I threw out thousands of dollars worth of stuff. I cut off ties, I rarely visit my parents, contamination OCD is literally driving me insane. And it feels 1000% realistic. I really pray for anyone suffering from this thing to get better. This is an absolute suffering, and it really sucks people around you ridicule you for it.
I think its sad not seeing those we love and hope you can overcome this hurdle so its more manageable. I found an old picture of before my OCD. I remember it and say that if it didn't matter then, it shouldn't matter now. The part of my fear that I find real I stop to think if it is real or not. Example fear something will smell bad if I don't wash my hands all the time. If it is real then wash it. If it is not real then do nothing. This has helped. I wish it would help you.
Really accurate. Though, I'm so scared to attempt exposure therapy again. I worry that if I contaminate the clean/safe stuff, what if I get overwhelmed and feel that everything is now ruined and I can't put it right. I worry about that happening and then having to disown all of my belonging because cleaning them is too difficult or attempting to clean them "properly" will result in them being destroyed (using antibacterial products on electronics, etc) feels like such a huge risk
A couple months ago I ruined my phone screen from wiping it with wet wipes and hand sanitizer too much, it cost me money to fix and to this day I can't even remember what was so disgusting.
This is what I’m terrified of. I’ve ruined so many things due to cleaning them, and am so scared of accidentally contaminating things I really care about/things that bring me comfort. This is so horrible and stressful, and it feels like there’s no help. I keep seeing comments like this on videos like these and no professionals ever address them or give advice on what to do in these situations. It feels hopeless.
@@Ppaula77 Living alone will increase our problem because no-one will be there to love us so the person could feel more depressed and it results in increased levels of OCD 😌😌
when she said to try baby steps without washing (the compulsions) that made me cry because it feels like an impossible task. i need the relief or I won’t feel better 😭
Same. And when she suggested taking something that was a little red and touching green things to make the red thing green, my brain short-circuited. Like, a dirty item can make a clean item dirty, and a _cleaning_ item can make a dirty item clean, but I can't touch the sole of my shoe to the kitchen counter and have my shoe suddenly become clean (and the kitchen counter still be clean). That's just not how cleanliness works in real life, so I can't integrate that.
Everyone in this comment section I love you all and it feels great to see that there are actually other people who experience my pain. I’ve been dealing with this stuff for a long time and am finally done today. No baby steps I’m just done. I am praying for everyone who has ocd to overcome it soon.
@@Omnihilo_ yeah, ocd is completely mental and an anxiety disorder and any kind of medication will never help. What helps me is “ocd always lies”. So a way you can beat ocd is by remembering the truth of the situation because ocd is always trying to deceive you.
@@chango-yx3cg Medication actually made me far worse. Not just in dealing with OCD, but everything else as well. The difficulty for me is trying to discern the lies from my actual personality which is naturally very perfectionist.
Literally because a couple of years ago only one or two things were red and now my brain tricks me into believing that everything is somehow red, it doesn't even make sense.
@@gabbagandalf6461 oh yours is like that. Mine is like people who don’t look ‘too clean’ I have to distance so their breathe doesn’t go on me I hate it
@@harrysmith8329 YUP FOR ME ITS NOT BECAUSE OF GERMS, I JUST BASICALLY GET DIGUSTED OF FEW KIND OF PEOPLE. LIKE MAIDS TRASH MAN THE PEOPLE WHO DO SOME KIND OF WORK AROUND DIRT. BUT IF THE SAME KIND OF WORK IS DONE BY SOME ONE I ALREADY KNOW AFTER A WHILE I WONT BE DIGUSTED BY THEM. I GET THE FEELING OF CONTAMINATION BUT ITS NOT BECAUSE OF GERMS BUT MORE OF PEOPLE. I DONT WANNA TOUCH THINGS THAT UNKNOWN PEOPLE TOUCHED. EVEN IF THE PERSON IS RATHER CLEAN ,IN MY EYES HE IS THE CAUSE OF THE REC SPOT.
Is anyone else super scared when you see a video or read something about someone who has OCD and they say "I'm 27 now I have been dealing with OCD for 10+ years" like it's so scary the fact that years will pass by and OCD is just a normal thing you have and you kinda live with it now like it freaks me out thinking of living with OCD forever.
I feel you there! I want it to go away so bad! I’m hoping that I can learn some coping mechanisms to at least handle it better, but it’s still so scary to think about it never really going away. Best of luck in your OCD journey!
I have contamination ocd since 2017 because I was diagnosed with scabies but I was the only one sick at home got obsessed with disinfecting my skin and house and room that it has cause so much fight between my husband because I didn’t feel he disinfected good enough or cleans properly to keep me safe
@@audrey4446 I know, part of me doesn't want to get "better". I don't have an aggressive form of OCD (I can visit my family and eat with them, etc., and just accept that I won't feel properly clean until I get home, but it's okay) and I don't think there's anything wrong with my rituals.
As someone who suffer from contamination ocd for years, this is very helpful. Ocd tells you things that you know are ridiculous logically but you just can't help but to believe in it and avoid the "contamination". It's so crazy but I'm ready to beat this with your advice.
My baby step for me was not taking a whole shower after throwing out the trash (I have to touch a sort of neighbourhood bin so my contanination alarm goes crazy) but washing only my contaminated areas, I still couldn't avoid washing my home keys, my watch and my phone... I hope it gets better ❤️
The worst part for me is since my bathroom disgusts me... Me washing my hands make me uneasy too. I feel like since my dirty hands have touched it Everytime I pump out soap or turn on the faucet I've contaminated that too. You understand this more then me I didn't know it was ocd. I wish I had a therapist like you I'm going to look into it) :
I'm going through this for the past few months... I'm too tired and I can't do it any more.. I wish I can think like a normal person.. I don't wish this even for my worst enemy. May it be easy for everyone going through this..
Exactly. It's much worse since the pandemic, and I have started noticing things I have never noticed in my entire life. It's so annoying, but I can't get it out of my head now
i finally found out what i have😩 i knew it wasn’t germophobia because i wasn’t necessarily afraid of germs, it was just certain things that my brain marked contaminated, i ALWAYS had to wash my hands after touching those things or the thoughts in my head will never stop about it, i’ve just acknowledged the fact that i’m not living normally lol
I suffer from this greatly to the point I constantly wear latex gloves because I'm scared of touching certain things,even when I sleep sometimes. I hate contamination OCD,it's the worst! It's a prison I wish I can break out of.
Shoes in my house is an absolute NO. Cell phones are red until we lysol them. When friends come over I lysol my couch cause their clothes are red. How bad am I🙈? Oh purses and my kids backpacks are also red. I'm exhausted with cleaning daily.
It's amazing how you are being able to explain the situation without suffering from it yourself. Eveything you said is exactly on point. My main issue is with dust and outside dirt. The more I indulge in the rituals, the worse it gets. Somehow things keep getting added onto the list even though I keep trying to rationalize things in my head. But I know it has to stop here coz I'm self-aware and I don't try to justify my cleaning habits. I know they are much more than normal and I know some amount of dust and dirt isnt a real threat in any way. So I guess I'll start from there.
I have ocd, in therapy I tell them this, that its disgusting, how I avoid everything.. and I still feel like she already understands me more than my actual therapists that I talk to.
the thought of not being able to wash my hands after touching any “red” thing in my house just made me burst into sobs. as is, on a particularly bad day, i can wash my hands upwards of 50-100 times 😭 i feel so stuck.
I'm just laying here crying because everything is red. I can't have anything that I can't thoroughly clean. I've given up so much because it can't be cleaned or it takes too much time. There are few things I can comfortably touch and I'm constantly cleaning them. I wash my so so often and long that that often times they're dry and red and bleeding and they hurt and I can't move them properly. I'm always late because I take hours in the shower and sometimes I won't leave without taking one. I'm constantly doing and redoing my laundry because I have nowhere clean to put it. I feel so uncomfortable in my own home and it's unbearable. I hate myself and my family hates me. They don't understand how hard it is and we fight. I'm constantly overwhelmed and uncomfortable and scared. They think I'm a weirdo, I look like a freak. I'm scared of fucking walls and I have nightmares about getting dirty. I can barely touch my family anymore and they don't understand why. They're angry at me and I'm not trying hard enough to get over it. My therapist tells me what to do and I can't do it. My mom is constantly downplaying it, my dad is constantly trying to talk about it but he treats it like a joke, my little brother doesn't understand what it is. That touch me and they move my stuff from clean places to dirty places and I feel like I'm going crazy. I'm dramatic and I overreact and I'm constantly thinking about how dirty everything is. It doesn't even make sense. My therapist got me an appointment with a psychiatrist to talk about meds because I didn't try to get over it hard enough. I'm weak and selfish and overdramatic and I'm a freak. I'm a bad person. I'm always feeling bad for myself and I'm mean to everyone. I can't use the dishes in my own house, I have to use unused plastic silverware. It doesn't even make sense, I'm more scared of things in my own house than other places, I'm not really scared of getting a disease just feeling contaminated. I don't like eating chicken cause I'm scared it's undercooked and I'll get salmonella. My mom's boyfriend said that I don't have OCD and he uses the word as an adjective. I'm pretty sure my nana thinks I could get over it easily if I just tried harder. My mom doesn't take it seriously and and compares me to herself and family members that like to organize things. She yells at me for wasting water and doing too much laundry and brings it up whenever we argue. Everyone thinks I'm a weirdo because I don't sleep with a pillow cause I can't constantly wash it and I don't sleep with a blanket because they're so time consuming to wash every time I change my bedding. I won't touch dogs because they're dirty. I can't open doors without a paper towel. I feel trapped in my own house. It's just a lot of stupid things. I got a stuffed animal for Christmas and I'm scared it's going to turn red because I can't wash it properly. I can't do art or homework anymore because I can't wash it and I have to repeatedly touch it. My dad told the principal about my OCD so I wouldn't be kicked out of school and now he feels bad for me, which I don't deserve. I feel like I'm using my OCD as an excuse. I constantly feel disgusted and exhausted and cleaning takes so much time. I had to get a therapist again cause I felt like I was going on a downward spiral. Sometimes I downplay my OCD myself because I feel like I'm being dramatic even though it takes such a big toll on me and my life. No one really understands how much it's hurting me and that hurts. Not to mention my depression and other problems I'm having, not to make people feel bad for me just that this is just adding on to alot of other stuff that I could barely handle before I got OCD and this feels like the final push. I wish I could talk to my best friend about this but it seems she doesn't want to see me anymore so yeah. I watch all these videos and read all these articles about contamination OCD and relate so much and feel so understand and supported and like I'm not crazy and like maybe it's not my fault but I still feel so overwhelmed and just fucking sad. That was a lot of shit I just let out and I think writing all that really put in perspective for me how much my OCD really affects me and what a big part of my life it has become, it's really just not a small thing like it seems it is sometimes. That was alot of crying and writing I just did.😅
EXCELLENT WAY TO DESCRIBE IT WITH COLORS I sense it immediately as a level of how contaminated i constantly keep track and keep green from red so i can enjoy myself in the green
Great video, struggled and fought ocd all my life, anxiety and fear of contamination leading to illness, eliminating items on the red list, but something new is always waiting to add to that red list. Managing ocd is possible.
