Contamination Fear please don’t skip

[Swan2024]

Ok had daughter pick up money that was found on the ground. I didn’t really get a good look before she picked it up and now I’m worried what if there was a needle on the money or if someone maliciously left the $20 there with a needle. The next day I seen a little red dot on her finger after school. I didn’t exam her hand the day of (I regret) and is now worried what if there was a needle and she pricked herself when picking up the money.

[deValentin]

I understand your anguish in regard to the possibility your daughter may have been pricked by a dirty needle. It would be awful if it really happened but there is no evidence for that. Actually if there were reasonable evidence your daughter has been pricked, it may be easier for your mind. You would know what to do. You would go to the hospital and have your daughter examined by a doctor. Now you don't what to do beside worrying. If you go see a doctor, your concern may appear unreasonable. If you don't see a doctor, something bad may happen to your daughter. It's not probable, but it's possible. Everything is possible, even if some things are more probable than others.

A part of your mind probably knows that your concern is far out. There is no reasonable evidence supporting it. An OCD-free person wouldn't be overly concerned about the possibility you're worrying about. But the emotional part of your mind pushes you to dwell on the worst-case scenario.

In order to solve your dilemma, you need to realize that the worse is not knowing with absolute certainty what to think and what to do. The solution is to get used to that uncertainty and be satisfied with good reasons to have your mind at peace, based on evidence and common sense. A discarded needle left in a street where children walk and play is such an alarming sight for anybody, let alone parents, that it couldn't have escaped your attention. To adapt to a reasonable degree of uncertainty in life takes work and time, but it's worth it in the end.

[FirstResponder23]

hello,

I’m sorry to hear that you are experiencing this. I’m not sure how familiar you are with OCD and ERP but this is exactly what OCD wants. It wants you to think of a terrible outcome and then start connecting dots. The thing with OCD is that it’s feeds off of certainty and the wanting for that. It takes a fear and amplifies the possible outcome, no matter how small that chance is.

ERP is done with a therapist who specializes in OCD and has specific training in this therapy. The goal is to be exposed to small fears in a controlled manner, overseen by the therapist, and to habituate to the uncomfortable feeling without doing compulsions, checking, or seeking reassurance.

It also sounds like the compulsions you have are much like mine, where they are mental compulsions. Instead of traditional physical ones like tapping or organization, my compulsions come in waves of overthinking. My mind tries to replay all the possible scenarios and why they might not be true in order to make me feel better. However, OCD quickly dismisses that and I end up doing another mental ritual in order to feel better. And it becomes a viscous cycle of mental reassurance and checking.

Trying to take a step back and visualize the thought as being an external thought. For me, I imagine the gross booger from the Mucinex commercials as my ocd. I picture that figure saying the fears and thoughts, and in return I turn to it and say “okay, ocd, thanks for letting me know, but I’m going to continue with…” and continue doing whatever task I have at hand.

Again, this takes lots of practice and is done with the guidance of someone who specializes in this therapy to make sure no reassurance is being done and it’s done in a way that is not too stressful, but enough for you to overcome.

I hope this helps and you find relaxation and peace for this. Remembered, OCD is a lier, and it loves to hook on to the things we love and value most, so it’s no wonder it attacks this for you.

[Obsessor]

Sorry to hear you're going through this situation. I don't have anything to add that the other replies haven't covered. Just wanted to say that this is exactly what my OCD does. I haven't had this exact scenario but very very similar ones where I'm left stressed about very unlikely situations. I try to ask a neurotypical (non OCD) person what they would do and try to follow that. I've even emailed my doctor and asked them. So if you have that kind of access to a provider you might do that.