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OCD - fear of contamination
I have OCD. I have recently stopped taking my medication as I really hate taking them. I was ok for a while and now it has reappeared and in a bad way.
I am in a constant fear of contamination and if that isn't enough, I am afraid of chemicals in cleaning products and disinfectants to kill this contamination that I fear. Oh, I know, it's a viscious awful circle.
I know my thoughts are irrational. Totally. Even still, there seems to be a part of me that believes in them, because if I didn't why would they still be there?
I have rituals, that make no sense, that I superstisoulsly repeat because in my head this will help the outcome of the situation.
I am going back on my meds, this is a given.
Im just looking to see if there is anyone else out there that can relate, perhaps offer advice...
I am in a constant fear of contamination and if that isn't enough, I am afraid of chemicals in cleaning products and disinfectants to kill this contamination that I fear. Oh, I know, it's a viscious awful circle.
I know my thoughts are irrational. Totally. Even still, there seems to be a part of me that believes in them, because if I didn't why would they still be there?
I have rituals, that make no sense, that I superstisoulsly repeat because in my head this will help the outcome of the situation.
I am going back on my meds, this is a given.
Im just looking to see if there is anyone else out there that can relate, perhaps offer advice...
The advice I would have given is what you are already doing which is going back on your medication.
I myself have been on meds, gone off and then back on again. I had a good number of years being medication free but not OCD free. I think that at that particular time in my life I had less stressors and therefore my OCD never became off the hook and I know you know what "off the hook means."
There are lots of tools and I'm sure you know them all by now but sometimes they just don't work well when in the thick of it all. It is incredible what my mind has conjured up over the years as something I should step and take notice of. All stupid, irrational thoughts that I am well aware of as being such but can't stop thinking about them. You name it, I have catastrophized it.
When on meds, are you pretty much OCD free? I find that I can let things go on meds. I still think those stupid thoughts but I can say "whatever" and they magically go away most likely because I'm not sitting there fighting the thought tooth and nail. A good "whatever" and off it goes.
Take care and thanks for posting to others. It is good for people to get several opinions. :)
I myself have been on meds, gone off and then back on again. I had a good number of years being medication free but not OCD free. I think that at that particular time in my life I had less stressors and therefore my OCD never became off the hook and I know you know what "off the hook means."
There are lots of tools and I'm sure you know them all by now but sometimes they just don't work well when in the thick of it all. It is incredible what my mind has conjured up over the years as something I should step and take notice of. All stupid, irrational thoughts that I am well aware of as being such but can't stop thinking about them. You name it, I have catastrophized it.
When on meds, are you pretty much OCD free? I find that I can let things go on meds. I still think those stupid thoughts but I can say "whatever" and they magically go away most likely because I'm not sitting there fighting the thought tooth and nail. A good "whatever" and off it goes.
Take care and thanks for posting to others. It is good for people to get several opinions. :)
I am an OCD patient too.. I am going through lot because of OCD..I was o meds for a while and then when I started to feel better I stopped for a while and things went pretty bad. Now I am getting back on medication. I have all kind of rituals and atleast 4 hours a day i am spending doing rituals and people feel I am silly sometimes.
I want to lead a normal life and I want to get reid of OCD I am struggling every day but I will fight it. I will..Please be strong and we will get rid of OCD someday soon..
GOD Bless
I want to lead a normal life and I want to get reid of OCD I am struggling every day but I will fight it. I will..Please be strong and we will get rid of OCD someday soon..
GOD Bless
I'm sure once the meds have kicked back in you will feel much better. They obviously worked for you in the past.
As far as people thinking you are silly...well they just don't understand. Really nobody does unless they have this disorder. While I don't perform rituals, I can understand your need to do them just because I too have OCD. What we need from others is support. They don't have to understand but they need to be supportive. I mean really, if we had the power on our own to stop this behavior, dont they think we would? It's not our fault our brain chemistry is wired differently. My husband fits into this category and NOW he is supportive. He knows after 23 years he didn't marry a loony-toones. He knows I am a great mother, very successful at work, but I just have my OCD moments. Before we go on any vacation he knows I have to check everything, sometimes more than once. So he will say "we will be waiting in the car, go and do what you have to do." Support, that is all we ask for.
