What Contamination OCD Actually Looks Like

⚡⚡Online Recovery Courses⚡⚡
► Master Your OCD From Home (try for free)
www.ocd-anxiety.com/master-yo...
🎉 Want extra support? - LIVE Q&A, discord chat rooms, & early video access.
click here ➡️ / ocdandanxiety
► Parents, spouses, and families - How to support someone with OCD
www.ocd-anxiety.com/how-to-su...
🛒 Shirts, stickers, awesomeness 🛒
www.ocdanxietyshop.com
► Rise From Depression course (try for free)
www.ocd-anxiety.com/rise-from...
► BFRB's (hair pulling, skin picking, nail-biting) (try for free)
www.ocd-anxiety.com/bfrb-online
⚡⚡Join the OCD support group⚡⚡
🔷 / ocdandanxietyonline
⚡⚡LIVE Masterclasses and Q&A⚡⚡
www.ocd-anxiety.com/masterclass
⚡⚡Take an OCD Test⚡⚡
💜 www.ocd-anxiety.com/all-tests
➼ Do I have OCD?
➼ Do I have HOCD?
➼ Do I have Harm OCD?
➼ Relationship OCD
➼ How severe is my OCD?
➼ Do I have hair-pulling disorder?
➼ Do I have skin picking disorder?
➼ Depression severity scale
⚡⚡Connect on social⚡⚡
🩵Instagram - / ocdandanxietyonline
🩵Facebook OCD group - / ocdandanxietyonline
🩵Twitter - / ocdandanxiety1
🩵TikTok - / ocdandanxiety
⚡⚡Video Playlists⚡⚡
👉🏼OCD - • Do You Have OCD? What ...
👉🏼Reaction Videos - • Therapist Reacts To Ex...
👉🏼Depression - • 5 Tips To STOP depress...
👉🏼Scrupulosity - • Scrupulosity: What Is ...
👉🏼Harm OCD - • What is Harm OCD? Can ...
👉🏼POCD - • What is Pedophile OCD?...
👉🏼Sexual Orientation OCD (HOCD) - • HOCD | Intrusive Thoug...
👉🏼Relationship OCD (ROCD) - • What is Relationship O...
👉🏼Real Event OCD - • How To Know If You're ...
👉🏼Existential OCD - • Existential OCD | Trea...
👉🏼Symmetry OCD - • What Symmetry OCD Look...
👉🏼Touettic OCD - • What is Tourettic OCD?
👉🏼Superstitious OCD - • What Is Magical Thinki...
👉🏼Contamination OCD - • What Contamination OCD...
👉🏼Just Right OCD - • Just Right OCD - A Fee...
👉🏼SOCD - • How To Know If You're ...
👉🏼Sensorimotor OCD - • What Is Sensorimotor O...
👉🏼Social Anxiety - • Social Anxiety Disorde...
👉🏼Anxiety - • Anxiety vs. ADHD - The...
👉🏼Magical Thinking OCD - • What Is Magical Thinki...
👉🏼Responsibility OCD - • Responsibility OCD | W...
👉🏼Tics and Tourette's - • What are Tics and Tour...
👉🏼Postpartum OCD - • Postpartum OCD (perina...
👉🏼BFRB (hair pulling/skin picking) - • What are BFRBs? (Body ...
👉🏼Body Dysmorphic Disorder - • Body Dysmorphic Disord...
👉🏼Panic Disorder - • How To Stop Panic Attacks
We see what contamination OCD looks like on TV, but is it accurate? For those who suffer with this type of OCD; they can suffer greatly. Unlike what they show on TV, It isn't a "funny" or corky thing. Let's go through what contamination OCD looks like and what the treatment is.
Topics discussed:
👉What contamination looks like.
👉The "feeling" of contamination.
👉Bad luck as a contaminant.
👉Thoughts are a contaminant.
👉Setting guidelines for washing hands.
👉Compulsions with contamination OCD.
👉Reassurance seeking with contamination OCD.
👉How contamination OCD looks different on TV.
👉The "Just In Case" traps.
👉How we treat contamination OCD.
⠀
DISCLOSURE: Although I am a licensed therapist. This video is not intended to replace medical advice. This is for information purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a local mental health professional.⠀

[@ocdandanxiety]

Do you struggle with contamination OCD? What does it look like for you? Comment below! 👍🏻

[@christopherboydandmartinsc9322]

I have severe contamination ocd. I hate waking up.

[@ocdandanxiety]

I'm so sorry my friend! I really dislike OCD. I hope you can find some relief soon. Treatment can really help if you have the opportunity to do it. I would look at iocdf.org if you haven't already.

[@sheyanderson9498]

Yes!, fear of bacteria being on my hands and obsessively cleaning down my bathroom sink knob with cleaner and a towel or wet wipe or sometimes a paper towel or tissue even, to avoid germs. My brain rules me all of the time. I am still high functioning. I wash my hands all day long, "just in case with everything." #Vicious #Cycle. I am trying to get closer to my fears. I half use my hands for fears and don't fully step down on my feet when I walk for fear that the bottom of my shoes are contaminated and I contaminate my carpet with "the unknown." I am trying to fully step and finally walk on the carpet with my shoes instead of leaving them at the door and wearing my "inside the house socks" to walk around. My hands are the biggest issue and can sometimes be debilitating because of cracking, itching, and bleeding because of the soap that is available.

[@ocdandanxiety]

@@sheyanderson9498 Thanks for going into detail of what you experience. It's helpful for others to see and relate to you. I'm so sorry for what you experience. I'm glad you're taking some steps to move closer to your fears! That's amazing! 😃

[@ocdandanxiety]

Oh no! I’m so sorry! I’ve heard many people explain this a lot! It sounds so painful. I hope you can feel some relief soon my friend!👍🏻

[@justmadeit2]

Question to everyone: has anyone else thrown out items for fear they were contaminated or dirty in some way ??

[@amandaandbabyi2480]

Yup. All the time.

[@OSOKViciousTheMyth]

Yup all the time..

[@AntherFoxx]

Yes. Only a few times tho. I don't have it diagnosed but i have many symptoms.

[@ajay.pajay.p4344]

S many times i waste a lot of money due to this😭 how to get rid of it

[@amandaandbabyi2480]

@@ajay.pajay.p4344 join the club. It’s a very annoying thing to deal with. I have spent so much money because I self sabotage my own foods that we all know there’s nothing wrong with but ocd loves fucking with us.

[@Baby_Dinosaur323]

For a long time I didn’t think I had OCD, because I didn’t have any of the OCD symptoms seen in pop culture and media. And then I found out about contamination OCD, and everything kind of clicked. It has gotten worse over the years and this video has inspired me to go seek therapy, but I need to find therapists who specialize in OCD. I’m afraid that I won’t get properly diagnosed by someone who doesn’t know much about this. Edit: I got diagnosed and am in therapy! It’s going to be a rough ride but I’m happy to have started it.