I hate living with my parents and having to use the single bathroom in our house. The bathroom is the red-hot zone in my OCD brain. I can’t take a shower because I feel like I can physically see the germs crawling up to me. I can't use the toilet because the whole thing is germ city, and I have to brush my mouth without touching the sink. Every single time I go into my room, I need to wipe my phone with a Lysol disinfectant wipe. I hate having this, and I want to fix it. This video helped me a little. I will take her advice for sure, but I’m still going to do more research on this.
i’ve had these tendencies for over a year now and it’s only gotten worse. i am desperately trying to get better now because it’s gotten so bad i can’t even touch my dog anymore. i feel so horrible because she is getting old and i don’t want her last few years being abandoned and not loved. i hope and pray i will heal from this
I have this disorder. When it triggers, using a glass of water, spoon, plate fears me thinking they are all contaminated. I'd rather not use them or rather wash them myself as if I do not trust the person who made the dishes. Lately, the mango I bought somehow had pimples or dark spots which looks pretty normal for a mango, I ended up throwing it away as my mind tells me it was bitten by a snake. I felt terriffied of that thought.. I stopped taking vitamins or paracetamol. Oral intakes make me anxious and panicky.
I appreciate you bringing up the different forms of contamination people feel. I haven't seen a lot of people talk about this but my fear of germs has developed to fear of chemicals/adhesives. Since there is evidence that these things are actually harmful (if only just mildly) It makes it so much harder to brush that feeling away. If I come in contact with any type of tape or glue the sensation of the stickiness will not go away till I have washed my hands sometimes more than 20x and I keep thinking I will transfer it to my clothes and belongings. With germs I can always wash things and feel fine in a few washes but I feel like the chemical/adhesive is almost permanent and I've had to throw out a lot of clothes/food because of it. It's just exhausting doing anything when I have to be so aware mapping anything and everything that I come in contact with
I can really relate to this video thankyou. In my contamination ocd world, my fears and anxiety comes from the fear of ruining the materialistic things in my life that I really love. My fragrance collection, my clothes, my phone, TV, playstation. It has nearly led me to not wanting nice things anymore so then I can have nothing to worry about. I dont want it to get to this. I am starting my battle of contamination ocd right away before my life is confined within!
I’m guessing that you’re an Enneagram One. You may have a core fear that has to do with making things perfect and not debatable for rejection. Being ahead of rejection before anyone else can judge you and your world. That may help you get a closer look into the root problem
@@drewlang1624 I think I already replied to you, I’m not sure. But, I actually am an Enneagram One, and I think the root of my OCD is tied to my elitist and perfectionist personality. I’ve been this way since I can remember, even back to toddlerhood. I distinctly remember having such a hard time learning how to write because each letter had to be perfect before I could go on to the next one. Sorry to ask, but you seem to know about this, do you have any advice?
@@Omnihilo_ Yes. Actually I wrote this on my bf’s account accidentally, so my name’s Andrea... I’m using his phone. Anyways, I’m an INFJ Enneagram 1 & in 7th grade I had that same type of OCD... writing, crossing out, rewriting. It moved into an eating disorder & then it transitioned to contamination among other areas... it’s still a battle honestly, but my hunch in healing is focusing on repairing my voice & autonomy (I’m likely holding on to being denied my own opinions in the past so it’s hard to trust my real perspectives). Exposure therapy is hard... but when mixed in with radical acceptance & self-compassion it may lessen in difficulty. I know your pain, but just know no matter what is on you or what is on anything of yours, you have the right to exist & nothing in the external can take away your worth. In fact you’re likely a creative deep-thinker which makes you more valuable than any amount of “sanitation”. It’s okay to feel like you messed up on a massive level (with germs, etc) bc the only one keeping track is you... No one would ever know... I get that’s half liberating & half scary, but it is possible to refocus & stay strong!
@@drewlang1624 I don’t know what to say. …This describes me perfectly, and was exactly what I needed to hear. Me, my time, and my unique existence, passions, and talents are more important than sanitation… Thank you.
for me my ocd makes me afraid of chemicals like cleaning products and its been affecting the way i eat ( i fear that i will contaminate my food ) , my tip for anyone who is struggling is to have a friend or family member nearby when doing something that youre afraid of . for example sometimes when i go out with friends i fear that my hands are contaminated but by watching my friend eat their food without any fear at all makes me feel a little better and also remember that if there is a case where my hands are actually contaminated and something happens i remember that my friend is with me to help me if anything goes wrong !! :) i hope everyone recovers from this because its extremely difficult to live with .
I am really enjoying your videos. They are helping me understand my daughters OCD better. She only just turned 9. Her OCD is severe. She IS in treatment btw although I am not sure the clinician is a good fit as he has said that he has never seen OCD in someone this young be so severe. She has contamination OCD and it is heart breaking. I will use your information to try and help her with this. My daughter can’t even play like an average child because of “contamination”. All that to say, your videos are incredibly helpful to me and I hope soon to my daughter! ❤️
It can happen! Mine started at 7. I hope your daughter feels better soon and you can find somebody good who can help. I used an app called NOCD to find my therapist. Wishing you all the best!!! ❤️
@Ruska I am so sorry that you feel misunderstood. We are trying to navigate and find solutions to help her. Since posting here, we have found a counselor who specializes in treating OCD in kids. We have also found a psychiatrist who works with kids and working on finding an appropriate medication for her. I appreciate your thoughts. Thank you. I hope you can work with your parents to help with their understanding. ❤️
i had to pause this vid from washing my hands for 30 mins. i felt like a freak. i felt alone. everyone around me made me feel like i was weird but now i know i am not alone in this feeling and i cant stop crying from relief that i am not the only one that feels these feelings. its so scary you used the color red as a reference because my ocd makes actually me see red from what is contaminated. so creepy and liberating at the same time to hear someone else say the same words. i am not alone. this is a great feeling.
this video completely describes how i feel and what I go through everyday, I’m scared it won’t get any better, my family constantly makes me feel bad and I want to see a therapist but I don’t know if it’ll even help… 😭
You have no idea how much you have helped me get my life back. Thank you ❤️ I have been trying to get help for years and this is exactly what I needed.
I really want to get rid of my contamination ocd, but also, i feel like if i would get better and start touching everything without washing my hands like before, i would be constatly so dirty and contaminated and disgusting and I don't want to live like that. I would love to get better but it's really scary.
I'm not diagnosed with ocd, but I have anxiety and I think over the years it has fueled compulsion. I wash my hands at least 10 times a day. If not, spray them down with alcohol or sanitizer (but I feel they don't do the job). If I touch something that has dust or dirt, wash my hands. I can't even touch the floor with my bare feet or I freak out. I never would have guessed to compartmentalize 'reds' and 'greens' but it makes sense. I have 'safe' zones in my room. I mentally mark the objects that are dirty so I remember not to touch them later until they're clean. I don't like washing dishes because of the food. I fear eating/drinking after certain people. Don't even get me started on handling money (retail). I think issues from my childhood as well sped up this process and the more I look back, the more I'm slowly unraveling the patterns that have gotten me here. But I want to change. It's so restrictive and I miss the freedom of not fearing dirty things.
I have a fear of things going to smell bad. I total get the money and need to wash my hands. I have been doing exposures and they help. I think of it this way... Is it real or not. So, I could not touch my things that were red. I stood there and smelt them to find out if they smelt bad. If yes wash. If no let it go. Meaning. No washing. I also looked at web MD and they said wash after handling money so I do. Now my issue is... If someone has their feet on stuff will it smell? Just the thought. Yuck. Not sure how I will overcome this one.
I know you mainly work with children but I'm an adult and this is ridiculously helpful, I love how simply you explain things in a validating and empathetic way
I work in healthcare and my contamination ocd comes from seeing how disgusting some people can be. I've seen patients come in with urine/ faeces stained clothing and sitting on chairs and benches. I cannot sit in public anymore because in my mind I think...who's sat there? What if they had soiled clothes. I've seen men peeing on the side of streets abd along fences so now cannot walk past walls incase someone has peed there. Recently, I was driving and saw a lady at the bus stop pulling down her underwear in Broad daylight- her legs and underwear covered in shit ( I'm sure she had mental health issues). Now I keep thinking of how that lady would have touched the bus stop seats/ the bus etc with her soiled hands and bum. I see disgusting stuff and it stats with me. I cannot walk outside fearing ill touch something disgusting. I cannot go shopping and haven't used public transport in 3 yrs. Since developing ocd 4 yrs ago I've seen more filth ( ppl peeing shitting in public) than I have my entire life!
thank you for the video, it's really helpful, i am determinated to be better starting today and thank you for everyone for sharing your experience and your journey, i feel way better knowing i'm not alone in this, good luck everyone ❤❤
Its so sad, especially when your parents becomes red, they do everything for me and yet I'm scared to sit next to them hold their hands or hug them, and it's true the list just keeps adding at first simple hand gel was ok for me but now I question it and it seems to not be enough anymore, there was a point in my life that I couldn't sit of the sofa I spent whole year sitting at the dinning table and you know those chairs are not made for all day sitting
If you remember before OCD then find a photo of before OCD of what you are avoiding now. That is what I did. Then say that if it didn't matter then, it shouldn't matter now. That will narrow it down to the next part I did. Example my fear of something going to smell bad if I don't wash my hands or stuff. Stop and ask myself if its real or not. If not then don't wash. If yes its real then wash. I wish this would help you as well.