Take care and keep us posted on your progress back toward leading a life ritual-free. :)
As far as people thinking you are silly...well they just don't understand. Really nobody does unless they have this disorder. While I don't perform rituals, I can understand your need to do them just because I too have OCD. What we need from others is support. They don't have to understand but they need to be supportive. I mean really, if we had the power on our own to stop this behavior, dont they think we would? It's not our fault our brain chemistry is wired differently. My husband fits into this category and NOW he is supportive. He knows after 23 years he didn't marry a loony-toones. He knows I am a great mother, very successful at work, but I just have my OCD moments. Before we go on any vacation he knows I have to check everything, sometimes more than once. So he will say "we will be waiting in the car, go and do what you have to do." Support, that is all we ask for.
Take care and keep us posted on your progress back toward leading a life ritual-free. :)
Thank you so much for your support. I am also going through a tough time in my personal life and I am about to break up with my GF soon with whom I am living together for a while.She is very supportive but we are two different people and I feel strongly to break the relationship as it is not going to work out in the long run.
I am far away from my family and I am all alone in this country and my OCD is giving me hardest time of my life. I am not sure if I am doing the right thing of breaking her heart and my guilt is punishing me in the form of OCD.
I have reached a point where I am spending 3 to 4 hours a day on my OCD rituals. I do not have enough money to seek psychiatrist help. I am just hanging there believing in GOD.
I am fighting against OCD everyday every moment. It is of great help talking to people on this forum. Thank you
I am far away from my family and I am all alone in this country and my OCD is giving me hardest time of my life. I am not sure if I am doing the right thing of breaking her heart and my guilt is punishing me in the form of OCD.
I have reached a point where I am spending 3 to 4 hours a day on my OCD rituals. I do not have enough money to seek psychiatrist help. I am just hanging there believing in GOD.
I am fighting against OCD everyday every moment. It is of great help talking to people on this forum. Thank you
My husband as well tries to be as supportive of me as he possibly can be, he also tries to not "give in" to my ridiculous thoughts, because he feels that by doing so he is encouraging the thoughts to continue. For example, I feel that after putting wet clothes from the washing machine to the dryer, one should wash their hands. He says "the clothes are clean". He tries to understand that nothing is ever clean to me, but he can't. There is no understanding because he doesn't have OCD. One can try to understand us and what we are going through, but it just won't work.
I agree that we need support, definately we need support. I need constant reassurance for my fears, and by this point most people, including coworkers think I am a little loopy. I have constant nagging fears about them most impossible things, but in my mind if there is a slight teeny tiny weeny little bit of possibility, it is going to happen for certain to me. My latest freak out was this am as I was on my way to work and i take public transport. I am wearing a pair of leggings with a long shirt, the shirt is not long enough to cover my bum entierly when I sit and I discovered today at work when I bend over you can see rghtthrough my leggings, which leads me to believe that I might as well have just sat bare bummed on the metro and that I know am going to catch lord knows what. I realize that this is insane. I also realize that skin acts as a barrier for germs and I also realize that if I did sit on anything that did get on my skin, it is not anything that will kill me. But yet, here I am stressing over it. I keep thinking to myself, you idiot how could you have done something so stupid etc, etc.
When I was on my meds, I was able to push the thoughts out of my mind when I had them, providing that they were illogical thoughts. I know that I need to get back on them, and I hate that realization. I know that at this point they over take my life and will only cause damage to other relasionships down the line.
We just have to stay tough.
I agree that we need support, definately we need support. I need constant reassurance for my fears, and by this point most people, including coworkers think I am a little loopy. I have constant nagging fears about them most impossible things, but in my mind if there is a slight teeny tiny weeny little bit of possibility, it is going to happen for certain to me. My latest freak out was this am as I was on my way to work and i take public transport. I am wearing a pair of leggings with a long shirt, the shirt is not long enough to cover my bum entierly when I sit and I discovered today at work when I bend over you can see rghtthrough my leggings, which leads me to believe that I might as well have just sat bare bummed on the metro and that I know am going to catch lord knows what. I realize that this is insane. I also realize that skin acts as a barrier for germs and I also realize that if I did sit on anything that did get on my skin, it is not anything that will kill me. But yet, here I am stressing over it. I keep thinking to myself, you idiot how could you have done something so stupid etc, etc.
