Why?!

[Meyer_Gdmnx]

Hi guys I have health anxiety disorder and have for a year now and for a while I have had this problem where whenever I use something like hair-gel/ Clay I constantly think I’ve swallowed some and am choking on it. The smell makes me feel sick and gives me headaches. I wash my hands profusely after using the hair gel because if I consumed it anyway that would mean certain death. Or if someone cooks me food I need to know their hands were clean. Like for example my mum and I went out while she was cooking and my little brother (11) was looking after the risotto and as we got home he said it tasted a little bland so I added some more stock cubes. To me this means I’m going to get a severe illness from this like if some food touches table top etc. why is this why does it happen what can I do?

[shoppaholicsue Star]

Hi,

I haven't got any experience of this, but it sounds a bit like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I would pop to the doctors and explain these things. They should be able to suggest a course of action.

Sorry i can't be of help.

Sue

[lillyofthevalley37]

I have read some of your posts and feel that you can fully recover but it should be done very gradually, very slowly small realistic steps and I think you can heal, mature and have a normal life

[Meyer_Gdmnx in reply to lillyofthevalley37]

Thank you for your reply it was very helpful. I just keep feeling like I’ve tried all of the options like doing more to distract and it really really doesn’t work for me I’m so tuned into my body I’m beyond help

[lillyofthevalley37 in reply to Meyer_Gdmnx]

So don't try to distract it anymore just accept it , I think you might benefit from doing voluntary work at Oxfam or some other charity shop for one day a week

[Hidden]

I used to do a couple similar things and my therapist suggested something like positive reinforcement. I can’t remember the exact phrase, but When something like that happens and you push through, you start to realize the terrible thing you were worried about, did not happen. And slowly but surely ( definitely not going to be better overnight) you brain can realize that the last five times you thought something bad was going to happen and nothing came of it. You can try to push yourself a little but make sure it works for you, with me I was always worried when I took my dogs out that maybe they’d run off or find a snake. But after letting them walk and seeing that it had actually never happened helped me realize my fear was just in my head. Again I hope this helps, it helped me, but everyone is different my friend. As one of the other comments suggested it is a very slow process

[Meyer_Gdmnx in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply as well I wish you the best of luck overcoming your struggles. However for me it’s more how I feel all the tine I just feel generally not right I feel every ting every ache every pain everything as well as generally unwell

[Hidden]

Oh I see, with me it wasn’t as persistent of a problem. Maybe it could help to contact a local therapist and see if they have any ideas for you. I went to a psychiatrist and a family therapist for a while and the therapist was very good at finding little things for me to try and build off of. It just depends on your situation I guess. I know with support and a will to be better we can be stronger one day. And just being here asking this question shows you have the will to try. And we’ll be here for support when you need it.