What Contamination OCD Actually Looks Like!

[ocdandanxiety]

We see what contamination OCD looks like on TV, but is it accurate? For those who suffer with this type of OCD; they can suffer greatly. Unlike what they show on TV, It isn't a "funny" or corky thing. Let's go through what contamination OCD looks like and what the treatment is.

🖐🖐Check out my ONLINE self-directed program for OCD.🖐🖐

👉👉 ocdandanxietyonline.thinkif... 👈👈

youtu.be/b5ctlevBxbk(Not working as expected?)

Topics discussed:

👉What contamination looks like.

👉The "feeling" of contamination.

👉Bad luck as a contaminant.

👉Thoughts are a contaminant.

👉Setting guidelines for washing hands.

👉Compulsions with contamination OCD.

👉Reassurance seeking with contamination OCD.

👉How contamination OCD looks different on TV.

👉The "Just In Case" traps.

👉How we treat contamination OCD.

Do you struggle with contamination OCD? What does it look like for you? Comment below!

Remember, when it comes to your OCD; it is your job to "Face The Unknown".

DISCLOSURE: Although I am a licensed therapist. This video is not intended to replace medical advice. This is for information purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a local mental health professional.⠀

CONNECT ON SOCIAL:

🤚Instagram - instagram.com/ocdandanxiety...

🤙Twitter - twitter.com/ocdandanxiety1

[Engelbrekt]

Thanks for your great explanation! I struggle with contamination issues about dangerous chemicals, like draino, battery acid and so on. I seldom find information about this, and often feel lonely. Some therapists hesitate to work with this becasue they don´t know how to do the exposures.

[ocdandanxiety in reply to Engelbrekt]

Thanks for sharing your experiences! You definantly not alone in this. Finding exposures for this shouldn't be too difficult. I'm sorry you've struggled to find someone that can help. Hopefully you've checked, iocdf.org

[Engelbrekt in reply to ocdandanxiety]

Thanks for reply! Have you helped someone with these kind of fears?

[ocdandanxiety in reply to Engelbrekt]

Oh yes! Many many times.

[Engelbrekt in reply to ocdandanxiety]

Wow! Really? I wished I could get help from you...but I´m not in the US. How do you make exposures for, for example car battery acid?

[ocdandanxiety in reply to Engelbrekt]

I'll send you a message.

[OCDinFL]

I suffer from contamination OCD and saw myself in many of your examples. With the advent of Covid-19 my symptoms have escalated. I was on a low level of Fluvoxamine but spoke with my Dr. who's increasing my dosage. My relationship with his office is basically med management so I'm working the program in Dr. Schwartz's book "Brain Lock".

Thanks for posting this video. It's both insiteful as well as helpful.

[ocdandanxiety in reply to OCDinFL]

Thanks for sharing. I do like Johnathan Grayson's book as well as it's a little more updated. I often look at this resource for medications for OCD - it appears that higher dosages work better for OCD. iocdf.org/about-ocd/ocd-tre...

[redcedar91 in reply to OCDinFL]

thanks so much for sharing this,

I believe what I have is contamination ocd/ over responsibility fear of causing harm.

I was ok and med free working successfully as a massage therapist after flare up of that happened in school while my son was a baby 7 years ago.

Then covid hit and it has been a nightmare… I covid test constantly and was always checking myself for symptoms, tough because I also have asthma allergies and predisposed to bronchial infections.

I think my contamination fear is linked to early trauma,I have done two residential stays at private mental health facilities and it really helped.

I take Effexor 225 mg, and was recently given clomipramine 25 mg as well. I think it is helping me slow down my thoughts and be more rational, but I think I have too much serotonin now. I feel wired and manic. Also sometimes see patterns and trailers / visual distortions so I think I am going to have to cut out the clomipramine. Anyone else have experience with clomipramine? I would like to keep taking it but worry about the racing heart/ visual stuff. Anyone here know about serotonin syndrome and clomipramine? Just so tired of worrying about being a vector for illness. Also my first flare up happened when I was nursing and second in perimenopause. Anyone see studies about hormones change and ocd?

Thanks!

[LuvSun]

Just watched your video- you are spot on for contamination fears- something that I have suffered with for over 30 years. Thank you so much for making these short videos for us with OCD. 👍

[ocdandanxiety in reply to LuvSun]

Thanks for kind words! I'm glad that you like them! 😃

[BlackOnyx]

Thank you for posting these videos. I have contamination OCD along with OCD around a responsibility to others and I relate to so much of this.

[ocdandanxiety in reply to BlackOnyx]

I hope it was helpful to you! 😃

[BlackOnyx]

I think it will be helpful in helping others understand when they just know stereotypes of contamination OCD. It was helpful for me to feel my experience is valid too.

[bbonni]

Hi Nathan, I suffer from contamination OCD mainly from dead animals and their feces/droppings. There are others too but these are my major triggers. So if a dead rodent/animal appears on my path during a walk or in the yard or if I accidentally get close to it without noticing early on, my anxiety kicks in and I think I may have tracked it into the house and into the car. Also if anyone wants to come into the house with their shoes on, that too is a big trigger for me as I feel like their shoes may have come in contact with such kind of stuff and this is preventing me for doing repairs or fixing appliances in my house. Appreciate if you can share any helpful tips to keep these thoughts away or a different way to look at the problem. Also if your husband is being a bully and forcing you or doing things which trigger your anxiety and its overwhelming and made you feeling completely hopeless and depressed what can you do in such situations. Appreciate your input.