Pippinkpip

Hi PolarBear, Thank you very much for your response. I know you are right that it is the OCD lies and I need to push past it. I think I'm just always scared of the "what if" but I need to get past this in order for me to do the things I need to do. I have support but I do struggle as I live on my own so I guess if I'm by myself I can think I can justify throwing something away or having another shower. This is now financially affecting me which is a problem. OCD is such a bully! Pippinkpip

Hi All, I am new to the forum and thought this may be a good area to get some advice or information on others experiences. I am currently suffering with anxiety and OCD after an incident happened last year which has made me hyper vigilant to contamination. Day to day is extremely difficult with wondering what marks are and the uncertainty worries. Some of the major things are not being able to use public toilets/work toilets, washing clothes every day, throwing items away if I feel they are not clean or have fallen on the floor. A really big issue is not being able to shop for clothes as something usually happens to trigger me so I am unable to purchase something or I feel I need to take it back. I scan the till area for marks and feel I need to take something back if the store assistant has licked their fingers to open the shopping bag. It has got to the point now where I am so low on clothes because of moving house and throwing/giving to charity when I did and also more throwing away since I've moved. I know I need to get new clothes but am struggling to overcome this hurdle. My confidence in myself is low and I feel defeated by not being able to achieve something maybe so simple. Any advice or others experience of this would be really appreciated. Thank you Pippinkpip