I don't leave my house anymore. I can't touch anything that anyone else has touched. I can't even hug my family. I live in my "clean" bubble of space in my bed. I can't even use the bathroom if someone else has used it. I have to clean it first. I cried watching this video, I am still crying. I feel like I'm in a sort of prison or like I'm being punished. I just want to cuddle my babies, visit my Mom and Dad, sit in my livingroom again. It's so strange that I can go back and track the progression of my issues. It started so small but it moved quickly and before I knew it my life was over.
For me it's more about dirt than contamination, I just can't stand something dirty, greasy, sticky etc. on my body or clothes, especially hands. I clean myself all the time and it makes life so hard. In some areas I improved a lot but also in some other OCD always find the way to progress and make my life harder. For me the only way to improve is to try ignore everything what OCD tells you in the head and not do any compulsion no matter how anxious you are because with time it has to be easier. With that approach I improved as I said in some area a lot but there is still so many things that I just don't have courage to do with that same approach. It took 10 years of my life so far and I waisted so much precious time on compulsions which makes me so sad because I could use that time so much better if I have a normal brain. The video is great, Natasha is right, we need to take baby steps and make things greener. The first step is always the hardest but with right attitude it's possible.
I've had this since I was a a young kid. I hated when someone would lick their finger and wipe my face or give me something they'd eaten or drunken off of. The bathroom is a major red spot for me. The mop and anything else that touches the floor is disgusting to me. I'm so strict on my toddler cause I get so grossed out... I hate it. I throw so much away😭 thanks for the tip. This is so crazy and like you've said my red area has grown.
I developed my disorder from just having a bunch of weird stuff happen in my life. I was raised in a cult that believed in resurrection and Jesus and whatnot and so I never had to deal with difficult questions, such as the fear of death or being maimed or whatever because I was part of the true church and I'd get my body back no matter what. Then I realized that the cult wasn't true and so a bunch of these post-poned fears came out of the woodworks in mass and it really stressed me out. I started being freaked out by things like knives and guns, and I become terrified if being blinded or paralyzed, etc. And then at that time I ended up getting a couple of warts in my fingers and then it just triggered something in my mind and I've been dealing with this ever since. I'm ready to beat it but it's hard. I became terrified of pinworms and all that stuff and ended up convincing myself that I had all sorts of diseases or whatever. And now I see things through this green light/red light thing and I hate it
My dearest what an amazing video!Would you believe this video seems to be exactly my story. In my world everything is Red.Thank you sooo much for making such a motivational video.
Thank you! This is a really helpful video. I’d never thought about using the dilution-esque aspect of it all to try and ease how contaminated/taboo I see things. Bless you ❤️
I watched this video and I feel so much better. I cant believe this is a thing and I’ve experienced these symptoms for a while. I thought I was crazy. I’m so happy I’m not alone.
As a daughter of a contamination ocd patient i have seen these things and have felt really bad my whole life for my dad for me and my sister . I have always blamed my mom for being the way she is . But as i got adult and got sense of things , i understood few things about this disease and regretted the way i always behaved with her . And when I’m telling you that i regretted it that means i really did badly .she’d always take shower after mopping or brooming the house , if she goes out to get something ( also cleans the things she bought , even if those things are vegetables, fruits or even the cash she takes back would get clean by water or by some wet cloth . Or when she goes to a hospital ( i think this is the most triggering cite for my mom because when she comes back she would get a total deep clean shower for herself, i mean head to toe thoroughly. To be honest me and my sister haven’t been loved that much because of this thing and i donot blame my mom for it . Because of this ocd I don’t even remember when was the last time i got hug from my mom because she thinks we go out like school and stuff and we’re contaminated .
Thank you for the video! It certainly helps me with my constant hand-washing! I really did relate when you said how things are 'red', because I am doing exactly that. Certain things I saw like the bottom of my phone touched a 'red' thing (my pillow), and now I cant allow myself to touch it, at all, even when using it in landscape. This also applies to a few other smaller things. I hope this will improve, thanks to your video again!
FINALLY, someone described my contamination OCD perfectly. Such a helpful video. I've been in treatment for 2 years. Baby steps, as you said. I was also the person whose only "green" spot was part of my bed. My world got that small. But, with slow and steady work with a skilled ERP therapist, I've been able to take 2 international trips! I still struggle with OCD every day. It is NEVER satisfied. No sooner do I turn a red to green, my OCD turns a green to red. OCD Whack-a-mole. So exhausting.
Thank you so much for this video ❤️. It helps me realize I'm not just crazy and there are ways to fix this. My own family laughs at me and criticizes me for being like this. I had COVID back in October 2021 and my smell and taste have not returned still. I do not want to get sick again and I believe that's where this all started...
I want to let you know that I know how you feel. I lost my smell and taste for nearly a whole year . But I am here to tell you that it will come back. Weirdly enough after I got COVID again literally a year later it improved my smell and taste. People say taking Alpha Lipoic acid helps restore the nerves in your nose? Not sure but most people had success. Prayer has helped me a lot in the process. Hoping the best for you 👍
Mines too. Now I’m pushing everyone away and people believe I’m making this up. I wish I had a Time Machine. I feel like this is taking a life of its own. We will beat this, this is not bigger than us
Unfortunately I think I'm at the point now where it's already reached people and pets. I can't touch or hug people anymore and I can't even hold my cat without almost having a freak out. I can't sit on my couch or touch door knobs. It's so frustrating.
i have the same thing😭😭 I haven’t been diagnosed yet but mine started with learning abt a gross habit my aunt did. at first I just ignored it for a few weeks but as I realised it was totally disgusting I started to just not touch her but after the span of about 8 months it’s affected literally everything I do, I feel disgusted when I touch taps so I have to use the bathroom one (the dirtiest), turn it off with the back of my hand then go into the kitchen and wash my hands again. I can’t touch my phone without washing my hands for 5+ minutes anymore☹️ anyways I can’t touch doors, pets, (unless in rare cases) couches, curtains etc so basically the same as you lmao. I also have diagnosed social anxiety so if one of my family members touches something I believe is dirty and touches my stuff after I just have to deal with it. (also I came here because my grandmother who I’m staying with for a week touched something I believe is extremely dirty so idek how I’m gonna wash my hands 😭😭) sorry if I sound a little bit weird or my grammar is bad also
I have been dealing with contamination ocd since i was around 15 now 25 some things have gotten better and some things have gotten worse. I have always just ignored trying to get better but this was the first time I've looked into trying to live easier thank you for this video
@@apc4205 made little steps to some people they'd think it's nothing but to me it's massive certain things I can get away with a wipe down with a tissue instead of a full clean down with antibacterial wipes and several cleans
Best video i have seen so far Great work ... it really resonates with the exact feeling...and the tissue thing just explains how well you have accepted the anxious feelings we get ... thousand likes to you 👍👍👍
Thank you!! I have some form of contamination ocd. I’m extremely paranoid of microfibres in the air, animal hair, breath, etc. I’ll literally have a panic attack if someone walks by my food while I’m trying to prepare it… my problem with exposure is that my parents are FORCING me to get better meaning I still feel like I have no control over my process of recovering. It has become something I am EXPECTED to do, not overcome.
Thank you. This video makes sense to me. I’m 35, female, diagnosed with anxiety disorder and depression but never have I had to deal with OCD… until I just recently contracted some sort of skin condition and now everything is red. The skin condition was diagnosed first as scabies. I did 3 treatments and treated my 7 y/o son who really had no symptoms. 4 trips to the dr (3 dermatologists, 1 urgent care) and 2 psychiatric appointments later and I have a positive diagnosis for hyper keratosis and OCD (contamination style) 😔. It’s ruining my relationships with all my family members. So much is “red”, I just am repulsed constantly and my poor baby sleeps with me so he’s subjected to feet and hand wiping every time he gets back on our bed. I’m completely defeated. The poor boy is now asking me if he can walk into his own room or go to the bathroom. Help! please help.
I am with u I was diagnosed with scabies well they said it was but I was the only one affected and I slept with my baby and husband and they never got it I also breast fed and not sure why I was the only one diagnosed I do have a bad skin condition. We alcohol all the time before going ti bed both hands and feet and we always dodge things that are not disinfected. If a slight touch have to shower again and do the whole ritual :( it’s gotten worst since 2017 it’s now 2022 and I still have :(
Thank you, This is a good place to start; I have overcome a lot of different religious OCD thoughts, but contamination has been a tough one for me. and this idea is a good one.
thank uuuu 💗 u understand 🥺 im always thinking about everything that touched something that touched another something etc.. that touched red my world seems so small now i can't feel comfortable i hope your tips will help me take back my power 💚
I just keep my hands in fists all the time so I don’t touch something unintentionally. and I wash them to the point that my knuckles are white. And my mom keeps yelling at me cuz I change sheets like twice in a week. I feel so sad but I just can’t help it. It’s driving me insane
So, covid didn't help my OCD obviously cause it reinforced the fact that I'm "right", but like.... Some of my stuff is legitimate. For instance, mom will still dry out clean dishes with a towel that fell on the ground. She puts our clean clothes in our dirty clothes basket and really actually disgusting things have been in that basket... And she dries herself off with a towel that she hung up dirty towels she dried up our floor with with our feet... If I go outside and go to the store, if I get in the car I'm instantly "dirty" and I have certain places in my house I can't go while "clean". I have a clean chair, a cleanish chair, and a chair I absolutely only sit in if I got in my car or need to sit in mom's chair to use her computer... But due to covid, some things actually make sense. We need to wash our hands and disinfect our phones after going out or after touching money... *So where's the damn line?*
hey, I get it. my mom is exactly the same. but she's healthy, living and breathing, and cleaning and hand washing is NEEDED but too much is just idiotic yet.. we do it anyways. im typing this with "contaminated hands" right now, but we can do this. small steps are essential. I wish you luck!