[@Ilovefrogshehe]

Hi I know how you feel as well) : try and take some deep breaths and relax you will get through this!! Remember,you're not your thoughts. If you think no therapists will understand you try and help yourself that's what I'm going to try, do some mediation everyday and see if it will help you might even get right back to how you was before! 💗

[@Baby_Dinosaur323]

@@Ilovefrogshehe I appreciate the sentiment, and it’s really sweet of you to say all that! The only thing is that meditation might help, but it won’t cure a mental illness. That said, I hope you find the healing you’re looking for. :)

[@harrysmith8329]

@@Baby_Dinosaur323 hi I want to know is your therapy working have you seen an improvement?

[@harrysmith8329]

@@Baby_Dinosaur323 if you could get back to me ASAP would be appreciated bro I’m stressed that it’s gonna take me years to go back to normal

[@ayremember2900]

Good luck baby D

[@4everfab_]

I think everything I touch is dirty so I always wash my hands before I touch something of mine (ex. hair, face, my own bed, hair brush, perfume bottle) and I can’t get into my bed without taking a shower cause I think my bed will get dirty. though I don’t get as anxious when I’m at another persons house. this has been getting just gradually worse over the two years I developed these habits. I’m only 15 years old help🙃

[@nishim1748]

Wow I'm exactly the same. I can't believe there's others with the same issues as me. It's gotten so bad for me over the past couple of weeks that I can't even bring myself to touch my own clothes or face or hair. I feel lost.

[@nishim1748]

And like you said, I don't feel any of that when I'm at someone else's house either. My brain is so weird I hate it

[@4everfab_]

Nishi M, I know it’s sooo weird but I really hope we both get through this and get better cause it sucks to always feel this way❤️

[@nishim1748]

@@4everfab_I hope so too. I'll be praying for us

[@babyee5203]

I have ocd & I’m the same as you. I recommend cbd oil

[@trinitysmith2226]

The thought of exposure therapy makes me feel like living with OCD isn’t that bad lol

[@colleenvallo4374]

Hi Trinity, That is what I thought when I read about this treatment over 20 years ago. The exposure does not need to be that extreme. And believe me, I didn't go for some of the treatment options because I did not want to. That is fine as well. It is a disorder to be lived with and diminished. It does not go away. Maybe for some, but I am 60 years old and have been living with this disorder in so many of its brutal manifestations since I was a young child. Medication gave me a life. But I could not be a Zoloft Zombie and have to take a minimal dose to be functional, such as getting out of bed. Breathing through it and noticing how the contamination thought diminishes in time is helpful. It is like smoking or smoking cessation. The thought to light up is intense but then, when we think of something else, the urge passes. It is very similar to OCD ruminations and obsessions. Best wishes to you.

[@nicoleoberndorfer2421]

Right same. Haha

[@scotlandmc1724]

ikr

[@YasiaAliyah]

Yeah I start to think I wanna get help and then I think about that and I’m like never mind 😭 I would actually scream

[@Kejfnsnsmsksk]

It sounds a little morbid but covid has given me a little bit of peace because I can finally wear latex gloves to the grocery store without getting AS many dirty looks as before. I’ve had to wear gloves for years because I’m terrified of fingerprints. It’s so frustrating to have such an irrational obsession. Every single thing I own has been washed with dish soap and water in the bath tub. Groceries, money (I live in Canada so our money is plastic and washable), decorative things, everything!

[@NiceIce923]

Sounds like me, during covid lockdown...I actually stained my bathtub with some disinfectant that I used to sanitize literally everything, from groceries to money, everything! Covid also made me feel more at easy and less imbalanced, but at the same time escalated my OCD to a really extreme level, where I would spend so much money on sanitizer it's not even funny, I'm a lot better now (thank God), I stopped using sanitizer at all (it's now almost a year), I don't wear a mask in public places any more (that was a hard one too), but praise God, it's all possible though Him, I never went for therapy nor used any medication, I still struggle daily with many things, but it's getting better, it has to...I even developed skin problems, because of spraying my face every day with sanitizer. Sorry for the long message, but I hope you're doing beter too (since you posted this a year ago).

[@kosa5737]

everything you just said is what I have been experiencing for the past 3 years

[@jackstauberfan1495]

Same

[@princessbanana4625]

I wash my hands after touching everything in my house like after making coffee, touching the shower, microwave, clean dishes, walls literally everything besides my 'safe items' being my phone and things like that because I constantly disinfectant my safe items and my bed is my 'safe space' because I always make sure it's as clean as possible and take a shower before even touching it and I always wear shoes around the house no matter what to keep my feet clean and I also wash my shoes a lot I even shower with them. Several times a day I zone out kinda and think did I accidentally touch this or that with my body or hair then have to take a shower to be sure. Literally just experienced that now and I'm trying so hard to ignore it and just remember it probably won't kill or hurt me if there was anything contaminated I touched😔

[@beanzattacobell1128]

Same, I can't walk through my house without some thoughts of "did I accidentally graze past this?"

[@princessbanana4625]

@@beanzattacobell1128 well it's a releif to hear someone shares the same struggle though it sucks for ppl to go through

[@Datenshi-Beats]

I can't even touch my family. It started with not wanting hugs, then no shaking hands, now even if my clothes get graze then I desinfect with spray or gel lol.

[@20DeeDee08]

Excellent video, thank you. I am trying my hardest to remember that my thoughts are not facts. Just because I feel contaminated, doesn't mean I am.

[@ocdandanxiety]

Thanks for the kind words! You got it! Our brain can be super sneaky and make us feel something that doesn't match the situation. I hope things are going well for you! 😃

[@ellenc9699]

I'm going to try to apply this

[@Lulu060986]

I am going to apply this too.

[@mikayladavey9972]

Oh my gosh. Yes. I thought I didn’t have “proper” OCD because I don’t have a fear. I don’t worry about getting sick- I thought that there wasn’t anything I was trying to prevent by avoiding things and doing compulsions. But I DO have a fear- it’s of getting contaminated!

[@Baby_Dinosaur323]

I feel this in my SOUL. Avoidance is my biggest coping mechanism, so I never thought I had OCD because it didn’t manifest in “normal” ways!

[@traceyohearn6222]

Every time I spoke to a professional they asked 'so you're afraid of getting sick?' and I was always like 'no, im afraid of getting dirty' 'because getting dirty might get you sick?' 'noooo, because getting dirty means I'm dirty' It always took a bit for them to get what I meant 😩 obviously they all did their best, it was still frustrating for me though.

[@aureliussheng3234]

On the flip side, when or if the zombie apocalypse comes, us contamination OCD folk will be the most strategical/tactical when it comes to staying clean and not bitten.

[@sylviajoshua8747]

@@traceyohearn6222 I feel the same

[@destroyraiden]

I live in a house with people who are uncleanly they do the trash & don't wash their hands, won't sterilize the kitchen after using raw meat, or touch things like uncooked eggs or bacon and then proceed to touch everything else in the kitchen sometimes they just rinse and go, "thats good." To say nothing about cleaning up after themselves or their pets messes! Or they thick obviously food greased dishes count as clean! Yet I'm being blamed for my OCD being constantly triggered as I can see them do these things before me and tell them to wash or clean up after that! And now that we have Covid they come in don't wash their hands touch everything else then get upset that I'm upset & I'll have to go behind them and sanitize everything they touched and they're mad I'm doing that or I'll occasionally yelling at them to do it cuz they're leaving us very unsafe. I'm worried that me "facing the fear" here and not cleaning or telling them to be conscious of their own behavior will lead us to get sick so I don't have a no basis for this. There are somethings I do like I'm not sure if I touch the railings and I have to wash my hands but other things I'm seeing my house mates be uncleanly and they're triggered that I'm triggered because they see no issues with their own behavior.