When I was on my meds, I was able to push the thoughts out of my mind when I had them, providing that they were illogical thoughts. I know that I need to get back on them, and I hate that realization. I know that at this point they over take my life and will only cause damage to other relasionships down the line.
We just have to stay tough.
Stressors definitely make living with OCD tough. I read this book called self-coaching by Joseph Luciani (in case you've got an e-reader and want to download it) and I found it to be really insightful. For OCD people it is all about control. We want to control everything in our lives and when we can't we go off into that viscious cycle of thinking. We want to control what happens now, we want to see into the future and prepare for any eventuality which in our minds is usually a catastrophic one.
That is what you are doing lola when you asked your husband to wash his hands after he puts the clothes in the dryer. What you need to do is turn that around and say to yourself, "at least he is doing the laundry" I don't like the way my husband does it either. Makes the piles too small so uses too much water and after having just replaced our entire septic system (which BTW is what send me careening off the cliff that is OCD and back onto medication) I had a hard time with that. But I kept my mouth shut and I just reminded myself that that was at least one thing I don't have to be responsible for once in a while. I no longer even care.
FA-OCD, well breaking up with your long-time girlfriend that you are living with, talk about a stressor in your life...its a whopper. No wonder you are having problems. I hope things go well and that you are relieved and happy again.
I'm glad you both are going back on meds. Try the book if you think it may help. It did open my eyes quite a bit. Also there is the OCD workbook: your guide to breaking from of obsessive compulstive disorder that people talk very highly of. I have never read this book but I'm seriously thinking about getting it.
Take care...both of you :)
That is what you are doing lola when you asked your husband to wash his hands after he puts the clothes in the dryer. What you need to do is turn that around and say to yourself, "at least he is doing the laundry" I don't like the way my husband does it either. Makes the piles too small so uses too much water and after having just replaced our entire septic system (which BTW is what send me careening off the cliff that is OCD and back onto medication) I had a hard time with that. But I kept my mouth shut and I just reminded myself that that was at least one thing I don't have to be responsible for once in a while. I no longer even care.
FA-OCD, well breaking up with your long-time girlfriend that you are living with, talk about a stressor in your life...its a whopper. No wonder you are having problems. I hope things go well and that you are relieved and happy again.
I'm glad you both are going back on meds. Try the book if you think it may help. It did open my eyes quite a bit. Also there is the OCD workbook: your guide to breaking from of obsessive compulstive disorder that people talk very highly of. I have never read this book but I'm seriously thinking about getting it.
Take care...both of you :)
Thank you Lola and thank you JFG for sharing your thoughts.
Lola,
I have the biggest fear of sitting everywhere. I cannot sit on any public place.If I sit on any chair then I freak out. It is not one day thing for me and I am going through it every day.
I do it even when I sit in my girlfriend's car. I will make sure that nothing pointed items are on the seat. I always lock the car door even for 2 mins.My GF gets very annoyed sometimes but she understands.
I have OCD of HIV and I fear about contamination all time. I cannot stand in the line if someone is standing behind me. I think they are always going to poke me with something. I fear everything in life. I sometimes feel I have become less productive at work.I am stressed out on OCD for most part of my day.
I am going through the toughest time of my life. I don't need anything fancy in my life, I don't want to be rich. I want to lead a normal human life. I have tears in my eyes as I am writing this because I have struggled for 15 years and still going on.
GOD please help us all. OCD will kill a person slowly. I want to fight back and as I said I am going through some personal problem too. My GF is an awesome person but our lives are so different and that is the only reason I am breaking up with her. I am not able to handle the pressure and my OCD has shot up.
I fear of the after effects of break up and I am on debt. I have stress at work. My parents know nothing abt all this. I wish some angel can walk down and rescue me. I can't write any more.....
Lola,
I have the biggest fear of sitting everywhere. I cannot sit on any public place.If I sit on any chair then I freak out. It is not one day thing for me and I am going through it every day.
I do it even when I sit in my girlfriend's car. I will make sure that nothing pointed items are on the seat. I always lock the car door even for 2 mins.My GF gets very annoyed sometimes but she understands.
I have OCD of HIV and I fear about contamination all time. I cannot stand in the line if someone is standing behind me. I think they are always going to poke me with something. I fear everything in life. I sometimes feel I have become less productive at work.I am stressed out on OCD for most part of my day.