Wow. I thought I was alone in this. I feel relieved and sad at the same point. Just like you, my OCD began with COVID. I've been infected twice and I've always been a clean freak. I wash my hands numerous times. Especially working from office is the worst and its even worse trying to explain it to people who don't get it. When I tell them that I don't like being touched, they tease me and literally hug me with their dirty hands, for me, even the hands that have touched the things such as a dining table, or the main doot of the house or a spoon that another person touched is contaminated. But they just dont get it. So ive stopped explaining and I just wash, sanitize and clean myself and all the other things even if its 1AM. I really wish i could undo this but I cant.
God Bless you Natasha! Thank you for providing all of your videos for free to us all. You have given me a lot of language to describe and understand my contamination OCD. It is helping me be transformed by the renewal of my mind. Please continue your weekly videos and be encouraged that you are helping many people with your content. From this stranger to you, blessings to you and your family! Jesus is making all things new.
She explained very well. Thing is my OCD is not only contamination with germs and dirt but also oily or greasy stuff. It's really hard to do this therapy because in my mind I'm always thinking I have to clean things to make them green.
Wow.I am just now discovering the name of this disorder.I am 59,and have had a fear of chemicals since I was a kid.Anything new or that had an odd smell would cause me to feel detached from myself (basically de-personalization).Even stuff that was labeled non toxic. I know its all anxiety now,but as a young person this ruled my life.Things can change for the better.
Ive had contamination ocd for years. This pandemic is a nightmare. I dont even feel safe in my apt. It has also caused agoraphobia. I havent gone anywhere since March 16th. How can i make ot through the rest of this time in one piece? 😣
Have patience, i felt the same way, until i forced me to go out and then i could understand that nothing was really dangerous outside, i returned home safe and then the other day i did the same, over and over i understood that everything was in my head, the only way out of this ocd is to force yourself into doing the things you're scared of, then eventually you will notice that all your preocupations werent real, they are just in your head
For it started because a lot of people around me weren’t washing there hands and now that is all i can think about. Is if people are washing their hands and if they’re clean enough. I three away so much stuff and messed up some electronics and im trying to stop it but it feels so impossible and exposure to what scares me gives me an anxiety attack. Im scared that I’ll never get over it and ill live life like this for the rest of my life.
I didn't know there was a name for this, just thought I was crazy lol. I can't touch any handles or doors in my house without using a paper towel, and if someone touches something before me and then I touch it I worry that they're touching ME. So stressful!
I wish people in my life would understand me more and why I need to take these precautions, I cannot cope being sick, even a common cold is too much for me. Being ill puts me in a bad place as an hsp, I become very depressed. I am a very loving person, but misunderstood as I appear cold when socially having to distance myself from family members when they have colds/coughs etc. The pandemic made me worse. My grandad visited me from abroad and I put effort into getting him and everyone gifts, I tried my best to hug him and I kind of did and stroked his face, telling him I loved him (he was sad, as my grandma got dementia)but I can’t kiss anyone on the face, or be very close for long periods of time, I feel that people are confused by me and think of me as a cold person, which is hurtful. I’m trying my best but the anxiety I get around viruses and germs is overbearing.
I hate it when guests arrive at home use my bathroom sit on my bed and touch everything and aslo when some9ne touches my phone hugs me in my CLEAN clothes
Reminds me of 10 count manga.... It touches the topic of contamination ocd so well.... That's when i realized that i have the issue as well and currently I'm slowly working on it... Esp in pandemic
I think my boyfriend suffers from this and I don’t know how to help him. One time, right after cooking a meal, I sprayed the counter to quickly clean it and he was so scared that some of the spray might have got on his food that he just couldn’t eat it. He binned a full plate of food and had to cook again. And he always has to hold his cutlery and plate under hot water before eating, even if they’ve just recently been washed. Anything to do with his food he really struggles with. Also he often asks me to turn the tap off after washing his hands. I think this is because he sees the tap as contaminated. And he shakes his hands instead of drying on a towel, because he probably sees the towels as contaminated. He knows it’s irrational but it’s hard
i struggle with the exact same thing as him like all of these are my exact symptoms . he probably has contamination ocd , has he gotten any better or have you found a solution to his anxiety ?
I am an environmental microbiologist. And we did an experiment (well, we did hundreds...) with a harmless chemical that glows under UV light. (See Mark Rober's video. He did a similar experiment with kids in a school.). We separated the germaphobes from the moderates to the "I don't cares". Sent them home with their hands painted with the chemical, then had them all make hamburgers (which they didn't eat of course). They then did (washing hands, cleaning surfaces, watching TV, playing with their dogs, etc. ) whatever they would as they usually lived for the next couple of hours. We then went in with UV light to see the results. HANDS DOWN the worst were the germaphobes. Their surfaces had less chemical, but in FAR more places. They wre touching so many places trying to clean themselves, they actually SPREAD the chemical. The other two groups were similar to each other, with of course the moderates spreading the least. If you are a germaphopbe, study microbiology. It will either chill you out, or send you to the nut house. Live your life, people!
I haven’t been diagnosed with contamination ocd but I’ve always been afraid of cleaning products. I hate cleaning my bathroom or cleaning pretty much anything besides the dishes. Any time I touch a cleaning product I get super paranoid that it’ll get on my clothes, my mouth and eyes so before I can touch anything else I have to thoroughly wash my hands once or twice. Anytime I do laundry I wash my hands after putting the laundry soap in the washer because even if I know it’s not on my hands I feel like if I touch food and eat it the soap will get it in my mouth. I’m always paranoid that if my food or drink is anywhere near a cleaning product that it’ll be “contaminated” and again that the cleaning product will get it my mouth. I also hate dirt, I hate getting my hands dirty in general and if they do somehow get dirty then I’ll wash my hands really good. Sometimes even after washing my hands I still feel like they aren’t that clean but I usually try to ignore it. These fears don’t really take a toll on my life, they’re just thoughts that sit in the back of my mind.
About 2 years ago, I started doing this. I was baby sitting & it randomly started where I didn’t wna touch cabinets, stoves, spoons & touch the child’s food as well. It started increasing & I didn’t want to touch any of my moms things just because it was nasty & I didn’t know what was on it. I would put on lotions & I would quickly go n wash my hands because I didn’t know what was in the lotions. Recently now I think everything is drugged or poisoned. I hateee it. I won’t eat certain things or touch anything because I don’t want to get high. I constantly wash everything 2-3 times because I always think “what if they used this for this.” I won’t drink or eat snacks/drink if they’ve been open & my brain always tells me that certain drinks n snacks are drugged even if it clearly says on the label that they’re not. The list goes on n on, I came across contamination OCD recently & have been researching bout it & reached out to a therapist. I wish someone would tell me straight up “it’s all in your head” but I know even then I wouldn’t believe them. There’s days where I don’t even Wna touch my dogs because I think they have germs or have “drugs” on their fur or mouth. I feel like I’ve kind of let this get quite a hold of me now that I found out what it is. Please send help & what you guys have done to help yourselves when it comes to this
I wash my hands so much that i exhauste soap within two days my parent says no person would ever do such thing like me i also worry that my hands finger print may get damaged and infected but fear of germs ,dirt always triggers me and i cannot stop myself to wash my hands and don't like to be in contact with any animals
I'm not sure exposure therapy has helped me. I have been battling with contamination OCD for around 10 years now. In those 10 years I have lived alone for maybe 1 of them, and with a roommate or partner for the other 9. Living alone, my germaphobia/ cleanliness seriously got out of control. But living with someone, my anxiety is also extremely high. Now, add on top of all of this - I am also a residential cleaner! All day long I deal with other peoples germs and contamination. I believe my anxiety is always spiked. Some people would argue that this is good for me... it is exposure therapy. For me? I'm exhausted. I JUST bought my own condo and will be moving into it at the end of the month, ALONE. I am SO EXCITED to live alone, with ONLY MY GERMS. This is a dream come true. However, I know that there is the potential for me to spiral a bit. I'm already having thoughts about not ever wanting guests to come over, and if they come over - they must sit on a special blanket, etc. But I also cannot wait for my anxiety to stop spiking. My last roommate was an absolute germaphobe's nightmare!!!! That was no good for my mental health. But, so I wonder, has exposure therapy worked at all for me? I don't really think so.
I'm the exact same way 😢 I used to have guests over but I rarely do anymore. But if they do come, they have to wash their hands once they come in, put their items in a designated spot, and sit on a blanket with indoor slippers on. And when they leave, I clean all the spots they touched 🥲
@refreshingtwist I recently started letting people come over but only 1 at a time. It's stressful since I monitor everything they touch and when they leave I have to clean everything again 😮💨 I'm wishing you the best and I hope you can begin to feel more comfortable someday 💖
I like to think of the "contamination" as a black ink or mud. It splats and splotches on anything that comes into contact with it. And the clean is like a white, blank slate. And even now im living in a world where all the floors are muddy and black. Everything outisde of my room is muddy. And im not sure i can just move on. At this point I think im gonna do 1 more through clean then just pretend that everything is either blank and pristine or everything is black and covered in ink. Ill see myself as covered in ink too. Maybe then I wont have to worry about it. Maybe if I let go of the little blanks space im protecting on my canvas and just accept the ink that everyone else doesnt even see. Then maybe that will be easier. I'm sick of not being able to hug my loved ones because I have to stay clean. I'm sick of being unwilling and unable to do the things I used to before I started to see the mud. I don't know if it will work but maybe this comment will help someone else. I'm not just going to ignore the mud. I'm going to accept that mud is a part of living. Everyone is covered in the mud whether We know it or not. So why should I care about it when no one else does.
