Busy Fool

Tea

I suffer with contamination OCD. What helps me is looking at what others do and what is reasonable to someone without OCD. I think, if you're out in public, it would be reasonable to wash your hands before eating or having sanitiser. Just as it is reasonable to wash your hands at home before preparing food. With regards to going out, I'm still not great at that but, I like to plan things in advance and put it in the diary, that way, I am committed to going. I then make myself go, saying to myself, you can shower etc when you get back. Then if I get the feeling that something has touched me / contaminated me in some way, I hold that feeling and try to just let the thought pass. Sometimes I lose and sometimes I win. Today I went for a coffee with a friend that I booked in about a month ago. I didn't want to go. Was worried about the usual contamination stuff. I went and survived, actually enjoyed it. Today was a day I won. With regards to illness, obviously, if my friend said she was ill, it would be reasonable to postpone until another day.

As per your title...it's just a thought. Let it go. (easy to say I know but you can do it)

Climbing

Well done, hope it's still going well . I managed to take my daughter trick or treating last week with other parent's / children. It's the first time I've done it. Anxiety was high but I actually enjoyed it...

Ah, yes, it's a long road, just need to keep going

That's great. Take it a day at a time and be kind to yourself. Good luck

I used to have this every morning. Now, I set alarm for a little earlier than I need. I then listen to the sounds/noises. Birds singing, cars going by, my husband breathing It really does help to just be in the moment, safe, calm. It allows me to gather my thoughts.

Hi, Just wanted to post it here, in case anyone else needed to hear it. I did really well after therapy just under a year ago but have been down this last few weeks, thinking that I was stuck / not moving forwards. However, I just thought about where I was this time last year...I used to spray my clothes with disinfectant after school runs, change my clothes constantly, wash hands non-stop, re-wash clothes that were already clean, unable to do every day tasks. Now today, I can't remember the last time I disinfected my clothes after a school run. I still have thoughts of changing clothes through OCD, 9 times out of 10 though, I win and OCD doesn't. I can now do housework, interact with the kids and interact with people socially. So, I know I have a long way to go but I have come such a long way and need to keep pushing. So, if you have been in therapy and feel stuck / treading water, have a look back and see how far you have come and focus on getting on even further...we can do this!!!

@Bev53, @taurean, @Handy, @Jen124m, @Christina, @Lynz, @BelAnna, @ecomum Thank you again all of you. I made it through a 4 night stay away and by the end of it, I was so much less anxious. I only went to the loo in our hotel room but it was a huge start!

That's amazing and thank you for sharing it. It's great to see people overcome compulsions...gives everyone hope that they can do the same!

Yes, it's a nightmare and one that my family don't understand. Having to keep it all in and not talk about it is very difficult...

Bar

Star

@Bev53, @taurean, @Handy, @Jen124m, @Christina, @Lynz, @BelAnna, @ecomum Thank you so much everyone for your responses, they have certainly helped me. I want to do what is reasonable rather than doing ERP on it. There is no way i want to do anything more than I have to I will prob take the most precautions initially and then try not to ruminate. I tend to think I've touched things when I haven't if I'm frightened of them and if they are close by. Sanitary bins are a big issue as they are so close to the toilet. Thank you again, really appreciate the feedback