No Risk

Hi I'm hoping for a bit of help. This is my situation
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/Risk-quesion/show/1205980#post_5514346

basically I can't get this ridiculous notion, that i may have caught HIV from a scratch out of my head. I keep thinking that although I didn't see any blood on the lock, the virus could have been present and got into the scratch, I'm not even sure how deep the scratch was any more. I just want to get rid of this anxiety. Thanks for your help

[joggen]

I agree that it is a ridiculous notion. You are more likely to get hit by a meteorite than get exposed to HIV from the scenario that you describe. "What if" concerns like yours do not happen in the real world. And the only way people catch HIV from blood exposures is in a health care setting (i.e. a health care professional exposed directly to a patient's blood) or through shared IV drug use equipment, both of which involve exposures to large volumes of blood introduced deep into the body (and no, your exposure does not qualify as a health care setting exposure).

If your rational brain understands that the concern is ridiculous, but your emotional brain cannot let it go, you may want to consider whether you have a health obsession or phobia. If you have these types of concerns frequently and they interfere with your life, then you may also want to consider speaking with a mental health professional.

[waxxyx]

Hi Joggen
I don't think it's health obsession or a phobia. I can pretty much put it down to a breakup which left me feeling alot of guilt and very low. At the time I also saw a documentary where someone had HIV. This had me thinking of all my no risk situations and also started my anxiety, which is why I went to the clinic where I got the scratch which continued to fuel my anxiety. So I think you're right, for me this is an emotional issue. However talking on this forum helps and your comments yesterday are greatly appreciated as it's helping me with the reality of the situation.