You explained it beautifully at this point in my life my brain thinks every brown/yellow stain is poop or pee 😂 i wasted so much time cuz of the red and now everything assosiated with that moment is red the whole month the whole week etc... i'm tired and done
i have mild "germaphobia". while i dont mind eating finger-food without washing my hands if i dont remember touching anything too dirty, like a trash bag or a faucet handle, i do mind things that are overwhelmingly gross, like the idea of a dog licking my face too much or anything a kid has been near. i think my issue is more biological grossness related than objects being gross on their own. one of the things that i think has helped me is acknowledging that my skin is basically immune to germs (not *actually* ofcourse, but the idea helps), so as long as i dont let any germs *into* my body, touching gross things is only bad until i clean myself off. also imaging the dirtiness as being localized to only where you made contact helps, so you dont imagine it spreading across your body which can cause some people to feel that they need to take a shower to get clean even after just touching something gross with their hands or arms.
My stepdad sometimes doesn't wash hands after going to the toilet so all high traffic hand areas are red, the thought of exposure and not constantly washing my hands makes me very uncomfortable
I am from Pakistan and watched your video i have been running in contamination ocd for 2 or 4 years....i didn't know that its a mental issue i thought that it is ok....but now m fed up of this shit ...i m crying writing this...its so worse to have this....i feel i contaminated my hand my clothes with pee or poop i wash m hand again and again.....
![Дон ДОН, Алаудинов и СБЕЖАВШИЕ из под Курска ахматовцы 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dEfCf5IK26Q/mqdefault.jpg)
I threw out thousands of dollars worth of stuff. I cut off ties, I rarely visit my parents, contamination OCD is literally driving me insane. And it feels 1000% realistic. I really pray for anyone suffering from this thing to get better. This is an absolute suffering, and it really sucks people around you ridicule you for it.
I agree.
I think its sad not seeing those we love and hope you can overcome this hurdle so its more manageable. I found an old picture of before my OCD. I remember it and say that if it didn't matter then, it shouldn't matter now. The part of my fear that I find real I stop to think if it is real or not. Example fear something will smell bad if I don't wash my hands all the time. If it is real then wash it. If it is not real then do nothing. This has helped. I wish it would help you.
I have contamination ocd as well and it is hell. You’re not alone! Sending you love and healing ❤️
Your bodies full of germs so get over it
Same
Really accurate. Though, I'm so scared to attempt exposure therapy again. I worry that if I contaminate the clean/safe stuff, what if I get overwhelmed and feel that everything is now ruined and I can't put it right. I worry about that happening and then having to disown all of my belonging because cleaning them is too difficult or attempting to clean them "properly" will result in them being destroyed (using antibacterial products on electronics, etc) feels like such a huge risk
A couple months ago I ruined my phone screen from wiping it with wet wipes and hand sanitizer too much, it cost me money to fix and to this day I can't even remember what was so disgusting.
@@dafineosmani1479 i use hand sanitizer to clean my phone daily…
i love this comment. this is exactly how i feel!
This is what I’m terrified of. I’ve ruined so many things due to cleaning them, and am so scared of accidentally contaminating things I really care about/things that bring me comfort. This is so horrible and stressful, and it feels like there’s no help. I keep seeing comments like this on videos like these and no professionals ever address them or give advice on what to do in these situations. It feels hopeless.
Does anyone else feel after they have cleaned stuff or chucked stuff out that they are a freak and just wish they were normal?
Everything in my house is contaminated in my eyes. It sucks.
@@Ppaula77 stop saying stuff like that bro. Not cool. Youre only making it worse that way
@Sarah Michelle yes, you gotta face your fears and problems and let go of the things you cant control. Living alone isnt the solution to the problem
@@Ppaula77 Living alone will increase our problem because no-one will be there to love us so the person could feel more depressed and it results in increased levels of OCD 😌😌
Me too! 😢 Im driving everyone insane! Im terrified of germs getting to my kids 😢
Same here !
when she said to try baby steps without washing (the compulsions) that made me cry because it feels like an impossible task. i need the relief or I won’t feel better 😭
Same. And when she suggested taking something that was a little red and touching green things to make the red thing green, my brain short-circuited. Like, a dirty item can make a clean item dirty, and a _cleaning_ item can make a dirty item clean, but I can't touch the sole of my shoe to the kitchen counter and have my shoe suddenly become clean (and the kitchen counter still be clean). That's just not how cleanliness works in real life, so I can't integrate that.
same literally sobbing
Everyone in this comment section I love you all and it feels great to see that there are actually other people who experience my pain. I’ve been dealing with this stuff for a long time and am finally done today. No baby steps I’m just done. I am praying for everyone who has ocd to overcome it soon.
How are you fairing?
Decent there’s just a lot of other stuff going on right now but ocd has gotten better
@@chango-yx3cg That’s a relief. Do you have any advice?
@@Omnihilo_ yeah, ocd is completely mental and an anxiety disorder and any kind of medication will never help. What helps me is “ocd always lies”. So a way you can beat ocd is by remembering the truth of the situation because ocd is always trying to deceive you.
@@chango-yx3cg Medication actually made me far worse. Not just in dealing with OCD, but everything else as well. The difficulty for me is trying to discern the lies from my actual personality which is naturally very perfectionist.
When you said eventually your whole works will be “red” it really hit me how quickly that is happening
In my case every persons breath is a red, so I can't get close to people anymore and that makes me depressed.
Literally because a couple of years ago only one or two things were red and now my brain tricks me into believing that everything is somehow red, it doesn't even make sense.
@@gabbagandalf6461 same with me. How are you now?
@@gabbagandalf6461 oh yours is like that. Mine is like people who don’t look ‘too clean’ I have to distance so their breathe doesn’t go on me I hate it
@@harrysmith8329 YUP FOR ME ITS NOT BECAUSE OF GERMS, I JUST BASICALLY GET DIGUSTED OF FEW KIND OF PEOPLE. LIKE MAIDS TRASH MAN THE PEOPLE WHO DO SOME KIND OF WORK AROUND DIRT. BUT IF THE SAME KIND OF WORK IS DONE BY SOME ONE I ALREADY KNOW AFTER A WHILE I WONT BE DIGUSTED BY THEM. I GET THE FEELING OF CONTAMINATION BUT ITS NOT BECAUSE OF GERMS BUT MORE OF PEOPLE. I DONT WANNA TOUCH THINGS THAT UNKNOWN PEOPLE TOUCHED. EVEN IF THE PERSON IS RATHER CLEAN ,IN MY EYES HE IS THE CAUSE OF THE REC SPOT.
Is anyone else super scared when you see a video or read something about someone who has OCD and they say "I'm 27 now I have been dealing with OCD for 10+ years" like it's so scary the fact that years will pass by and OCD is just a normal thing you have and you kinda live with it now like it freaks me out thinking of living with OCD forever.
I feel you there! I want it to go away so bad! I’m hoping that I can learn some coping mechanisms to at least handle it better, but it’s still so scary to think about it never really going away. Best of luck in your OCD journey!
@@zoeypolicky2592 Thank you so much! Good luck to you too and never lose hope!!!
I have contamination ocd since 2017 because I was diagnosed with scabies but I was the only one sick at home got obsessed with disinfecting my skin and house and room that it has cause so much fight between my husband because I didn’t feel he disinfected good enough or cleans properly to keep me safe
I don’t want to get worse but getting better looks scary
Exactly
yes in my mind getting better looks scary to me cuz i feel like things won't be properly cleaned anymore like i do now with my ocd
@@audrey4446 this is exactly how i feel!!!
@@Ppaula77 i have the same problem too. How can i overcome this i.e doing the rituals makes me better rather than avoiding it?
@@audrey4446 I know, part of me doesn't want to get "better". I don't have an aggressive form of OCD (I can visit my family and eat with them, etc., and just accept that I won't feel properly clean until I get home, but it's okay) and I don't think there's anything wrong with my rituals.
As someone who suffer from contamination ocd for years, this is very helpful. Ocd tells you things that you know are ridiculous logically but you just can't help but to believe in it and avoid the "contamination". It's so crazy but I'm ready to beat this with your advice.
how you doing now ?
My baby step for me was not taking a whole shower after throwing out the trash (I have to touch a sort of neighbourhood bin so my contanination alarm goes crazy) but washing only my contaminated areas, I still couldn't avoid washing my home keys, my watch and my phone... I hope it gets better ❤️
Washing phone 😂 same here 😢 anyway, did you get better?
Sounds like a huge step. Congratulations!
The worst part for me is since my bathroom disgusts me... Me washing my hands make me uneasy too. I feel like since my dirty hands have touched it Everytime I pump out soap or turn on the faucet I've contaminated that too. You understand this more then me I didn't know it was ocd. I wish I had a therapist like you I'm going to look into it) :
I feel that too , I end up cleaning the faucet and everything I touched
I know how it feels. I always use piece of thick paper to turn off the faucet after washing my hands.
@@amaltrabelsi7237 im also this far that even washing hands is somehow going to contaminate me
Same here 😭
I avoid going to toilet and get uti because of this , I want to break free having contamination ocd for 20 years and now I am a mother of two kids
I'm going through this for the past few months... I'm too tired and I can't do it any more.. I wish I can think like a normal person.. I don't wish this even for my worst enemy.
May it be easy for everyone going through this..
I almost cried Listening to you speak on what I’ve been struggling with for a few years now, and since the pandemic it has gotten worse 😢😭
Exactly. It's much worse since the pandemic, and I have started noticing things I have never noticed in my entire life. It's so annoying, but I can't get it out of my head now
i finally found out what i have😩 i knew it wasn’t germophobia because i wasn’t necessarily afraid of germs, it was just certain things that my brain marked contaminated, i ALWAYS had to wash my hands after touching those things or the thoughts in my head will never stop about it, i’ve just acknowledged the fact that i’m not living normally lol
I suffer from this greatly to the point I constantly wear latex gloves because I'm scared of touching certain things,even when I sleep sometimes. I hate contamination OCD,it's the worst! It's a prison I wish I can break out of.
its so comforting to know im not alone in this ❤
I had been wearing latex gloves to bed. I have been working on it. Not healthy for the skin. It's like down the rabbit hole😢
Shoes in my house is an absolute NO.
