Aa
New Problem
I thought I was getting better and that I finally was in control of my OCD, but then I read some statistics...
PLEASE DON'T READ THE NEXT PART IF YOU'RE AFRAID OF DIRTY THINGS LIKE I AM, PLEASE DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO FREAK SOMEONE OUT, I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE AND I DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO FEEL LIKE I DO, I WARNED YOU.
... it was about how shopping carts are disgustingly filthy and yeah I knew it was dirty, but I never thought it could be that bad, I'm not gonna go into details because I'm afraid some of you are still reading even though you shouldn't be, and I don't want people to freak out like I did, but now I can't go into any big shopping centre like groceries and such...
I'm posting this because I don't know what to do anymore, should I see an hypnotist, would it help remove this information from my mind? Is there some kind of medication to help me? Are there any studies that say that shopping carts aren't so bad?
Help!
PLEASE DON'T READ THE NEXT PART IF YOU'RE AFRAID OF DIRTY THINGS LIKE I AM, PLEASE DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO FREAK SOMEONE OUT, I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE AND I DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO FEEL LIKE I DO, I WARNED YOU.
... it was about how shopping carts are disgustingly filthy and yeah I knew it was dirty, but I never thought it could be that bad, I'm not gonna go into details because I'm afraid some of you are still reading even though you shouldn't be, and I don't want people to freak out like I did, but now I can't go into any big shopping centre like groceries and such...
I'm posting this because I don't know what to do anymore, should I see an hypnotist, would it help remove this information from my mind? Is there some kind of medication to help me? Are there any studies that say that shopping carts aren't so bad?
Help!
Hi there, it's not about if holding shopping carts is bad. Honestly they're fine. There are NO studies that are going to tell you that holding shoppingcarts is healthy, because of the fact that there's no reason at all to do such a study because holding them is harmless.
Now listen because this is important, I used to have severe OCD and was especially scared of dirty things. I used to spend at least 5 hours a day washing my hands, taking showers, and all kinds of other OCD things. However I don't have OCD anymore. You should start some cognitive behavioural therapy.
the thing about OCD is that right now it's enabling you from doing things. and probably making you really scared and anxious. Please try the therapy and I will give you some tips as well:
1. first of all, sometimes it's okay to be scarred, the thing is you just have to let the emotions be. Don't give in to them (this will make you even more anxious at first, but:) eventually the anxiousness will disappear I promiss you. It could take a day, it could take a weak, it could take a month, but it will disappear.
2. Right down your fear, right down what you do about it and than right down why this isn't rational. Do this with every fear! The purpose of this is that OCD isn't rational and by rationalising it, the OCD will lose its power.
3. Confront your fears. The only way you will see that germs aren't dangerous is by confronting them. For instance, after you go shopping: don't wash your hands for a change. Again this will make you a little more anxious at first, but this feeling will fade and eventually disappear.
Once you get a hang of it, you will not only notice you're current fears fading, but you'll also notice you won't get scarred as easily of anything new.
Good luck with this, I really hope you can make it work!
Now listen because this is important, I used to have severe OCD and was especially scared of dirty things. I used to spend at least 5 hours a day washing my hands, taking showers, and all kinds of other OCD things. However I don't have OCD anymore. You should start some cognitive behavioural therapy.
the thing about OCD is that right now it's enabling you from doing things. and probably making you really scared and anxious. Please try the therapy and I will give you some tips as well:
1. first of all, sometimes it's okay to be scarred, the thing is you just have to let the emotions be. Don't give in to them (this will make you even more anxious at first, but:) eventually the anxiousness will disappear I promiss you. It could take a day, it could take a weak, it could take a month, but it will disappear.
2. Right down your fear, right down what you do about it and than right down why this isn't rational. Do this with every fear! The purpose of this is that OCD isn't rational and by rationalising it, the OCD will lose its power.
3. Confront your fears. The only way you will see that germs aren't dangerous is by confronting them. For instance, after you go shopping: don't wash your hands for a change. Again this will make you a little more anxious at first, but this feeling will fade and eventually disappear.
Once you get a hang of it, you will not only notice you're current fears fading, but you'll also notice you won't get scarred as easily of anything new.
Good luck with this, I really hope you can make it work!
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Community
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