I am going through the toughest time of my life. I don't need anything fancy in my life, I don't want to be rich. I want to lead a normal human life. I have tears in my eyes as I am writing this because I have struggled for 15 years and still going on.
GOD please help us all. OCD will kill a person slowly. I want to fight back and as I said I am going through some personal problem too. My GF is an awesome person but our lives are so different and that is the only reason I am breaking up with her. I am not able to handle the pressure and my OCD has shot up.
I fear of the after effects of break up and I am on debt. I have stress at work. My parents know nothing abt all this. I wish some angel can walk down and rescue me. I can't write any more.....
I feel for you, I really and truly do.
Contamination fear is, in my mind, one of the worst things to fear, because let's face it, it's almost impossible to avoid. And that is what makes this fear almost crippling. But it doesn't have to be this way. There is a way to live a "normal" life. Sure we may think things through a little bit more than the average person, but we can still live happily and without these obsessions.
I tried to stay off the meds, I really did. The issue I have is that when taking them I feel better after time and I am able to be less obsessive much much less stressed. I can eat, I can sleep and I am happy. Then I make the choiceto stop the meds, in this case because I was thinking about a baby, and in a few months (7 to be exact) I find myself stressed out, panicking and worrying all over again. The weight loss has started, the thoughts won't go away, and I am again washing my hands and fearing the worst at every turn, I too, am afraid of HIV or HCV infection, but I cannot let it rule my life, I just cannot.
Breaking up with your live in girlfriend, cannot be easy. I have been there and I know the heart ache it can cause. I also understand the guilt associated with it, add OCD to the mix and it only gets worse. Much much worse. In the end you know what you need to do. If you feel that you need to end this and move on then you need to do that, not only for you, but for her sake as well. It will not be easy, but if you know it is what needs to be done and it is for the best, then you know that you have to do it, and move on. Of course, easier said than done. You know you will make it through and use that knowledge when you need it the most.
Contamination fear is, in my mind, one of the worst things to fear, because let's face it, it's almost impossible to avoid. And that is what makes this fear almost crippling. But it doesn't have to be this way. There is a way to live a "normal" life. Sure we may think things through a little bit more than the average person, but we can still live happily and without these obsessions.
I tried to stay off the meds, I really did. The issue I have is that when taking them I feel better after time and I am able to be less obsessive much much less stressed. I can eat, I can sleep and I am happy. Then I make the choiceto stop the meds, in this case because I was thinking about a baby, and in a few months (7 to be exact) I find myself stressed out, panicking and worrying all over again. The weight loss has started, the thoughts won't go away, and I am again washing my hands and fearing the worst at every turn, I too, am afraid of HIV or HCV infection, but I cannot let it rule my life, I just cannot.
Breaking up with your live in girlfriend, cannot be easy. I have been there and I know the heart ache it can cause. I also understand the guilt associated with it, add OCD to the mix and it only gets worse. Much much worse. In the end you know what you need to do. If you feel that you need to end this and move on then you need to do that, not only for you, but for her sake as well. It will not be easy, but if you know it is what needs to be done and it is for the best, then you know that you have to do it, and move on. Of course, easier said than done. You know you will make it through and use that knowledge when you need it the most.
Nicely said Lola to fightagainst OCD. If you want to talk about pregnancy and OCD, you can PM me. It was the first real crisis (I hate the word breakdown) that I had. I have 17 and 15 year old boys.
FightagainstOCD, you just need to hang in there until the meds start working for you. I don't have a fear of contamination generally so while I can understand and sympathize with you and Lola I cannot really offer any advice other than you have to keep getting out there no matter what and it seems like the both of you don't let this stop you from doing things.
I did have HIV anxiety and my answer was to sit in an AIDS clinic on my lunch hour for several weeks. It made me realize that I can't get it from sitting in a chair, or touching a magaine, or being in a room where someone was coughing, sneezing, etc. The exposure therapy really helped me.
FightagainstOCD, you just need to hang in there until the meds start working for you. I don't have a fear of contamination generally so while I can understand and sympathize with you and Lola I cannot really offer any advice other than you have to keep getting out there no matter what and it seems like the both of you don't let this stop you from doing things.
I did have HIV anxiety and my answer was to sit in an AIDS clinic on my lunch hour for several weeks. It made me realize that I can't get it from sitting in a chair, or touching a magaine, or being in a room where someone was coughing, sneezing, etc. The exposure therapy really helped me.