[@notespurposes3078]

My mother has Hepatitis B and my father is the type of person who sleeps around-probably got it from my father. I didn't have any other fear other than being infected by my mother with her illness. Despite having the illness, every single time the time of her month comes, she splatters her blood all over like she doesn't care-we all know that HepB can be contracted by blood. She doesn't care if it stains her bottoms and scatters it all around where she was sitting, she leaves her used napkin on the floor of the bathroom because she doesn't want to have a trash can inside because it can get too messy (according to her since the trash can get wet), sometimes, she leaves her underwear on the bathroom floor and let the bloodstains fade on its own from the water running which is frustrating. None of us were vaccinated against it at all. The possibility of contracting the illness is way too much to handle for me. Aside from that habit, she also thinks it's annoying when one refuses to share bottled water and cutleries.

[@notespurposes3078]

It's just frustrating how your fear is valid but the amount of obsessiveness and anxiety that's put into it is what they can call, too much?

[@jethrobaarda7442]

@@notespurposes3078 Exactly. the hard part is finding where my personality ends and where the OCD begins. even people without ocd have diffrent standards.

[@honklizzie404]

I appreciate this video so much; it made me feel so normal for once. I hate it, and I think my mom has recently noticed these tendencies. It’s annoying because she was holding a grocery basket, then had me hold it, and wouldn’t take it back. I feel as if she was trying to “help” me but it made me SO anxious. I always need to wash my hands. I feel like my bed is contaminated if I lay in it without showering. I don’t like touching doorknobs or door handles because I feel they’re dirty. I constantly feel like my phone is dirty because I use it all the time everywhere. Car doors feel contaminated. The list literally goes on for ages. Everything is contaminated, and I wash my hands to the point where they get dry and peel. I cannot stand it but I also can’t help it. I’ve never been diagnosed but I related to every element of this video, and other things I’ve heard about contamination OCD. I haven’t personally found anything that really helps it but I’m hoping in the future I can get properly diagnosed and get professional help.

[@destroyraiden]

Depending on how young you are they won't want to diagnosis you it's stupid but Drs nor Psychologist want to do that to you. If you get anxiety or OCD or GAD on your paperwork this is now an excuse for alot of medical services to write you off as hysterical or making it up or anything else and not treat your words, actions, or needs seriously so in some ways its better you don't have it officially but trying to treat it can still be something you can do without the diagnosis. I'm hoping to do CBT to see if that will or can help some as it's looking like I'm now in a solo battle.

[@aureliussheng3234]

This has been happening to me. I sanitize my car door handle before touching it every morning. I'm afraid someone sneezed or coughed near my car overnight, and I spray the handle before touching it. When I use public restrooms, I pour soap and water over the handle after I turn on the faucet with a paper towel, and I take my shoes off using one heel to slip off the other. For door handles, I use gloves to open them, and I sanitize groceries and buy veggie/fruit sprays to clean everything. I hate touching paper bags and hate having my arms touch them, and I feel like all cashiers are filled with the worst germs, and I sanitize my grocery paper bags and rip them by the sides so my arms don't touch the insides when I reach for my items when I get home. I spend a good 30 minutes sanitizing my groceries before putting them in the fridge. I don't touch doors, or door handles, I use my feet in any way or gloves, and I always carry a ton of gloves in my pockets. This stems from me noticing I've been sick more times in a year for the last five years for each year, than I have been previously before that, and I hate being sick because it degrades life quality and that's what I fear most, wasted time being miserable and sick, so I have developed contamination OCD. It's my hypothesis that being near cell EMF has worsened my immune system via inflammation on top of adult life stress, and not having my tonsils as my immune system's first line of defense that has caused me to develop contamination OCD.

[@nikodemplays]

im going through the same things ik exactly how you feel

[@amarisbelghiti94]

I'm suffering. I'm becoming afraid of the air or at least I think that's what it is. I feel like it's going to suffocate me eventually like my body will just refuse to breathe because it'll get too afraid. Sounds nuts but it's consuming me. I'm sobbing writing this.

[@ajay.pajay.p4344]

Me too i can understand u

[@Ilovefrogshehe]

I know how you feel. /: trust me we can get through this, try to take some deep breaths and relax. Youre not your thoughts! Try and do some mediation to relax thats what I'm doing (:

[@cloud_away]

I do not know why but I just suddenly stop breathing because its like something in my head is telling if you breath in this air something will happen. Its so frustrating

[@aureliussheng3234]

You should get a high quality air filter/s for home use, and only live in a city that has the best air quality, on top of working only from home so you don't have to breathe the same air as gross people in an office space. You should strengthen your immune system via meditation, exercise and tons of vitamins and herbs of all kinds that make your body resilient as well. Do both, build defense and offense to become victorious against germs and gross people.

[@Eidenbites]

My mom has OCD contamination. She would stress about cleaning. She couldn’t stand me because I would always come from the outside super dirty. She would make me wash my hands as soon as I came from the outside. She would lock the door and make me wait. She would make me take off my shoes, wash my hands and face, and she would always just question the sanitation of things. She would wipe her phone and mine and my computer. She would spend weekends cleaning and crying.. crying while she was cleaning. Yes lol and that was my moms favorite word “ just in case” .. I would grab a glass to drink water and even though I knew it was clean she would take it from my hand and clean it again... and she would tell me to wash the clean plate .. her words are always “ I don’t know how clean that is but just in case wash it “ .. she was diagnosed with OCD contamination and she’s chilled a lot.. but because of her I got OCD symmetry

[@nardaam4527]

How is your mom now? I do everything you mentioned and I’m tired I feel like I’m ruining mine and my daughters life being this way

[@juddroy9897]

@@nardaam4527 I’m pretty similar myself with these types of compulsions. Even if someone coughs or sneezes I’ll hold my breath for like 10 seconds. Main one is hand washing until my hands literally bleed from drying out.

[@NicoleK71]

You have described it perfectly. I have severe OCD contamination...I was living like I was in a pandemic before Covid but Covid has made it worse. I’m still wiping groceries 4/21/21. I never used to wipe groceries. It’s so exhausting. I’m so tired. I need help.

[@aureliussheng3234]

No, you're being safe. 3 years ago, I got the worst sickness after drinking a glass of water a gross bartender gave me, I was sick for 2-3 weeks, with tons of bubble guts and felt like death, and I remember she was handling cash before she touched my water and she had her hands around the rim of the glass. She just looked like a gross person. I remember before 2020, people were picking their noses in public, rubbing their faces then touching groceries or food items in the grocery store. It was awful. Cashiers are the worst, they handle cash, which have trace amounts of fecal matter, and not to mention germs of everyone's hands that have handled the cash. It's just awful. And those conveyor belts, they don't even sanitize them anymore, and people have their dogs and kids in those carts and their pet feet and kid shoes touching the inside of the cart, it's gross. Just so so gross. I straight up spray my groceries with 70 percent IPA, and then wash them with soap and hot water too. It's exhausting but it helps calm the soul, and if you want to go the extra mile, get a fruit and veggie spray cleaner, spray it on organic ginger root, then rub it into the ginger root, then wash it under cold water for awhile 1-2 minutes, peel it with a peeler then wash it again, then chew on the ginger root, you will feel the heat scorching inside your mouth and you'll know it's clearing the bad germs out of your mouth and system, if you want to defeat germs inside your mouth even more, use a clean knob of ginger root with boiled essentia brand water, then add apple cider vinegar with cayenne, garlic and honey, you'll feel the heat and medicinal properties clear out your throat, nasal, and chest in the best way. You will feel decontaminated on the inside.

