Still bright red after four days? I don't think you are dealing with blood here. Blood turns a dark color, almost brownish red. Its only really bright red once it comes out of the body and is full of oxygen. Four days later, the oxygen is gone and it is much darker. There is no brightness to it. I am thinking it is red paint or maybe nail polish. I know how OCD works, so hang in there!
I think we are the lucky one when you think about it--think of the police,doctors,nurses,ambulance--emts,they get blood on them all the time.What about sports people--this is why in the real word not the OCD world we are so safe.Oh & by the way--you're not a fool at all.
I think I have officially lost my marbles...
I passed by the same place in the public transport and the spots of "blood" are still there... and still bright red... 4 days later.... something tells me this was never blood to begin with.
I have been stressed and concerned for what exactly? I know OCD is a sickness of the mind, but now I am making up reasons to be scared.
I feel very much like a fool right now.
Thank you to both of you.
I have done that with many things already, wait 4 days and then wash them, or wear them again, or feel better that my house isn't contaminated. What a way to live I tell ya.
The worst is that I probably DIDN'T step on anything.
And of course finding the cut on my hand that was definately not there in the a.m. freaked me out too. In my mind that's blood to blood contact. Even though I am sure I didn't step in the blood.
I am definatey frustrated by this, it just never ever seems to end. It always seems that I almost make it through the day without an OCD attack and then BAM. I try, I really do. And I try really hard.
After my shower I wanted to wash the floors where I walked and thought, ok really? You can't go there. You can't give it. You have to have some form of rational thought. Yes, I can be afraid but I have to still have some sort of control. I resisted and did not wash my floors. It's a small thing that if I had done would have pushed me way over into the land of the mentally ill so I resisted.
I agree with JGF once again,what life are we living if we just stay home and not face the world.I have adopted this thinking & I hope it will work--unless I have a major exposure then my OCD can go to hell because I won't let it win.I am not going to ask the ''what if'' or ''maybe'' questions--no way.
You are correct about the HCV but it needs to get into your blood stream & that will never happen stepping on blood.I agree it's not a very nice experience but it really is hard to avoid most of the time because we aren't always looking down.I believe you are totally safe from HepC.
Think of it this way Lola....there is absolutely nothing you can do about it short of staying in your house. So you have to adopt the mantra "I can't control everything and this is one of them." You know the chances are very, very small that you would ever get HepC from this type of transmission. The CDC says that HepC can live between 16 hours and 4 days tops. So what you want to do is DO NOT throw away the flip flops. Give it the 4 days and then wear them again. It is the only way you can start to get a handle on your fears. I hear the frustration in you voice in knowing that these things are irrational and feeling powerless. But the fact is you hold all the power and you choose what path you go down.
I know this about HIV, it's not a fear of HIV. Its a fear of Hepatitis C... probably just as unlikely however it does not die as quickly and that causes me fear.
I read your exposure, and I still say kudos to you!
You have been doing so well don't let this get to you,firstly you know that HIV becomes inactive once exposed to air,secondly you just have to walk into the ED on any given night and there will be blood on the floor I can assure you.It's everywhere.I used a public toilet just a week and a bit ago and it was on the floor and in the toilet bowl.I have seen blood in shopping malls and on foot paths.All you have to know is that it's not infectious because it's been exposed to air.I would forget all about this.