I know that I could not handle exposure therapy at this point.
I found an odd mark on my step sons shorts this evening after doing a load of laundry.. resembled almost a bleach stain but I couldnt be sure so I attempted to scrub it out in the kitchen sink.. it definately got lighter so it is not bleach... but then I began to wonder what it is. And now I am convinced that it is blood and that I have contaminated myself, the washer the dryer and the few pieces of cutlery that were in the sink with Hepatitis C because I am fairly certain that HIV would not survive the wash. Why would there be Hep C blood on the shorts and not say dried spaghetti sauce or whatever else kids manage to get on themselves... good question. I think he wore them to the gym where my husnand takes him sometimes to do fighr training, wrestling etc.. my husband says he wasnt wearing shorts.. I say he wouldn't remember (which is very true) and now I am up and googling the color of dried blood putting myself in a panic and my husband through what I know is insanity... sigh.
I found an odd mark on my step sons shorts this evening after doing a load of laundry.. resembled almost a bleach stain but I couldnt be sure so I attempted to scrub it out in the kitchen sink.. it definately got lighter so it is not bleach... but then I began to wonder what it is. And now I am convinced that it is blood and that I have contaminated myself, the washer the dryer and the few pieces of cutlery that were in the sink with Hepatitis C because I am fairly certain that HIV would not survive the wash. Why would there be Hep C blood on the shorts and not say dried spaghetti sauce or whatever else kids manage to get on themselves... good question. I think he wore them to the gym where my husnand takes him sometimes to do fighr training, wrestling etc.. my husband says he wasnt wearing shorts.. I say he wouldn't remember (which is very true) and now I am up and googling the color of dried blood putting myself in a panic and my husband through what I know is insanity... sigh.
Thank you for that JGF, you are right, we ARE strong. Becuase if we weren't we would be MUCH worse off that we are right now.
I am classic what-if. My whole life is what-if. And knowledge, I am obessesed with it. I have to know what everything is and how it works and if is toxic or contagious etc. As I mentioned I do not know what that stain is on my step son's shorts and that makes me crazy, probaly because it opens up to the what-if's because when you don't know what it is in my mind it could be anything... ok who am I kidding it is not just anything it is the worst case scenario.
I will defiantely get that book. Anything helps at this point.
I am classic what-if. My whole life is what-if. And knowledge, I am obessesed with it. I have to know what everything is and how it works and if is toxic or contagious etc. As I mentioned I do not know what that stain is on my step son's shorts and that makes me crazy, probaly because it opens up to the what-if's because when you don't know what it is in my mind it could be anything... ok who am I kidding it is not just anything it is the worst case scenario.
I will defiantely get that book. Anything helps at this point.
But deep down inside, you know that stain is nothing and that is what you have to remind yourself of. I cannot tell you how many times I yell at myself in my head to JUST FLIPPIN LET IT GO, ENOUGH ALREADY!
If you get the OCD workbook, let me know how it is. I have not read that one but I have been seriously thinking about getting it.
Take care.
If you get the OCD workbook, let me know how it is. I have not read that one but I have been seriously thinking about getting it.
Take care.
You'd like to think deep down I know that it is nothing, but I cannot be sure... Ya you're probably right... I do know it is nothing. If I had thought it was I wouldn't have rubbed it with my finger nail and then put it in the sink. It would have went in the trash. Plus let's be logical (haha if only) blood would not show up as lighter stain on black especially after a wash in hot water.... but oh logic has nothing to do with this.
I know what your mind is making byou think lola. Please let it go and you are fine. As I am writing thins,I am worrying myself abt few things that happened today..But I am making sure that I will stop thinking about it. I think we both are on the same boat.
We cannot let our mind rule us. Yes we have some chemical imbalance in the brain but that should not stop us from leading a simple normal life.I feel for you as I understand your pain.
I pray to GOD to give us strength to overcome this OCD. Please continue your meds and hope it will help us pretty soon.
Take care and feel free to msg me back anytime you feel like. Sometimes while you share your thoughts it will make you feel better.
We cannot let our mind rule us. Yes we have some chemical imbalance in the brain but that should not stop us from leading a simple normal life.I feel for you as I understand your pain.
