I held the container that contains the coffee grinds over the garbage an even though I know it didn't hit the garbage I keep thinking it could have hit the garbage. Any thoughts or help from those who share contamination OCD?
Oof I relate to this. Those thoughts where I’m like this thing could have brushed this dirty thing without me noticing and now it’s contaminated and I have to do something about it. Even though I was watching it carefully the whole time. I notice that I give into my compulsions to decontaminate the most when I feel stressed or overwhelmed. It’s hard because it feels like you’re gaslighting yourself. Following to get some advice as well
I did a pretty good job of managing my OCD last night and I didn't go through any of my cleaning rituals and I slept normally which was a surprise because I have bad insomnia for a while. The thought has been bugging me all day but my resolution at the moment is even if it hit the garbage which I know it didn't I will get sick tomorrow morning when I make my coffee and I will deal with it then. I hope I can stay strong and thank you for your post.
Does anyone have any tips on how to handle contamination OCD?
Hi there. I’ve recently joined NOCD and wanted to ask: does anyone have a sort of mental contamination fear, such as believing that interacting with people will “infect” oneself in a psychological manner? Just wanted to reach out and ask if this is an experience others had. Also looking to share experiences with others. Thanks.
So I have pretty intense contamination OCD tied to Moral/Real event OCD, and I'm having a hard time with it because part of me does genuinely believe my logic checks out, and I was hoping to get some insight as to how to change the way I see it from other people who sort of get the mindset involved :). To sum it up as well as I can, I basically have a very souped-up version of the same item-event association most people have. For example, let's say you have a HORRIBLE, GOD AWFUL relationship with a person you can't even begin to think of favorably even years after the event. They had gotten you a stuffed animal for your anniversary at some point. You finally "escape" the relationship, and you throw away the stuffed animal. This is seen as a very normal and sound-of-mind action. Here's where things get tricky: For me, throwing out that stuffed animal wouldn't be enough. After all, it touched my table didn't it? And my table touched the floor right? And these things now carry that person's germs. And if I don't get rid of them, then they'll infect my future belongings. This logic isn't entirely flawed either, as even my OCD specialist said he believes in a "weaker version of what I do". How am I supposed to convince myself that what I'm believing is false when the literal psychologist confirmed that what I'm doing is just a more in-depth version of a normal experience? Ex: I have a new outfit, fresh and clean. I'm unbothered and happy, but I knick the side of a table. The table holds awful associations. I get this awful sense of dread. The clothes are now somewhat sullied, and I'll eventually have to give them away. I don't think I'm explaining this as well as I could, but I feel like those notions are there. Anyways, does anyone have any insight as to how to get my mind to genuinely believe that interacting with these things is "safe"?
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