake hands.. And when ppl hug me.. I feel extreme anxiety that I could get lice( I've never even seen lice or had it)

[@zerikedi106]

can we people under the comments create a Group chat? I have nobody to share about my experiences who can fully understand me.

[@zerikedi106]

perhaps discord?

[@shubhamdagar8614]

@@zerikedi106 Sure

[@Vanessaakn]

@@zerikedi106 can i join please?

[@zerikedi106]

it's not my server, but the people here helped me a lot in going through OCD!

[@rab-cnesbit4181]

Hi there I'm a man here in the UK and just started counselling for bodily fluids reasurance seeking ( my poor wife) OCD. It was sooo embarasing the councillor on the phone sounded like a young woman ( I'm 52 ) and think I must be the only man with this as most men dont even wash their hands after going to the toilet. I have suffered from this over 20 years and only just got the courage to get counseling, as my marriage has hit rock bottom, my wife and I have not been intimate for 20 years because of this. I was on paroxetine for years , did not help , I'm now on 100mg sertraline, only help with anxiety.

[@ameliak7970]

Hope it got better. Contamination is so tough. I have the exact contamination fear as yours. I just can't imagine letting the fear be and do exposure that might involve bodily fluids. Are you doing ERP?

[@Kookie-z5x]

I was also on sertaline …nd man i was so drowsyyyyy…its helllll…i hate ocd…i have a fear on something weird like when someone come home from outside they should wash their feet…but its practically impossible to tell every guest to wash their feet..its embarassing too…i dont know what to do…its helll…

[@dabbler1166]

Help! What do you do when?.... You live with an older relative. As they continue getting older, they seem more and more concerned about keeping everything "orderly". However-- That makes us immediately think of OCD, right? But this, is not about repeated handwashing, or checking things, or counting. Now its more of a concern about more frequent housekeeping, and being able to lift up or re-arrange furniture because of a fear of "dust-mites" and maybe getting sick. It gets worse-- Not only is it the inside of the house, but its also about the outside Yard. We have the 2nd nicest yard in the neighborhood! The people in "1st place" have TWO people w/great incomes/retirements, so they have much more $$$$ they can spend on landscaping, fertilizing, etc. so it isnt really a fair fight, but even with that, they are only "a little ahead" of us. Our yard is fine! NO shame. But-- It seems as if the wanting it be "orderly" never ends. I feel as if its good enough. We can take pride in it. My brother comes down. He is a total workaholic/perfectionist w/HIS yard. He visits, and ends up convincing Mom that there is all this stuff that "needs" to be done. She appreciates his energy (i think its darn-near an obsession) and I get viewed as lazy and he "cares" more than i do. But i feel that they dont grasp the difference between "Good enough to be nice" and perfection. My brother is so "busy" when he visits, he cant even make time to get together for one lunch w/his old high-school best friend while he's down here for 10 days or more. I am already fearing as more time goes by that things will get even more OCD-like about all this and i will be the bad-guy or "odd man out". I already am. How would you cope with all this? Anyone? Is there a video addressing this?

[@melplayssims2812]

i’m not scared of getting sick but otherwise everything in this vid is my OCD in words. i also have depression, GAD, social anxiety, gender dysphoria and panic anxiety/attacks so i’m a mess lol.

[@rachelwalker1135]

They need to cover this more. I also don't fear germs, but the a tual yuckiness of the bodily fluids and dirt from orher people. It also depends on the person and unknown people rather than everyone, but as most peiple and things are contaminated from orhers it extends to most things.

[@pearlk3057]

Yes, I would love more videos like this. I fear I will touch something that smells bad and then pass it to something else and then the contamination will continue until my bed smells and the clean cloths in my closet or dresser. I would like to know what is acceptable to wash the bed clothes for example. How often? Is there such a thing as toe jam that my mind thinks will make stuff smell? Is it reasonable to keep feet off stuff? I just don't know.

[@DennisBolanos]

Hi Dr. Shepard. Can a chiropractic neurologist (aka functional neurologist) treat OCD?

[@MelissaShepardMD]

Some may advertise that they can, but unfortunately they are not trained in evidence-based OCD treatment. I would seek out a therapist and/or psychiatrist who specifically mentions expertise in OCD. OCD can worsen if not treated appropriately, so that’s why I encourage people to seek out a qualified expert if at all possible.

[@DennisBolanos]

@@MelissaShepardMD OK, thank you.

[@MelissaShepardMD]

No problem- thank you for the good question!

[@jhonnylawrencr5678]

I have semen contamination ocd how do I deal with it

[@exforce3889]

Me too I wish there was a cure

[@harrysmith8329]

How are you now?

[@harrysmith8329]

And what’s your compulsions like because I’m not sure if I have it or not please reply

[@coolso0oz]

Thats not really me…. But i am told am over by family and ppl i live with so i don’t l know

[@ranjanrai3766]

Thank you

[@gregorysanchez6903]

When I was a kid I never cared about germs. Like if the cashier put his hand on the top of my soda I didn't care. Now after working in a hospital I get annoyed when cashier's do that.

[@soul-tv6yh]

i know u have this form of ocd but i really struggle to get help out of fear of exposure therapy. i also just cannot fathom why its so wrong to want to be super clean, arent germs bad for you anyway? i know that it is extreme however and is a huge obstacle in my life, especially because my mind tells me i cant be around people who are younger than me while i eat or cant have my eyes or mouth open and cant breathe when children speak out of fear that they’ll contaminate me. i know its an issue because regardless of how many hydrating rituals i go through in attempt to lessen the consequences of cleaning products, my skin is still constantly red and peeling; which then leads to the issue that peeling skin is more prone to contamination from the outside world. anyone have any tips on how to take the first steps in recovery? i really dont want to live my life this way any longer.

[@crystalbutterfly4812]

I cannot stand being around people I see there germs and feel dirty carry sanitation clearners

[@Eli-Family-xg5ng]

Awesome video im new here

[@JacobDover-s4m]

Me

[@wada-wada]

I have no covid