[@jeremifrancisco1]

@@aureliussheng3234 that’s why the extremes aren’t good. Being completely mindless is one thing but being completely worried about germs is another. It’s exhausting and I do not think it’s worth it. Please read this comment carefully before replying to it. Thanks for reading.

[@decaydemon7573]

This has been the best video I have seen about contamination ocd, I have been suffering with contamination ocd for 2 years and everyday it’s just been getting worse and harder to describe and explain to people but this video has helped me understand, it’s been about 20 months since I last went outside, not been able to touch anything and just slowly losing my mind and struggling to describe it to people trying to help and now with this video it will be a lot easier to talk and describe to those people so they can understand and help me, so I really just want to thank you.

[@ocdandanxiety]

Thanks for the kind words. I'm sorry for what you're going through. I hope you can find some relief and strength soon! 😃

[@EmmaDeFazio5938]

But are you getting sick if not then it’s worth it

[@Arkadi-rj8vc]

@@EmmaDeFazio5938 we are getting sick the same as you do.

[@xoxoshaneandmexoxo]

Washing ur hands 10000 times a day n having eczema 😭😭

[@bcpr9812]

Oh god... contamination + fear of harming others (like through my cooking) is the story of my life. I'm not diagnosed, but I sure do tick all of the obsessive-compulsive boxes to the point of dysfunctionality.

[@simpleawesome9972]

When my feet or any part of my body touches the ground, I had to wash that part with antibacterial soap. If even one tiny drop splashes from the floor onto my skin, I had to wash that part. If anything drops on the floor, it's contaminated, Id wash it or throw it. My bed is uncontaminated. So I can spend the whole day dirty, but once I go to my bed or use things in my room, I should have showered or at least cleaned all of the contaminated parts of my body.

[@jackburke5210]

Literally hits the nail straight on the head.

[@elizabethd568]

I feel personally attacked 😬 Seriously though, can't believe how many of my OCD symptoms are apparently classic textbook examples.

[@mavishoxie3332]

my therapist told me today she doesnt think i have ocd because most of my anxiety is from contamination and it really destabilized me so i’m researching ocd contamination to prove to her there’s other kinds than the kind we see on TV. i had the diagnosis for over a year before i met her and i was finally getting a grasp on what was wrong so her saying that really threw me off.

[@bubblegumlipgloss_9614]

wow is she even a professional, sorry that happened to you

[@GabsterZ21]

Many times this has affected my relationship, I haven’t spoke to my boyfriend about it. I’m 31 and he lives in a “shed room” behind his families house. Working towards buying a house in two years. Any way, staying at his place brings me so much pain. I don’t know how tell him that I don’t like to stay at his place because our dog goes outside and come back in to jump on the bed and sleep with us. There’s dust in his place and I don’t want to sound crazy by making him dust and sanitize every surface. I’ve thought about breaking up with him because he works at a work site (construction) and I know he isn’t the cleanest. Everything about being around him brings me so much anxiety. I love him, he treats me amazing but I hate it so much to feel dirty

[@ajay.pajay.p4344]

I do have ocd i am 16 years old i dont touch things if someone touches it and a lot runs in my mind i constantly wash my hands choosing even number or odd number of times if someone touches my materials at study place i just through it its feels like ...... i am gonna die its like living in a hell

[@cindy846]

Good luck girl... this is tough

[@lilbbillzz]

wow, I understand this. I’m in an extremely similar situation. I don’t wanna share details publicly, but my partner lives in a small shed room behind his mom’s house. the shed is actually nice, but we have to use her house for the bathroom and kitchen. I nearly can’t handle going in there. it’s painful to consider not visiting my partner because I’m so averse to her house. I don’t take care of myself when I’m there because it is so stressful navigating all of the “contamination.” I can only stay over for 3-4 days before I burn out and have to go back home. it makes me irritable and I’m afraid of hurting his feelings due to something I can’t control. 😪

[@GabsterZ21]

To update on our situation october 1 2021 we moved into a 4 bedroom house. Everything is renovated I have more control of the cleanliness. And everything is looking up

[@nardaam4527]

Hey girl I hope your doing okay!! I have been with my partner for 5 years and post partum depression / the pandemic caused my ocd to worsen and I have yet to tell him/ anyone about my condition and what I go through daily.

[@mustafaalio6385]

Amazing video! Thanks for sharing! Your way of speaking is so calming for anxiety sufferers! My current OCD focuses on semen contamination as I have suffered from intense Sexual orientation OCD since five years. It makes my life so, SO difficult while it NEVER should be, because I'm a scholar and seeking a job in diplomacy sector. You know, the reliance of Kleenexes as a barrier for public things, the avoidance of toilets and handshakings, etc. etc.. The problem is that I live in Syria and I don't have confidence on Syrian mental health professionals, so I am relying on the internet and it really helped me big time previously. Sorry for this long comment!

[@harrysmith8329]

How are you now. How did you get better bro

[@fluffysuds]

Thank you for the great video. I have a lot of them that you talked about. Can't wait for the next one.

[@ocdandanxiety]

Thanks for the encouragement! 😃

[@hiimgamerspruzzino5804]

Because of my contamination OCD i never use glasses to drink, just because they have been used by other people that aren't actually my family. That's why i always make up excuses to go to the bathroom and drink from the sink

[@honklizzie404]

I hate using glasses too, it really makes me uncomfortable, but so does bathroom water. 😳

[@christopherboydandmartinsc9322]

This is a great video. I need someone like you in my life.

[@ocdandanxiety]

Thank you so much! You're too kind! There are plenty of good specialists in this area. I hope you can find someone around you my friend!

[@batteryacid3687]

Whenever I touch something 'contaminated' my hands start burning. Is that normal for this. Like mydoorknob and if I didn't "just in case it does burn I will wash my hands" then if the waters too hot it makes me even more frustrating.

[@traceyohearn6222]

For me it's not a burning sensation, but like a tickle of something seeping into my skin.

[@flam_central]

My skin feels tight and and oily when that happens

[@pabloschaffner9419]

You are such a good person, helping so many people with these videos :)

[@cassbevan7368]

My heart started racing as soon as you said the word, “exposure”. Yuck.lol

[@ocdandanxiety]

haha! It's not as bad as you may think. Most people think you go to the worst-case scenario. Instead, you do gradual exposures and build your way up. But I feel you. Exposures are not the most fun you can have in a day but it's what works! 🤪

[@ML-rt6eu]

I understand. I'm doing exposure for other forms of OCD and it's hard, but worth it.

[@ocdandanxiety]

@@ML-rt6eu Awesome to hear! Keep it going!