Cell phones are red until we lysol them.
When friends come over I lysol my couch cause their clothes are red. How bad am I🙈?
Oh purses and my kids backpacks are also red. I'm exhausted with cleaning daily.
It's amazing how you are being able to explain the situation without suffering from it yourself. Eveything you said is exactly on point. My main issue is with dust and outside dirt. The more I indulge in the rituals, the worse it gets. Somehow things keep getting added onto the list even though I keep trying to rationalize things in my head. But I know it has to stop here coz I'm self-aware and I don't try to justify my cleaning habits. I know they are much more than normal and I know some amount of dust and dirt isnt a real threat in any way. So I guess I'll start from there.
Omg we are in the exactly same mental phase!
I have ocd, in therapy I tell them this, that its disgusting, how I avoid everything.. and I still feel like she already understands me more than my actual therapists that I talk to.
OCD 🧠 is not funny ! It is the mental pain.
U should do meditation it really work and treat Ur self that it's just OCD behave like other people
Dude u read my mind: (she understands me more than my therapists do)
no literally
the thought of not being able to wash my hands after touching any “red” thing in my house just made me burst into sobs. as is, on a particularly bad day, i can wash my hands upwards of 50-100 times 😭 i feel so stuck.
I'm just laying here crying because everything is red. I can't have anything that I can't thoroughly clean. I've given up so much because it can't be cleaned or it takes too much time. There are few things I can comfortably touch and I'm constantly cleaning them. I wash my so so often and long that that often times they're dry and red and bleeding and they hurt and I can't move them properly. I'm always late because I take hours in the shower and sometimes I won't leave without taking one. I'm constantly doing and redoing my laundry because I have nowhere clean to put it. I feel so uncomfortable in my own home and it's unbearable. I hate myself and my family hates me. They don't understand how hard it is and we fight. I'm constantly overwhelmed and uncomfortable and scared. They think I'm a weirdo, I look like a freak. I'm scared of fucking walls and I have nightmares about getting dirty. I can barely touch my family anymore and they don't understand why. They're angry at me and I'm not trying hard enough to get over it. My therapist tells me what to do and I can't do it. My mom is constantly downplaying it, my dad is constantly trying to talk about it but he treats it like a joke, my little brother doesn't understand what it is. That touch me and they move my stuff from clean places to dirty places and I feel like I'm going crazy. I'm dramatic and I overreact and I'm constantly thinking about how dirty everything is. It doesn't even make sense. My therapist got me an appointment with a psychiatrist to talk about meds because I didn't try to get over it hard enough. I'm weak and selfish and overdramatic and I'm a freak. I'm a bad person. I'm always feeling bad for myself and I'm mean to everyone. I can't use the dishes in my own house, I have to use unused plastic silverware. It doesn't even make sense, I'm more scared of things in my own house than other places, I'm not really scared of getting a disease just feeling contaminated. I don't like eating chicken cause I'm scared it's undercooked and I'll get salmonella. My mom's boyfriend said that I don't have OCD and he uses the word as an adjective. I'm pretty sure my nana thinks I could get over it easily if I just tried harder. My mom doesn't take it seriously and and compares me to herself and family members that like to organize things. She yells at me for wasting water and doing too much laundry and brings it up whenever we argue. Everyone thinks I'm a weirdo because I don't sleep with a pillow cause I can't constantly wash it and I don't sleep with a blanket because they're so time consuming to wash every time I change my bedding. I won't touch dogs because they're dirty. I can't open doors without a paper towel. I feel trapped in my own house. It's just a lot of stupid things. I got a stuffed animal for Christmas and I'm scared it's going to turn red because I can't wash it properly. I can't do art or homework anymore because I can't wash it and I have to repeatedly touch it. My dad told the principal about my OCD so I wouldn't be kicked out of school and now he feels bad for me, which I don't deserve. I feel like I'm using my OCD as an excuse. I constantly feel disgusted and exhausted and cleaning takes so much time. I had to get a therapist again cause I felt like I was going on a downward spiral. Sometimes I downplay my OCD myself because I feel like I'm being dramatic even though it takes such a big toll on me and my life. No one really understands how much it's hurting me and that hurts. Not to mention my depression and other problems I'm having, not to make people feel bad for me just that this is just adding on to alot of other stuff that I could barely handle before I got OCD and this feels like the final push. I wish I could talk to my best friend about this but it seems she doesn't want to see me anymore so yeah. I watch all these videos and read all these articles about contamination OCD and relate so much and feel so understand and supported and like I'm not crazy and like maybe it's not my fault but I still feel so overwhelmed and just fucking sad. That was a lot of shit I just let out and I think writing all that really put in perspective for me how much my OCD really affects me and what a big part of my life it has become, it's really just not a small thing like it seems it is sometimes. That was alot of crying and writing I just did.😅
How are you doing lately?
@@Acujeremy In general or with OCD? Also if you read all of that I'm sorry, it sounds really dramatic, but I just needed to vent
I completely understand you as I feel the exact same way!
@@Samxhuss that is so comforting to hear, thank you. I hope we'll both be okay.
@No Obstructions it started during the pandemic
EXCELLENT WAY TO DESCRIBE IT WITH COLORS
I sense it immediately as a level of how contaminated i constantly keep track and keep green from red so i can enjoy myself in the green
Great video, struggled and fought ocd all my life, anxiety and fear of contamination leading to illness, eliminating items on the red list, but something new is always waiting to add to that red list. Managing ocd is possible.
I hate living with my parents and having to use the single bathroom in our house. The bathroom is the red-hot zone in my OCD brain. I can’t take a shower because I feel like I can physically see the germs crawling up to me. I can't use the toilet because the whole thing is germ city, and I have to brush my mouth without touching the sink. Every single time I go into my room, I need to wipe my phone with a Lysol disinfectant wipe. I hate having this, and I want to fix it. This video helped me a little. I will take her advice for sure, but I’m still going to do more research on this.
i’ve had these tendencies for over a year now and it’s only gotten worse. i am desperately trying to get better now because it’s gotten so bad i can’t even touch my dog anymore. i feel so horrible because she is getting old and i don’t want her last few years being abandoned and not loved. i hope and pray i will heal from this
I have this disorder. When it triggers, using a glass of water, spoon, plate fears me thinking they are all contaminated. I'd rather not use them or rather wash them myself as if I do not trust the person who made the dishes.
Lately, the mango I bought somehow had pimples or dark spots which looks pretty normal for a mango, I ended up throwing it away as my mind tells me it was bitten by a snake. I felt terriffied of that thought..
I stopped taking vitamins or paracetamol. Oral intakes make me anxious and panicky.
im struggling with this too!😢
I appreciate you bringing up the different forms of contamination people feel. I haven't seen a lot of people talk about this but my fear of germs has developed to fear of chemicals/adhesives. Since there is evidence that these things are actually harmful (if only just mildly) It makes it so much harder to brush that feeling away. If I come in contact with any type of tape or glue the sensation of the stickiness will not go away till I have washed my hands sometimes more than 20x and I keep thinking I will transfer it to my clothes and belongings. With germs I can always wash things and feel fine in a few washes but I feel like the chemical/adhesive is almost permanent and I've had to throw out a lot of clothes/food because of it. It's just exhausting doing anything when I have to be so aware mapping anything and everything that I come in contact with
ME TOO IOMG
I can’t even wash my clothes without panicking bc of the detergent. Of course I do, but it’s a nightmare
Mine is similar to yours . I have radiation contamination fears . Germ fears were a hundred times easier to deal with.
I can really relate to this video thankyou. In my contamination ocd world, my fears and anxiety comes from the fear of ruining the materialistic things in my life that I really love. My fragrance collection, my clothes, my phone, TV, playstation. It has nearly led me to not wanting nice things anymore so then I can have nothing to worry about. I dont want it to get to this. I am starting my battle of contamination ocd right away before my life is confined within!
I’m guessing that you’re an Enneagram One. You may have a core fear that has to do with making things perfect and not debatable for rejection. Being ahead of rejection before anyone else can judge you and your world. That may help you get a closer look into the root problem
@@drewlang1624 I think I already replied to you, I’m not sure. But, I actually am an Enneagram One, and I think the root of my OCD is tied to my elitist and perfectionist personality. I’ve been this way since I can remember, even back to toddlerhood. I distinctly remember having such a hard time learning how to write because each letter had to be perfect before I could go on to the next one. Sorry to ask, but you seem to know about this, do you have any advice?
@@Omnihilo_ Yes. Actually I wrote this on my bf’s account accidentally, so my name’s Andrea... I’m using his phone. Anyways, I’m an INFJ Enneagram 1 & in 7th grade I had that same type of OCD... writing, crossing out, rewriting. It moved into an eating disorder & then it transitioned to contamination among other areas... it’s still a battle honestly, but my hunch in healing is focusing on repairing my voice & autonomy (I’m likely holding on to being denied my own opinions in the past so it’s hard to trust my real perspectives). Exposure therapy is hard... but when mixed in with radical acceptance & self-compassion it may lessen in difficulty.
I know your pain, but just know no matter what is on you or what is on anything of yours, you have the right to exist & nothing in the external can take away your worth. In fact you’re likely a creative deep-thinker which makes you more valuable than any amount of “sanitation”. It’s okay to feel like you messed up on a massive level (with germs, etc) bc the only one keeping track is you... No one would ever know... I get that’s half liberating & half scary, but it is possible to refocus & stay strong!
@@drewlang1624 I don’t know what to say. …This describes me perfectly, and was exactly what I needed to hear. Me, my time, and my unique existence, passions, and talents are more important than sanitation… Thank you.
