Long Covid OCD

[Winchester2022]

For almost all of the pandemic I was pretty reasonable, I think, about safety precautions. I got both doses of the vaccine, I got a booster, I followed the recommendations for masks, etc.

Recently however, I made a decision to meet a friend which was, I’ll say for the purposes of this post, less than wise. Her close contact had covid which I knew about and still met her.

i ended up catching covid from them. I did the required quarentine three weeks ago and have since been able to go about life without any obvious symptoms. However, I keep thinibg that what if I got long covid which will make me fatigued and less productive in my work. Now everytime I’m tired I think what if this is ling covid fatigue instead of just lack of sleep or something else.

All this is made worse by the guilt I feel because of the unwise decision to meet a friend so it adds the element of me feeling this is deserved.

Am I over thinking this?

Thanks

[aparente001]

Have you considered discussing this with your primary medical provider? There may be some objective screening that can be done regularly. I find that tracking a medical concern over time is helpful for me, as is sharing a concern rather than shouldering it all alone.

If you decide to do this, it could be helpful to make sure your provider knows about your OCD and how it's manifesting currently.

Regards.

[Winchester2022 in reply to aparente001]

Thanks- A lot of my perceived symptoms smack of OCD because of how subtle they are.

[Winchester2022]

Hi guys. Just following up to see if this sounds like OCD and if anyone can relate. This is still heavily affecting my work. I am able to skateboard and do anything physical without physical problems. Anytime, though, that I'm at work and get even slightly tired I tell myself this might be long covid, and it discourages me from doing work. I only get paid for the hours I put into my work, and I rely on this income to support my daughter, so this is an issue I want to try and resolve.

Thanks!

[SCC1]

I think anyone can ask if their symptoms might be related to Covid if they have had Covid. It is a scary thing to have, I'm sure. But I think the thoughts keep coming into your mind because of OCD. They are intrusive, I believe, and you worry that you might be sick every time you have the thought. I would suggest getting tested to see if you really have Covid. Good luck!

[Winchester2022 in reply to SCC1]

Thanks. A problem is that I’m not even sure that there is a test for long covid. If not, I feel I’m condemned to keep questioning if I have it or not.

[SCC1]

Im not sure either, but maybe you can google it or ask a dr

[Winchester2022]

Here's the truth: that person I met was an escort who I got covid from. I didn't want to say that at first but realized it changes the context of the issue a lot. The guilt I feel because of meeting her makes the situation much worse. Had I got this just from some random person at the store, it would've been different. This was the first time I got covid, and prior to that I thought I would dodge it. Even though I told myself not to meet an escort again, I feel like I won't get a second chance at life to accomplish my goals. I was greatly excelling at work before this happened and was on my way to save up enough to retire if I wanted in a few years. Now I see myself as just another person people will look at and say who is that crazy person, and not realize I was once someone with goals who was respected and who accomplished things, but one day stepped on the wrong side of the thin line we all walk on.

I can read no problem without getting tired abnormally fast, unless my reading is work related. It seems this has latched on to my fear of not being able to make a living, payoff my mortgage, and help my daughter who is 16. Every time I sit down to do something work related I tell myself I have long covid which will prevent me from understanding my tasks. If I am doing something that requires equal concentration, but which is not tied to work, I have no problem.

I already almost alienated a long-time work partner due to the way I expressed disagreement with him over a work issue where I felt mistreated, and my mental fog prevented me from saying the right thing. This may soon may start affecting all aspects of my life and not just work, and this might destroy me.

Sorry for having to mention the part about the escort. I felt that detail is related to this OCD I'm having, so could not leave that part out without losing some of the meaning.

Thanks

[LuvSun in reply to Winchester2022]

It sounds to me that the OCD is making you think you are being punished because you met up with an escort.

[Winchester2022 in reply to LuvSun]

Thanks I think that is playing a role. I thought I was fortunate not to have gotten until then, and it broke my streak of luck- because of my doing.

[Sydney45]

I’m not an expert, but it seems like your worrying about long-term COVID every time you are tired, fatigued, etc. could indeed be related to ocd. Are you able to see a therapist?

[Winchester2022 in reply to Sydney45]

I have an appointment Dec 1.