Extreme Fear of getting HIV

[noey2112]

I know HIV dies in the air - but I am having a bad time dealing with a recent incident. My neighbor came up to me (he sleeps with different women) and I said hi - my dog went up to him to say hi as well, as he always does. A few seconds later my dog cam up to me a began to lick an open sore I have on my leg. He does this quite often. Many "what ifs" coming now. What if my neighbor happened to have an open cut as well that my dog licked before me? What if he has HIV? I know this is not a possibly to transmit HIV, since it dies when it hits the air, plus the dog saliva would also affect it. But - what if? OCD controls me each and every day!! Could I have HIV?

[JGF25]

I get those sometimes.  I use controlled breathing and self coaching to get through them.  Gotta fall back on that CBT.

[noey2112]

Thanks for the reply. I have been on meds and in therapy for about ten years now...still have bad episodes every now and then.

[JGF25]

No I don't think you have HIV.  You don't even know if your neighbor is HIV positive but rather you are making assumptions based on his lifestyle which is what all people with OCD do.  We are good at making assumptions.  

What have you done to combat your OCD?  Therapy?  Medication?