[@flamingopink321]

Same, my heart stopped for a sec. I feel like if I get the exposure it will make my OCD worse

[@StormyXV]

I've had this really bad for about 6 months now and it's probably the worst thing ever. One of the worst things ever about the worst thing ever is going to sleep ;c. You n- actually I might trigger someone else reading this :o. Nathan, you're a really cool guy lol. Keep making more like this!

[@ocdandanxiety]

Thanks so much for your kind words! OCD is the pits! I hope that treatment can help you if you have the opportunity to try it. 😃

[@whorable]

i’m so thankful for all my friends and family for being mindful, considerate, and patient with me durning my time in finding out i have this problem. i’ve had it for as long as i can remember and it’s only getting worse to the point where i can’t eat food unless i make it or if the person making it uses a glove or i know that they are very clean.

[@ML-rt6eu]

Nice video. Very informative. Thank you!

[@ocdandanxiety]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for your support!

[@nicolemccoy4798]

I had this slightly the last couple of years, but when covid happened it’s become 10x worse. Constant hand washing, constant disinfecting things, refusing to sit on a toilet that isn’t mine, obsession with keeping my bedding clean etc etc etc. it’s awful!

[@AS-ip3xn]

I have this type of ocd where I’m terrified of having pee all over myself, I spend a lot of time washing myself, I fear peeing while showering, even when I’m sitting and get sensations in my arms, I feel as though there is pee on me. I keep washing my hands having fear that I might have pee on my hands, the skin on my hands is now peaking off due to washing it so much. It’s so frustrating it affects me so much. I feel like I’m the only one with this type of ocd. I have false memory too where my mind doesn’t remember when something has happened and then I do more compulsions cause “what if I was contaminated”

[@sgtlinchen]

youre not the only one, i feel the exact same way. like i obsess over A LOT of contamination related things but i think the worst thing for me are public seats especially in a bus or train (lets not even start talking about public toilets). i always check whether the seat might be wet and even though i checked it multiple times i kinda forget whether i felt some kind of moisture or something and then i have to throw my pants into the laundry and wash my body excessively. im even scared of my own bathroom nowadays. i fear theres pee or something on the floor, i wipe everything way too often with way too aggressive cleaning shit and have to wash my hands constantly. my hands are literally dying too bro :( and i am not even scared of getting sick, its just i need to have control over something. eating up so much time and joy in my life.

[@katiecorner7489]

I struggle so much with contamination OCD and I try so hard to tell myself that I'm not contaminated and I just can't. I'm constantly throwing away belongings, changing and washing my clothes a bunch of times a day, holding my breath so much so I don't breath onto myself or my belongings and contaminate them and a lot more. I just feel hopeless.

[@flamingopink321]

Same! I have been dealing with OCD since I was probably like 3 and I am now 23. My parents saw it as a taboo topic, so they never told the doctors. I have cried so many times and it gives me so much anxiety. I threw away so many things in the past: books, backpack, clothes, purse, etc. I feel your pain, I feel so lost. I hope you are doing well now.

[@peachygal9971]

Same!! I’m constantly doing laundry and I’m aware that it’s wasteful but it just physically makes me cringe because the clothes are “contaminated” and I change my clothes depending on what area of my house I’m in

[@eneida1988yaneli]

This video is all about me and for me .... thanks!

[@ocdandanxiety]

Thank you!!

[@Twelfie12]

I struggle more and more as I get older. I try my best not to over clean and avoid things/places but I still can't help it. I hate dirty things-more like I'm scared of them.

[@anton6998]

My cousin is really germophobic and now with a global pandemic happening, he's more hesitant to touch anything cause he feels like it's dirty or it carries deadly micro organisms that will contaminate him. He's more frequent in using alcohol or sanitizers than ever before due to the pandemic.

[@lahaza6515]

I don't mind getting my hands in the dirt at all, but for instance I'm getting ready to go visit someone's house tonight & my hair is pretty clean, but I was going to wash it just so it would be blown out & I'd look presentable. Then I realized that the skin flakes in their house, dust in the air & when they hug me, my hair will touch their's so I thought better of washing it & instead waiting until I get home so that when I lay my head on my fresh cotton pillow case, I'm not laying in someone else's dirt. It sounds more extreme than it feels, but I don't wash my hands obsessively or anything unless I'm touching someone else's stuff or door handles. I do pray pretty much on the hour just to ask God to keep me from trouble! :))

[@yvonneaguayo4156]

My husband has this and it’s been hell lately with the virus. Any tips for me to understand about him and how i can help him?

[@ocdandanxiety]

I have a whole video on this. I think it's called something like, "How family members can help." -- I hope it's useful for you.

[@paulh8997]

I hope your husband pulls through Yvonne

[@TracyAmor]

It's hard before Covid. Now, it's way worse. Please be patient.

[@laylurr]

I am going through the same with my partner. You’re not alone ❤️

[@destroyraiden]

@Yvonne, you think it's hell for you? Be him it's worse. Speaking calmly with him and having him tell you what he fears, why, and what surfaces, and what procedures can be enacted to keep the place clean can help. I had some progress with this with my house mates till they stopped and decided it wasn't connivant for them to do small measures like wash their hands as soon as they come in from the outside, like not the porch outside but they go to a restaurant or out shopping they decided it's too much to do basic safety protocol like that. Meanwhile I'm washing my hands 8 times a day with them bleeding and destroyed all the time & ready to burn my clothing everytime I go out just to keep safe which I realize the whole burning procedure will not do so I compromise by changing clothing and keeping my mouth shut how my house mates aren't doing the same with their clothing cuz I also realize that is unreasonable. For me it helped to reduce some of my symptoms to be heard, acknowledged, and aided with them just washing their hands or telling me when "I come home I"m going to do X" like wash my hands and then actually do that. If I come around and see them do it I can trust they will and so I do not need to fear cuz they're responsible but they've decided to not be telling me it's not necessary for them to do basic things & are mad I'm triggered again and loosing my progress and they've shut down and do not care about how this effecting me in more then anxiety or how their anger hurts me when I'm trying to keep us safe in a basic sense I'm not going all out like i've seen others do. Not trying to rant but hopefully this helps a bit in mindset and suggestions for you.

[@aag9205]

The winter is the worst for my ocd because of ice melter salts on the sideways. If I walk over it, I don’t want to touch my shoes because it could be left over on my shoes, and then if I touch my shoes without washing my hands and eat, I’m afraid I’ll poison myself.

[@Rayy254]

I feel so seen!! I struggle with contamination ocd.Worst reaction was when eating out and i saw that some aspects of the guy preparing the food weren't clean,i physically got sick and got instant diarr** Normally i just get stomach cramps The contamination anxiety has significantly gotten worse and the worse part is that my family doesnt get it and think im just being "difficult " when i ask for reassurance that items around me are clean.

[@xepti0n]

I got all types of OCD. But one thing that makes me happy and pulls me out of all that negativity, is my designer-board-game collection. I love to play, research and buy (specially gems and hard-to-get or rare items). It is my temple and my shrine. But all changed a few days ago. I've had a pretty bad invasion of fruit flies in my house. They are all pretty much gone. Thing is I had seen them resting on my shelves sometimes and few times on my games, so I scared them away. Then one day I realized that they pooped on one of my games (no shrink wrap). It was a bummer but just one game. Then I realized the shelves also had some. And some (most) of my games in shrink wrap as well. I tried to keep it cool for a while, but you know that's how it starts, very small. Now I'm completely obssessed, feel my collection is ruined, have lost the will to play. I just feel everything is contaminated. Even new games that I ordered, I feel they will be contaminated as well 😰. These flies ruined it for me, I'm at a total loss and feel so depressed.

