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Serious health concerns (Phobia about HIV, Rabies)
I have a serious phobia about two things
One is HIV , the other is Rabies. Because of Phobia, I got serious OCD
There is one story.
Today.. there was a scar inside of my nail(there is no blood, but pain exist, looks like little red color) injured in morning. But in evening, when I took a taxi, I touched a door handle to close the door. After close the door, I seriously thought about Rabies risk. (fortunately, no HIV concern, because no ***, no blood exist).
I couldn't see saliva-like liquid(But my mind keep thinking 'IF' there is very small amount of infected saliva, or dried infected saliva... I can't stop thinking about Rabies. Finally my memory changed to see saliva so I touched..like this)
I know this is silly thinking, because I didn't see any dog, took a taxi with a dog is not usually occur, and Korea(My country) is not a high risk of rabies, especially Seoul do not have any report about rabies recent years.
There are so many stories about phobia. HIV, Rabies are too scary thing to me. So everytime, anywhere.. I always worried about all things that affects to me.(even if casual contact with people, touch my dog that vaccinated about rabies) And when get a scar, I always freak out.. have to wash, doing disinfection several times..
How can I overcome? Am I serious now?
One is HIV , the other is Rabies. Because of Phobia, I got serious OCD
There is one story.
Today.. there was a scar inside of my nail(there is no blood, but pain exist, looks like little red color) injured in morning. But in evening, when I took a taxi, I touched a door handle to close the door. After close the door, I seriously thought about Rabies risk. (fortunately, no HIV concern, because no ***, no blood exist).
I couldn't see saliva-like liquid(But my mind keep thinking 'IF' there is very small amount of infected saliva, or dried infected saliva... I can't stop thinking about Rabies. Finally my memory changed to see saliva so I touched..like this)
I know this is silly thinking, because I didn't see any dog, took a taxi with a dog is not usually occur, and Korea(My country) is not a high risk of rabies, especially Seoul do not have any report about rabies recent years.
There are so many stories about phobia. HIV, Rabies are too scary thing to me. So everytime, anywhere.. I always worried about all things that affects to me.(even if casual contact with people, touch my dog that vaccinated about rabies) And when get a scar, I always freak out.. have to wash, doing disinfection several times..
How can I overcome? Am I serious now?
Thank you for reply :)
I never had talked to a therapist.. This is the first time that I had serious OCD.
Your reply helps me very much.
Especially "what if I got rabies from the door handle?" and replace that with "nobody gets rabies from a door handle and there wasn't even a rabid animal around." <--- this is very Impressive for me.
At normal times, I usually think negatively..// In fact, change negative ones to positive is really difficult for me :( I have to practice.
My cousin major in 'social psychology rehabilitation' , so I ask her to find good therapist. Maybe within 2 weeks, I'll meet therapist.
I always keep in mind "Think rationally when in a panic state".
After see therapist, I'll write here(or new writing) how does it going.
Thank you so much, JGH25
I never had talked to a therapist.. This is the first time that I had serious OCD.
Your reply helps me very much.
Especially "what if I got rabies from the door handle?" and replace that with "nobody gets rabies from a door handle and there wasn't even a rabid animal around." <--- this is very Impressive for me.
At normal times, I usually think negatively..// In fact, change negative ones to positive is really difficult for me :( I have to practice.
My cousin major in 'social psychology rehabilitation' , so I ask her to find good therapist. Maybe within 2 weeks, I'll meet therapist.
I always keep in mind "Think rationally when in a panic state".
After see therapist, I'll write here(or new writing) how does it going.
Thank you so much, JGH25
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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.
It is difficult to get out of the cycle of irrational thinking by yourself. You can try to journal your thoughts and replace those negative ones with positive ones...such as "what if I got rabies from the door handle?" and replace that with "nobody gets rabies from a door handle and there wasn't even a rabid animal around." Same with the HIV. This takes work on your part. There is also a breathing techniques that you can use to calm yourself down. Take a deep breath in through your nose, hold for 5 seconds and count this out in your head, and then let it all out through your mouth. Do this until you are calm and can think rationally. It is impossible to think rationally when you are going from one thing to the next in a panic state.
Is it possible to see a therapist in Korea easily? I know in the UK it isn't so I'm just wondering.