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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Logical washing? OCD. Help required
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Logical washing? OCD. Help required
by robbie1586, May 16, 2001 12:00AM
OK, let's just say this and hopefully get it sorted then...
If, after being with my girlfriend, I have to dispose of the 'protection', ie condom, my hands feel dirty. As though they're got semen on them. Then when I wash my hands, and say I get some sort of splash of water on my face, I then feel that my face has now got some very small amount of semen on it... which when I think about it is not an entirely unreasonable assumption (unlike perhaps obsessing about germs...) therefore I have to wash my face.
Also I now consider the sink has slight traces into it, after all that's where it must go when I clean my hands, therefore I've got to clean the sink!!
And it seems I'm in some vicious circle now, with considering my bed sheets are thus 'dirty' and annoying to wash since I then have to wash my hands, sink, etc.
The main reason I can't get rid of this problem, is that it seems fairly rational and logical that 'semen' has transferred even if only slightly.
I would rather not seek professional help, but just need some advice on getting this sorted.
Thanks
If, after being with my girlfriend, I have to dispose of the 'protection', ie condom, my hands feel dirty. As though they're got semen on them. Then when I wash my hands, and say I get some sort of splash of water on my face, I then feel that my face has now got some very small amount of semen on it... which when I think about it is not an entirely unreasonable assumption (unlike perhaps obsessing about germs...) therefore I have to wash my face.
Also I now consider the sink has slight traces into it, after all that's where it must go when I clean my hands, therefore I've got to clean the sink!!
And it seems I'm in some vicious circle now, with considering my bed sheets are thus 'dirty' and annoying to wash since I then have to wash my hands, sink, etc.
The main reason I can't get rid of this problem, is that it seems fairly rational and logical that 'semen' has transferred even if only slightly.
I would rather not seek professional help, but just need some advice on getting this sorted.
Thanks
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., May 17, 2001 12:00AM
, May 17, 2001 12:00AM
It is logical that semen has transferred, but so what. Part of your logic is right, but your perspective is wrong. That's what makes it an obsession.