[@bubblegumlipgloss_9614]

for me one of my main contamination OCD related fears is drains!! and bathroom related stuff😩🚽 everyday I get dressed in the bathroom my head's just filled with this uncomfortable thoughts, I hate it. I feel dirty just standing in the bathrrom I even try to completely avoid looking at the drains. That's just the main thing there's so many other fears and things I have to wash my hands after touching etc. I'm 17 and have NEVER cleaned my bathroom or any other. And when I live by myself I'm going to have to do it and this sounds dramatic but sometimes it sounds like the worst thing I could do, and I'm worried because I know eventually I'm going to have too.

[@vaishnavid7220]

i thought i was the only one who had this fear of drains or corners of rooms where all the dust would be collected. or at least my brain says so.

[@bubblegumlipgloss_9614]

@@vaishnavid7220 same it’s so specific too like why drains😭

[@Snowy_dowy]

My fear is toilets+drains and I feel you….it’s so tiring to keep being clean

[@ayremember2900]

@5:40 on the contrary, that shrinking has gotten me to play more video games and that's all I do, that's my comfort zone I know it's clean and untouched and it gives me pleasure

[@mikamcghee7969]

I just want it to stop.

[@mattnhormann]

Ha, Nathan, you literally mentioned one of my biggest contamination fears: asbestos. I have a deathly fear of wall insulation and anything in the walls of houses as a result.

[@Jim-fz2yr]

I know of some one that was showered with asbestos. A guy fixing the roof fell through it. They brought a professor is to reassure everyone nothing to worry about and was just normal dust.

[@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 😫.

[@myishenhaines1706]

I have contamination and intrusive thoughts. ☹️

[@noneofurbusiness7501]

same her i hate it

[@Eidenbites]

I just take forever to do things because I over plan. I over research things. I like having things a certain way. My compulsions are spontaneous... I have to do something spontaneous to feel in control...

[@Kne2450]

I have contamination OCD fear of parasites infesting me and my family and my house. The fear of traveling to hotel rooms, sleeping in hotel beds or rental home beds, the fear of contaminated boxes or products coming into my house from the store, fear of people being contaminated with different parasites that will jump on me or crawl or fly onto me. The fear of school classroom contamination with kids hair (lice, bed bugs with backpacks/coats touching each other in school). I just started ERP - very new to it so I'm not sure how ERP is done with blood sucking parasite triggers. I don't want to know or want to expose myself to these fears.

[@janicegordon627]

i went on a trip with my friends and everyone got offended when i said not to use my pillow or blanket but it was so hard to explain

[@ceilingfan1813]

I kind of wish avoidance was talked more about with ocd and contamination. I don't know if I have OCD, I label it as anxiety, but I have such contamination anxiety when it comes to the floor of my apartment. Literally the floor is lava feeling, but there's no safe space. But my main or only tactic is avoidance. I imagine me tracking everything around every surface and it's exhausting, to the point where cleaning feels pointless. If everything always feels contaminated, then even trying to tackle my very messy apartment feels pointless. I feel like the opposite of the ocd portrayal, if anything, I get more unclean because of the spiral of contamination anxiety because it feels like even doing basic chores are just utterly inadequate to get the unattainable feeling of safety. I've been actually trying to clean my apartment lately, and I've had meltdowns that I'm making things worse by walking around or acknowledging it. It's really frustrating.

[@meepmop809]

I'm not afraid of getting sick, but I CANNOT stand in my bathtub or any shower that has been used by people I don't know. My body cringes. I can't do it. Is this contamination OCD? I also am afraid to put water from a new sink in my mouth (like brushing teeth) bc I'm afraid of being poisoned. I force myself to and get over it but every time I have to use a new sink it causes major anxiety

[@bailey_renae]

Ok so I literally cannot wear the same socks that I’d wear around the house, in my bed. It feels absolutely disgusting. Idk how I’m supposed to get over that. I literally cried one night for hours bc my sister put her stuffed animal on my bed and i felt disgusting. I don’t wanna do exposure therapy bc it’s so uncomfortable.

[@wonderstruckaj]

Same :/ I take off my socks that I wear on my house shoes when I get in bed and I want to get help but it feels embarrassing and exposure therapy just seems really scary. I cried before when my dad stepped on my house shoes with his house shoes. I know I'll have to take some risks to conquer this, but idk if I'm ready for it or if I ever will. I hope we'll make it someday.

[@ellenc9699]

This is now overwhelming my life

[@user-lg7nt7ww4z]

I have ocd and have several themes mainly health, somatic and contamination ocd.... This is the latest freakout- I tested positive for a TB skin test 18 years ago , doctor thought it was latent TB. I had a repeat blood test two years ago and it was negative. Now I currently have possible bronchitis and am obsessing over it potentially being active TB. The fear and concern over contaminating my family is overwhelming

[@arohiroy6]

Hey! I'm developing this contamination ocd, like there was a red worm over my door knob.... Now I don't touch or open the door. 🚪 I avoid it and tell my dad to open the door, I don't want to touch it ever, and a insect went over my pillow also, I don't touch that pillow also. What should I do now?

[@KM-en9nq]

You can use cleaning wipes on the doorknob and maybe replace your pillow case.

[@silencio1234]

Can you make a video about chemical contamination ocd? I have fears that things like cleaning chemicals will harm me and have become obsessed with not using certain products and also worrying about if all the soap got rises off of dishes etc. thank you

[@aureliussheng3234]

Just use Dr Bronner's soap, peppermint edition. Don't use tea tree oil, tea tree oil is toxic if ingested. Jojoba oil is in the Dr Bronner's soap but washes off easily, and doesn't leave any trace amount as far as I can tell. Just use isopropyl alcohol/ethyl alcohol and vinegar to clean, don't use bleach, it leaves trace amounts behind when it dries. Use stream cleaning machines to clean naturally as well. No need to use crap chemical products.

[@colleenvallo4374]

I agree with Aurelius. Those are real concerns. Use green cleaning products. I use alcohol and vinegar diluted with water, dish soap of the Dr. Bronner's variety) and baking soda. Yet, we can go too far with the fears. Remember they are fears. We can put ourselves in a very small box because of the fears. The fearing and fretting can and cleaning/rituals compulsions are exhausting and actually cause more physical harm in the long run (adrenal-chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and other auto-immune disorders than the chemicals in micro doses.

[@ARedHeadedVegan]

I have this.

[@jennamondoro2867]

Could this also be applicable to like parasitic obsessions? Like being obsessed that you nay have a parasite?

[@emilyroocroft625]

Omg I have this !!!