I pray to GOD to give us strength to overcome this OCD. Please continue your meds and hope it will help us pretty soon.
Take care and feel free to msg me back anytime you feel like. Sometimes while you share your thoughts it will make you feel better.
I am pregnant and Dr wanted me off meds and I am reaaly struggling with my ocd...i am sooo scared of contamination that I wash repeatedly. I also what if everything and recheck alot! Im really having a hard time! I get soo upset over it...i just want to be normal! Any suggestions on how to get thru this?
Please try to relax and calm down.Try some meditation and try to enjoy everyday of life.We are loosing every precious day of our life think "What If"..
Please enjoy your life...talk to people and if you don't find anyone to talk to, please come back to the forum and post your question. We will all try to respond which will help you...
Take care. GOD bless
Please enjoy your life...talk to people and if you don't find anyone to talk to, please come back to the forum and post your question. We will all try to respond which will help you...
Take care. GOD bless
I will be starting my meds this week and I hope I will be back to "normal" soon.
I what if everything all the time. I do not have people over to my house because I don't want them to contaminate it. I am living in a bubble and trying to keep it clean and safe.
The truth is that we cannot keep everything safe. What is contaminated in our minds is nothing to someone else. I use that to keep me in check. I often ask my husband, am I over reacting and he will answer me honestly and that does help me feel a little but better at the time. Its all about perspective and ours is off. That is what is important to remember.
I too would love to feel normal. I find that deep breathing helps, and keeping myself and my mind busy also helps. Hot showers relax me. Sometimes just cuddling with my husband makes me feel safe and I can let go of those thoughts for a few minutes. Relaxation is key. It puts the mind at ease and that releases the negative thoughts.
I what if everything all the time. I do not have people over to my house because I don't want them to contaminate it. I am living in a bubble and trying to keep it clean and safe.
The truth is that we cannot keep everything safe. What is contaminated in our minds is nothing to someone else. I use that to keep me in check. I often ask my husband, am I over reacting and he will answer me honestly and that does help me feel a little but better at the time. Its all about perspective and ours is off. That is what is important to remember.
I too would love to feel normal. I find that deep breathing helps, and keeping myself and my mind busy also helps. Hot showers relax me. Sometimes just cuddling with my husband makes me feel safe and I can let go of those thoughts for a few minutes. Relaxation is key. It puts the mind at ease and that releases the negative thoughts.
Thank u so much! I just need to figure out how to convince myself that the thoughts in my head didn't happen. I can think I got contaminated and really believe it even though I never touched whatever it is...how to I stop believing these thoughts?? I just feel like I have to shower over and over but still don't feel clean enough. What is wrong with me...i feel soooo crazy! I just want to be happy and enough my life and family!
I hear that! I always feel the need to shower or wash my hands. I too can make up risk factors that make no sense. I feel the need to wash all my laundry twice although I don't. Nothing ever feels clean, Everything is contaminated and it is very hard to live like this. In therapy they told me to confront my fears and when nothing bad happened then I could let that one go, sure but the anxiety getting to that point is hard to deal with.
There is nothing wrong with you, its OCD and it happens to the best of us we are living proof of that :)
There is nothing wrong with you, its OCD and it happens to the best of us we are living proof of that :)
Thank u! I.feel exactly the same way! I an going back to therapy esp since I cannot take meds now! .i really hope she can help me! for soooo long I felt so alone..I'm sorry u and other s are going thru this too but I'm glad to not be alone! Its hard when no one understand s what u are going thru!
It is next to impossible to deal when people don't understand what you are going through. It is not an easy thing to deal with in the first place and it is even more difficult given that most people cannot begin to understand. They wash their hands, they are clean. They didn't touch a contaminate they know that they are fine. I wish that I could think this way, but I simply cannot. I won't give up trying though, that much is for sure. I have started back on my meds and so far so good... I used to have very bad side affects and so far so good *fingers crossed* I am just really tired as I was unable to sleep for a few days.. ok so some side affects, but nothing unbearable.
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You are a classic what-if OCD person. I know it all too well. My meds take this away for me and I'm sure when you build them back up in your system you will be better. We are intelligent people and it is hard to believe that we can be taken down by our own minds. But you know what, we are strong as well. I mean otherwise we'd be in a corner sucking our thumbs so don't forget that.