@@Omnihilo_ no problem! You got this!
for me my ocd makes me afraid of chemicals like cleaning products and its been affecting the way i eat ( i fear that i will contaminate my food ) , my tip for anyone who is struggling is to have a friend or family member nearby when doing something that youre afraid of . for example sometimes when i go out with friends i fear that my hands are contaminated but by watching my friend eat their food without any fear at all makes me feel a little better and also remember that if there is a case where my hands are actually contaminated and something happens i remember that my friend is with me to help me if anything goes wrong !! :) i hope everyone recovers from this because its extremely difficult to live with .
i used to be this way too! i started using natural cleaning products and wearing gloves, it helped a lot
@@Tigerheiress thank uu so muchh !! i will try this !!!! are there any products that uu would recommend ?
I am really enjoying your videos. They are helping me understand my daughters OCD better. She only just turned 9. Her OCD is severe. She IS in treatment btw although I am not sure the clinician is a good fit as he has said that he has never seen OCD in someone this young be so severe. She has contamination OCD and it is heart breaking. I will use your information to try and help her with this. My daughter can’t even play like an average child because of “contamination”. All that to say, your videos are incredibly helpful to me and I hope soon to my daughter! ❤️
So sorry to hear her struggles. I hope the video helps a bit. A good place to find a qualified OCD therapist is at www.iocdf.org/find-help
It can happen! Mine started at 7. I hope your daughter feels better soon and you can find somebody good who can help. I used an app called NOCD to find my therapist. Wishing you all the best!!! ❤️
@@megmusicgirl14 Hi Megan, do you mind sharing what type of ocd you have and therapist that has helped you? I'd appreciate that. Thanks.
@Ruska I am so sorry that you feel misunderstood. We are trying to navigate and find solutions to help her. Since posting here, we have found a counselor who specializes in treating OCD in kids. We have also found a psychiatrist who works with kids and working on finding an appropriate medication for her. I appreciate your thoughts. Thank you. I hope you can work with your parents to help with their understanding. ❤️
Thanks for the upload, I did a lot of research into OCD when creating my UA-cam video and it’s definitely a topic that should have more awareness 👍
i had to pause this vid from washing my hands for 30 mins. i felt like a freak. i felt alone. everyone around me made me feel like i was weird but now i know i am not alone in this feeling and i cant stop crying from relief that i am not the only one that feels these feelings. its so scary you used the color red as a reference because my ocd makes actually me see red from what is contaminated. so creepy and liberating at the same time to hear someone else say the same words. i am not alone. this is a great feeling.
this video completely describes how i feel and what I go through everyday, I’m scared it won’t get any better, my family constantly makes me feel bad and I want to see a therapist but I don’t know if it’ll even help… 😭
You have no idea how much you have helped me get my life back. Thank you ❤️ I have been trying to get help for years and this is exactly what I needed.
How did she help you?
How did you get help from this video?
I really want to get rid of my contamination ocd, but also, i feel like if i would get better and start touching everything without washing my hands like before, i would be constatly so dirty and contaminated and disgusting and I don't want to live like that. I would love to get better but it's really scary.
Same, I don’t want to be a walking Petri dish. I don’t want to be that type of person. I still want to be clean, but just be normal about it.
I'm not diagnosed with ocd, but I have anxiety and I think over the years it has fueled compulsion. I wash my hands at least 10 times a day. If not, spray them down with alcohol or sanitizer (but I feel they don't do the job). If I touch something that has dust or dirt, wash my hands. I can't even touch the floor with my bare feet or I freak out. I never would have guessed to compartmentalize 'reds' and 'greens' but it makes sense. I have 'safe' zones in my room. I mentally mark the objects that are dirty so I remember not to touch them later until they're clean. I don't like washing dishes because of the food. I fear eating/drinking after certain people. Don't even get me started on handling money (retail). I think issues from my childhood as well sped up this process and the more I look back, the more I'm slowly unraveling the patterns that have gotten me here. But I want to change. It's so restrictive and I miss the freedom of not fearing dirty things.
I have a fear of things going to smell bad. I total get the money and need to wash my hands. I have been doing exposures and they help. I think of it this way... Is it real or not. So, I could not touch my things that were red. I stood there and smelt them to find out if they smelt bad. If yes wash. If no let it go. Meaning. No washing. I also looked at web MD and they said wash after handling money so I do. Now my issue is... If someone has their feet on stuff will it smell? Just the thought. Yuck. Not sure how I will overcome this one.
you and me too brother
I know you mainly work with children but I'm an adult and this is ridiculously helpful, I love how simply you explain things in a validating and empathetic way
The last bit of the video with the ring and the tissue gave me anxiety. Just thinking about it in my little world.
I work in healthcare and my contamination ocd comes from seeing how disgusting some people can be. I've seen patients come in with urine/ faeces stained clothing and sitting on chairs and benches. I cannot sit in public anymore because in my mind I think...who's sat there? What if they had soiled clothes. I've seen men peeing on the side of streets abd along fences so now cannot walk past walls incase someone has peed there. Recently, I was driving and saw a lady at the bus stop pulling down her underwear in Broad daylight- her legs and underwear covered in shit ( I'm sure she had mental health issues). Now I keep thinking of how that lady would have touched the bus stop seats/ the bus etc with her soiled hands and bum. I see disgusting stuff and it stats with me. I cannot walk outside fearing ill touch something disgusting. I cannot go shopping and haven't used public transport in 3 yrs. Since developing ocd 4 yrs ago I've seen more filth ( ppl peeing shitting in public) than I have my entire life!
thank you for the video, it's really helpful, i am determinated to be better starting today and thank you for everyone for sharing your experience and your journey, i feel way better knowing i'm not alone in this, good luck everyone ❤❤
Its so sad, especially when your parents becomes red, they do everything for me and yet I'm scared to sit next to them hold their hands or hug them, and it's true the list just keeps adding at first simple hand gel was ok for me but now I question it and it seems to not be enough anymore, there was a point in my life that I couldn't sit of the sofa I spent whole year sitting at the dinning table and you know those chairs are not made for all day sitting
If you remember before OCD then find a photo of before OCD of what you are avoiding now. That is what I did. Then say that if it didn't matter then, it shouldn't matter now. That will narrow it down to the next part I did. Example my fear of something going to smell bad if I don't wash my hands or stuff. Stop and ask myself if its real or not. If not then don't wash. If yes its real then wash. I wish this would help you as well.
I don't leave my house anymore. I can't touch anything that anyone else has touched. I can't even hug my family. I live in my "clean" bubble of space in my bed. I can't even use the bathroom if someone else has used it. I have to clean it first. I cried watching this video, I am still crying. I feel like I'm in a sort of prison or like I'm being punished. I just want to cuddle my babies, visit my Mom and Dad, sit in my livingroom again. It's so strange that I can go back and track the progression of my issues. It started so small but it moved quickly and before I knew it my life was over.
For me it's more about dirt than contamination, I just can't stand something dirty, greasy, sticky etc. on my body or clothes, especially hands. I clean myself all the time and it makes life so hard. In some areas I improved a lot but also in some other OCD always find the way to progress and make my life harder. For me the only way to improve is to try ignore everything what OCD tells you in the head and not do any compulsion no matter how anxious you are because with time it has to be easier. With that approach I improved as I said in some area a lot but there is still so many things that I just don't have courage to do with that same approach. It took 10 years of my life so far and I waisted so much precious time on compulsions which makes me so sad because I could use that time so much better if I have a normal brain. The video is great, Natasha is right, we need to take baby steps and make things greener. The first step is always the hardest but with right attitude it's possible.
I've had this since I was a a young kid. I hated when someone would lick their finger and wipe my face or give me something they'd eaten or drunken off of. The bathroom is a major red spot for me. The mop and anything else that touches the floor is disgusting to me. I'm so strict on my toddler cause I get so grossed out... I hate it. I throw so much away😭 thanks for the tip. This is so crazy and like you've said my red area has grown.
THANK YOU. I am currently at the point that the only green is my bed.
This video made me cry.
I developed my disorder from just having a bunch of weird stuff happen in my life. I was raised in a cult that believed in resurrection and Jesus and whatnot and so I never had to deal with difficult questions, such as the fear of death or being maimed or whatever because I was part of the true church and I'd get my body back no matter what. Then I realized that the cult wasn't true and so a bunch of these post-poned fears came out of the woodworks in mass and it really stressed me out. I started being freaked out by things like knives and guns, and I become terrified if being blinded or paralyzed, etc. And then at that time I ended up getting a couple of warts in my fingers and then it just triggered something in my mind and I've been dealing with this ever since. I'm ready to beat it but it's hard. I became terrified of pinworms and all that stuff and ended up convincing myself that I had all sorts of diseases or whatever. And now I see things through this green light/red light thing and I hate it
My dearest what an amazing video!Would you believe this video seems to be exactly my story. In my world everything is Red.Thank you sooo much for making such a motivational video.
Thank you! This is a really helpful video. I’d never thought about using the dilution-esque aspect of it all to try and ease how contaminated/taboo I see things. Bless you ❤️
I watched this video and I feel so much better. I cant believe this is a thing and I’ve experienced these symptoms for a while. I thought I was crazy. I’m so happy I’m not alone.
same! this gives me more confidence to overcome it
tysm im a kid suffering with this and its taking over my life and i hate it so much but I'm gonna try this
we in this together homie, i love you homes
As a daughter of a contamination ocd patient i have seen these things and have felt really bad my whole life for my dad for me and my sister . I have always blamed my mom for being the way she is .
But as i got adult and got sense of things , i understood few things about this disease and regretted the way i always behaved with her . And when I’m telling you that i regretted it that means i really did badly .she’d always take shower after mopping or brooming the house , if she goes out to get something ( also cleans the things she bought , even if those things are vegetables, fruits or even the cash she takes back would get clean by water or by some wet cloth . Or when she goes to a hospital ( i think this is the most triggering cite for my mom because when she comes back she would get a total deep clean shower for herself, i mean head to toe thoroughly.
To be honest me and my sister haven’t been loved that much because of this thing and i donot blame my mom for it .
Because of this ocd I don’t even remember when was the last time i got hug from my mom because she thinks we go out like school and stuff and we’re contaminated .