[@wonderstruckaj]

Oh my goodness, I know I haven't been the same as I used to be because my behavior now has honestly been bothering me and my thoughts just revolve around germs and whatever I'd touch. I just wake up and already feel anxious about the smallest thing. I wake up everyday thinking about the next day; wondering if I'd still be ok; like would I get sick? Would I get an infection? I don't even wanna talk about the worst case scenario. It would be a relief the next day if I was fine, but then my brain would find something new about to worry about and the cycle continues. I thought I would only be anxious if there was actually something still dirty that is with me (like wearing dirty clothes), but I feel like it might've gotten worse to just worrying about stuff that hasn't happened yet. It's like my brain does mental gymnastics, like I remember, this dirty thing touched that and that touched this, so I don't wanna touch this or if I do, I'll have to wash my hands a lot. It's like I'm calculating how many degrees close of touching the dirty thing an item is (almost like I'm indirectly touching that dirty thing by touching another item it touched that it touched and so on). I never talked about this to anyone besides my parents cause I think it's embarrassing and I don't want to seem like a bother to my friends, but I feel like I need to talk to someone else about it. My parents have also noticed my behavior and I think that kinda solidified that I might have a problem for me. My mom has thought about bringing me to a psychologist, but I'm kinda scared about that, but I also really want help. I want to just fix it myself, but it's not very easy. I hope one day I'll be able to talk to someone else about it. I try to let go of some of the thoughts, but it's really hard. It's just like you say, I just think just in case, I should avoid this or wash this before using it; like better safe than sorry. It really sucks cause I remember being in the same situations, but reacting so differently; not worrying about all the things I worry about now. I wish I could be my old self again and I just don't know when or if I'll be normal me again. It is so exhausting keeping up with these thoughts and my parents are kinda fed up with me asking them all the time if this or that is clean. I have a hard time trusting them with what they say is clean or not because there have been a few times I was able to pick up on some things they missed. I feel guilty everytime I see the hand soap decrease by a huge amount each day or asking my parents for help cleaning something out. My dad's lack of cleanliness freaks me out and I realized I may have unconsciously started to pay attention more to what my parents (especially my dad) do (especially with my items). I get pretty scared about me (especially my hair) touching things even if I know my hair was like a feet or a few inches from actually touching something dirty. I reenact "the scene" to see if it was possible I accidentally touched that dirty thing. I wash the specific part of my body I think is dirty. I feel bad for also just immediately wanting to wash clothes even if it was probably not that dirty anyways. I get scared to leave my bed because it's one of the only things I think is clean in the house and it's frustrating everytime because I have to clean myself nicely before getting back into bed. I know my friends think I'm a bit of a germaphobe, but I try to keep it "more on the low" in public cause I don't want ppl thinking I'm weird. I wanna get out of this by maybe busying myself, but by doing so, I'm scared I'll get dirty. It's almost like a paradox. I know my thoughts don't make sense but if I don't clean, I'll just get super anxious and stuff :/ sorry this was a whole rant

[@mischabarrs5870]

im a young chils with this so my mom kinda makes me do something like eat my food when I don't want to and she stops me from taking lots of showers so I suppose that's good but this ocd is driving me crazy.

[@alisonhart-burnett3699]

Hi, when treating a child for contamination ocd is it the same as treatment for an adult?

[@thomasklidonas6639]

So helpful

[@zachcook99]

Mine is thinking a package of gum or food is poisoned and I end up eating the thing that scares me and Im always fine but I get hyper aware of symptoms I may have and then get a panic attack if things are abnormal. Like right now I chewed a piece of gum that I thought was poisoned and then my throat is kind of dry now and I am kinda on the verge of a panic attack. OCD and Anxiety and panic disorder suck

[@jaderade228]

My contamination ocd has gotten worse after having a kid. I'm so afraid of her getting sick or something worse.

[@apoorvakamath3879]

could this be applicable for my extreme fear and dislike towards wet unclean areas of atleast the areas I think might be unclean? I try to avoid wet areas over this like corner of the bathroom shower or tub because it's wet and idk why I just think it is unclean, going out when it rains even with my slippers on I feel like I should constantly be looking at my feet so that I don't step on something that looks wet and unclean... even a kitchen sinks sometimes makes me anxious about trying to do dishes.

[@skyersk]

Thank you.

[@ocdandanxiety]

You're welcome!

[@ramrajkumar4]

My House cat which we usually keep outside our house, But stays in our compound and outhouse with it's kittens came inside our house which is normal for it to come and lay on couch. Later it went upstairs to was doing something on my computer table where I later shouted at it to get down. It didn't do anything, although I cleaned my table with a wet tissue with dettol solution and also sprayed sanitizer, But still I am Obsessed whether I need to clean my whole computer table. Although I don't clean my dusty table, But so much obsessed with foreign contaminant. Can you please help me to get away from it ?

[@GabsterZ21]

Ugh I understand you.

[@peachygal9971]

I also have a cat and struggle with the same problem!! I always obsess over the fact that my cat could’ve been anywhere and touched anything 😣

[@kellymckay1750]

This video did nothing but trigger my OCD...Thanks!

[@rose2887]

I understand that that can happen but please don't blame the guy, if I were him this comment would make me feel extremely guilty. I hope you're ok

[@bozarctic]

God bless you!

[@steve-rk1fv]

Where is the video for contamination OCD treatment that you mentioned in this video? Is it on your channel?

[@Redlights111]

I feel like me and objects I own get contaminated by being around bad people. I feel like the negative energy is being transferred. Also if I feel like interraction with seller of an item was negative I want to get rid of the item. I get anxious everytime I see these items. I can't stand people touching my items either. I can get over myself being contaminated than items around me.

[@Redlights111]

The compulsion for items is getting rid of items and for me usually showers and clean clothes help. I have one specific outfit that is safe.

[@theneatgeek4536]

This is called metaphysical ocd. It’s more common than people realize.

[@MegaBlepper]

I wash my hands so.many times a day. My night time routine is so intensive and I see it taking a toll on my boyfriend 😒

[@happyshippingstudios6784]

I have a fear of being drugged and it's gotten more and more severe over the past few months. I was actually drugged in 2017 either through my drink I left out or got drugged through someone else's drink they left out. I used to worry just about food or drinks from people I didn't know well or food that was left out around them, but my thoughts have been telling me lately what if workers in factories for drinks and food drug things? Or what if people in grocery stores drug things? I've gone through lots of anxiety and panic over these past few months and some derealization. I just want to recover from OCD.

[@Kfkaesque29]

I feel EXACTLY the same! How are you doing with it atm?

[@AlisonBryen]

If a comment comes up on a KZbin video from somebody saying they've got coronavirus, I find it very hard to touch their comment in my phone screen when scrolling, even though I know its impossible to catch a virus via the YT comments section.

[@divine2226]

🆘️🆘️🆘️🆘️🆘️🆘️🆘️🆘️🆘️🆘️ Hello. I feel so devastated. I feel like everything around me is so dirty, i cant touch anything or anyone without disgust. Even eating is such a struggle most of the time. I even feel so dirty about myself and because if that i tend to over shower. I am not doing well and i dont know why this happened to me or what to do, im so clueless, please share some advice if you have any relevant to my situation.

[@kokfoongtah2471]

Ya! I'm struggling with my contamination ocd! I feel very tired doing all those compulsion

[@sheyanderson9498]

Same IT'S exhausting

[@chuckstrains7604]

I have contamination ocd with mold I know it's everywhere but I'm scared it'll ruin my things

[@labeebmahmud424]

Is anyone suffering from spiting too much beacause of Contamination Ocd?

[@gagandeepsingh9093]

Is it considered contamination ocd if I think that I pricked my cat with used insulin needle but not sure?

[@vikingmetaldragon]

1:40 People can seriously not understand this one. I am bad levels of surface contamination OCD, but I don't care about getting sick. 35% of my actions for keeping surfaces clean, are not for me. At work, I won't touch specific surfaces when my hands are particularly dirty, because I know my co-workers will touch there soon and even though they've told me that they don't care about this... I still care for them and I don't let it happen. (And none of this has to do with bs covid, I was this way for years before, and also I said BS).

[@sunilkoul848]

I have contamination of certain boogers. I wash everything where I found boogers may be bedsheets, books, files, or walls. What shall I do.

[@rushfan79]

Does anyone have a fear about petting a dog,or having that dog brush against us for fear of contamination? ANYONE?

[@rose2887]

YES! Idk if I have contamination OCD for sure but I think I do and animals gross me out, especially dogs and horses

[@leedaht]

Absolutely! If a dog licks my legs, I’m SO grossed out and feel like the lick is on my leg & teeming with amoebas 🦠 growing by the seconds. ewwww just thinking about it lol. I keep a small pack of baby wipes, hand sanitizer & antibacterial lotion in my purse or pocket at ALL times. 😂

[@anonymoose9315]

My wife has contamination OCD. She does not touch handles to anything. If she does she uses a large amount of paper towel or tissue. She will wash her hands 4 times after any situation. 6 times if she is down showering. If she sees anything like a crumb, fuzz, pebble, etc. she thinks it’s “poopie”. So if I’m working I have to tell her that it isn’t and she still has to wash her hands. She won’t do dishes, ever. So she leaves dishes out for me to put away. She spends maybe 2 to 3 hours a day just washing her hands. She has bloody cuts all over her hands because of it. She will not get help for this and I don’t know what to do. Her family won’t acknowledge that she has this issue.

[@sheyanderson9498]

Find OCD Therapist to have her do ERP ( EXPOSURE RESPONSE PREVENTION)

[@anonymoose9315]

@@sheyanderson9498 I have tried but as she is an adult, she will not accept going to a therapist. It’s weird as she did not present these OCD behaviors when we were dating to such an extent. She only had shown a more extended hand washing that’s it. When we got married it was almost night and day.

[@EmmaDeFazio5938]

If she isn’t getting sick is it worth it

[@anonymoose9315]

@@EmmaDeFazio5938 she is sick. Not physically. And if it leads to paranoia and fighting due to her fear then it is a problem. When your own children scream because their hands hurt it is a problem.

[@andrewarzoian4266]

Can you link the video you referenced?

[@luisenriqueviramontesjr743]

I’ve thrown out rechargeable batteries because I fear contamination and it can’t be cleaned without being ruined

[@amandaandbabyi2480]

Constantly feeling like there’s gonna be “ drugs” in anything I eat. Due to traumatic past experiences. My ocd uses it against me. Constant battle everyday fighting with these damn thoughts. Worse now that I’m 7 months pregnant. 😣

[@apc4205]

This is what i’m going through right now with my food, how are you doing now?

[@amandaandbabyi2480]

@@apc4205 Hey. Just saw this. Still here and still going through it. I can’t make it go away unfortunately but I still try everyday to move forward but I constantly fail. How are you?

[@apc4205]

@@amandaandbabyi2480 i’m just going for it, not letting the ocd win everyday, i’m doing good, you just have to force yourself cause you don’t want to live like this forever you got this

[@amandaandbabyi2480]

@@apc4205 good for you. Hopefully I can get there

[@apc4205]

@@amandaandbabyi2480 trust me, you will just go for it and be consistent! your ocd will hate it at first but just go for it, there’s not drugs in your food!!

[@randomlylegend]

I have this it's very annoying

[@christinaalban3717]

If I was sexually abused by a step parent, does it make sense that I take several showers a day just to wash my vaginally area?

[@jeremifrancisco1]

3:50 that’s a TOTALLY different subject. For a reason, people display reactions to allergens or allergies.

[@avacado4521]

Idrk what you mean with this comment, but allergies can coexist with food-based contamination OCD (and honestly make it so, SO much worse dep on the person)

[@MusicLuv80]

I have every OCD out there. I even have this. It is where I look at a facebook and want to click on a like button but can't do it because the person in the picture is in the awkward position or if there is a post of a sick person I just can't hit a like button. If I am watching a movie and it is gory scene and I touch my leg or some body part I feel like I am going to turn into them. When I was a kid it was only organizing and cleaning. Then later counting, then religion where I might not intentionally say bad things about God I have to ask for forgiveness but while doing so if I have bad thoughts pop up I have to ask forgiveness again and again and again. Then everything went away then it came back during college years. It was pretty bad. Then I got married it got worse. After having first child my OCD went away and came a new OCD called "Contamination OCD." I was afraid of something might hard my kid. Especially, blood (anything red would freak me out), broken glass (I can't even park my car if there are broken glass), any kind of chemical (including cleaning chemicals used for homes). When I do use them I have to use glove and take shower afterwards. After second child it got 5 times worse and after third child it went 10 times worse. It is so hard for me to live on with my life. I am more busier now cleaning and washing my hands and other things that could hard my kids. I think I am cursed by GOD.

[@Mi-ik3rj]

How do you do perform exposure therapy if you have a fear of asbestos/silica? I have a fear of contracting a lung disease from dust/toxic contaminants.

[@gilbertdelgado1624]

Have you gotten help for this? If so, what have you been advised?

[@lahaza6515]

What is it from?

[@milochamp1586]

- Complex Childhood PTSD -LEADS TO ->OCD (If trauma triggers are avoided or rituals being used since your late teens) or - Complex Childhood PTSD -LEADS TO ->Depression(If trauma triggers are regularly exposed to be desensitized without rationally processing childhood trauma/thoughts). This is because there is a negative image of the world to a unhappy face due to traumas. Goal is to do exposure therapy by identifying bothering pictures that is causing related to childhood trauma. One thing to note is trying to do exposure by yourself alone may increase your OCD. I tried and things got worse. So best to do exposure with an expert or trustworthy friend or family member.

[@billyeast6523]

Can my ocd convince me my sister is poisoning random items around my house hold

[@mattnhormann]

Yes. Yes, it definitely can. I've been convinced my housemates were trying to poison me before.

[@jackstauberfan1495]

I have generalized anxiety and contamination ocd and I hate it

[@mattnhormann]

It sucks, man. Hang in there and don't be afraid to ask for help.

[@vaishnavid7220]

I don't know what this thing i have is called but am i the only one who has this intense fear and disgust towards corners? like when I'm cleaning, i just can't get myself to also clean the corners, I cringe so hard. and when I'm on the bus, i look at any of the corners, I literally wanna puke. I can't stand certain noises and imagery. i double check everything. i double wash my hands just in case. I can't stand being near a sick person nor a contaminated object.

[@fionamurphy2653]

Is it true that OCD can get worse in pregnancy??

[@nardaam4527]

It gets worse after if you have post partum depression