Thank you for the video! It certainly helps me with my constant hand-washing! I really did relate when you said how things are 'red', because I am doing exactly that. Certain things I saw like the bottom of my phone touched a 'red' thing (my pillow), and now I cant allow myself to touch it, at all, even when using it in landscape. This also applies to a few other smaller things. I hope this will improve, thanks to your video again!
I HAVENT SLEPT FOR FEW DAYS PROPERLY PLEASE TELL ME HOW DID YOU COPE UP WITH IT BECAUSE YES MY PILLOW AND BED ARE RED SPOT.
@@purooshresth7809 Well, my pillow is red to touch, but ok for my head to touch. Maybe wash your pillow and bed with gloves? That might help
This is kinda scary because I can relate to this so much
FINALLY, someone described my contamination OCD perfectly. Such a helpful video. I've been in treatment for 2 years. Baby steps, as you said. I was also the person whose only "green" spot was part of my bed. My world got that small. But, with slow and steady work with a skilled ERP therapist, I've been able to take 2 international trips! I still struggle with OCD every day. It is NEVER satisfied. No sooner do I turn a red to green, my OCD turns a green to red. OCD Whack-a-mole. So exhausting.
Thank you so much for this video ❤️. It helps me realize I'm not just crazy and there are ways to fix this. My own family laughs at me and criticizes me for being like this. I had COVID back in October 2021 and my smell and taste have not returned still. I do not want to get sick again and I believe that's where this all started...
I want to let you know that I know how you feel. I lost my smell and taste for nearly a whole year . But I am here to tell you that it will come back. Weirdly enough after I got COVID again literally a year later it improved my smell and taste. People say taking Alpha Lipoic acid helps restore the nerves in your nose? Not sure but most people had success. Prayer has helped me a lot in the process. Hoping the best for you 👍
Mines too. Now I’m pushing everyone away and people believe I’m making this up. I wish I had a Time Machine. I feel like this is taking a life of its own. We will beat this, this is not bigger than us
Unfortunately I think I'm at the point now where it's already reached people and pets. I can't touch or hug people anymore and I can't even hold my cat without almost having a freak out. I can't sit on my couch or touch door knobs. It's so frustrating.
i have the same thing😭😭 I haven’t been diagnosed yet but mine started with learning abt a gross habit my aunt did. at first I just ignored it for a few weeks but as I realised it was totally disgusting I started to just not touch her but after the span of about 8 months it’s affected literally everything I do, I feel disgusted when I touch taps so I have to use the bathroom one (the dirtiest), turn it off with the back of my hand then go into the kitchen and wash my hands again. I can’t touch my phone without washing my hands for 5+ minutes anymore☹️ anyways I can’t touch doors, pets, (unless in rare cases) couches, curtains etc so basically the same as you lmao. I also have diagnosed social anxiety so if one of my family members touches something I believe is dirty and touches my stuff after I just have to deal with it. (also I came here because my grandmother who I’m staying with for a week touched something I believe is extremely dirty so idek how I’m gonna wash my hands 😭😭) sorry if I sound a little bit weird or my grammar is bad also
I was feeling myself getting worse, liek having to my hands then wash the tap and then wash my hands, so this has really been a help
I literally LOVE you!!! everything you explained i’m going through with bodily fluids! You are the truth!
I have been dealing with contamination ocd since i was around 15 now 25 some things have gotten better and some things have gotten worse. I have always just ignored trying to get better but this was the first time I've looked into trying to live easier thank you for this video
how you doing now
@@apc4205 made little steps to some people they'd think it's nothing but to me it's massive certain things I can get away with a wipe down with a tissue instead of a full clean down with antibacterial wipes and several cleans
@@xXCreepyNeighborXx Awesome, keep going man
@@apc4205 thanks one little win at a time wins the war
@@xXCreepyNeighborXx I hope your improvement continues to strengthen and flourish.
Best video i have seen so far Great work ... it really resonates with the exact feeling...and the tissue thing just explains how well you have accepted the anxious feelings we get ... thousand likes to you 👍👍👍
Thank you!!
I have some form of contamination ocd. I’m extremely paranoid of microfibres in the air, animal hair, breath, etc.
I’ll literally have a panic attack if someone walks by my food while I’m trying to prepare it… my problem with exposure is that my parents are FORCING me to get better meaning I still feel like I have no control over my process of recovering. It has become something I am EXPECTED to do, not overcome.
Thank you. This video makes sense to me. I’m 35, female, diagnosed with anxiety disorder and depression but never have I had to deal with OCD… until I just recently contracted some sort of skin condition and now everything is red. The skin condition was diagnosed first as scabies. I did 3 treatments and treated my 7 y/o son who really had no symptoms. 4 trips to the dr (3 dermatologists, 1 urgent care) and 2 psychiatric appointments later and I have a positive diagnosis for hyper keratosis and OCD (contamination style) 😔. It’s ruining my relationships with all my family members. So much is “red”, I just am repulsed constantly and my poor baby sleeps with me so he’s subjected to feet and hand wiping every time he gets back on our bed. I’m completely defeated. The poor boy is now asking me if he can walk into his own room or go to the bathroom. Help! please help.
Hope you’re doing well, believe everything will get better. Hope you’re seeing therapist and practicing ERP
I am with u I was diagnosed with scabies well they said it was but I was the only one affected and I slept with my baby and husband and they never got it I also breast fed and not sure why I was the only one diagnosed I do have a bad skin condition. We alcohol all the time before going ti bed both hands and feet and we always dodge things that are not disinfected. If a slight touch have to shower again and do the whole ritual :( it’s gotten worst since 2017 it’s now 2022 and I still have :(
@Polarbearxi22 Dermatologists do a lot of mistakes by the way
Thank you, This is a good place to start; I have overcome a lot of different religious OCD thoughts, but contamination has been a tough one for me. and this idea is a good one.
Happy to offer some support.
thank uuuu 💗 u understand 🥺 im always thinking about everything that touched something that touched another something etc.. that touched red
my world seems so small now i can't feel comfortable
i hope your tips will help me take back my power 💚
I just keep my hands in fists all the time so I don’t touch something unintentionally. and I wash them to the point that my knuckles are white. And my mom keeps yelling at me cuz I change sheets like twice in a week. I feel so sad but I just can’t help it. It’s driving me insane
My mom is yelling at me cause shes spending so much money on soap
i feel this i wash my huge blanket every couple of days and its such a pain but i can't not do it
So, covid didn't help my OCD obviously cause it reinforced the fact that I'm "right", but like.... Some of my stuff is legitimate.
For instance, mom will still dry out clean dishes with a towel that fell on the ground. She puts our clean clothes in our dirty clothes basket and really actually disgusting things have been in that basket... And she dries herself off with a towel that she hung up dirty towels she dried up our floor with with our feet...
If I go outside and go to the store, if I get in the car I'm instantly "dirty" and I have certain places in my house I can't go while "clean". I have a clean chair, a cleanish chair, and a chair I absolutely only sit in if I got in my car or need to sit in mom's chair to use her computer...
But due to covid, some things actually make sense. We need to wash our hands and disinfect our phones after going out or after touching money...
*So where's the damn line?*
hey, I get it. my mom is exactly the same. but she's healthy, living and breathing, and cleaning and hand washing is NEEDED but too much is just idiotic yet.. we do it anyways. im typing this with "contaminated hands" right now, but we can do this. small steps are essential. I wish you luck!
I feel you! COVID made it really difficult now to determine the difference between reasonable thoughts and OCD
Oh my god! You have just described how I am!
Wow. I thought I was alone in this. I feel relieved and sad at the same point. Just like you, my OCD began with COVID. I've been infected twice and I've always been a clean freak. I wash my hands numerous times. Especially working from office is the worst and its even worse trying to explain it to people who don't get it. When I tell them that I don't like being touched, they tease me and literally hug me with their dirty hands, for me, even the hands that have touched the things such as a dining table, or the main doot of the house or a spoon that another person touched is contaminated. But they just dont get it. So ive stopped explaining and I just wash, sanitize and clean myself and all the other things even if its 1AM. I really wish i could undo this but I cant.
this is exactly me right now since COvid
God Bless you Natasha! Thank you for providing all of your videos for free to us all. You have given me a lot of language to describe and understand my contamination OCD. It is helping me be transformed by the renewal of my mind. Please continue your weekly videos and be encouraged that you are helping many people with your content. From this stranger to you, blessings to you and your family! Jesus is making all things new.
Thank you for this. I can relate massively and I think this will help me get my ocd under control.
OCD 🧠 is not funny ! It is the mental pain.
She explained very well. Thing is my OCD is not only contamination with germs and dirt but also oily or greasy stuff. It's really hard to do this therapy because in my mind I'm always thinking I have to clean things to make them green.
Wow.I am just now discovering the name of this disorder.I am 59,and have had a fear of chemicals since I was a kid.Anything new or that had an odd smell would cause me to feel detached from myself (basically de-personalization).Even stuff that was labeled non toxic. I know its all anxiety now,but as a young person this ruled my life.Things can change for the better.
Ive had contamination ocd for years. This pandemic is a nightmare. I dont even feel safe in my apt. It has also caused agoraphobia. I havent gone anywhere since March 16th. How can i make ot through the rest of this time in one piece? 😣
Have patience, i felt the same way, until i forced me to go out and then i could understand that nothing was really dangerous outside, i returned home safe and then the other day i did the same, over and over i understood that everything was in my head, the only way out of this ocd is to force yourself into doing the things you're scared of, then eventually you will notice that all your preocupations werent real, they are just in your head
I have the same problem, my forced self isolation is reaching the 3 months line now.... I miss seeing my friends
@Stellagirl#Joy I trust in him for many years but nothing has changed for the good yet
Your government wants you to *FEAAAARRRRR* MMM TASTY FEAR
For it started because a lot of people around me weren’t washing there hands and now that is all i can think about. Is if people are washing their hands and if they’re clean enough. I three away so much stuff and messed up some electronics and im trying to stop it but it feels so impossible and exposure to what scares me gives me an anxiety attack. Im scared that I’ll never get over it and ill live life like this for the rest of my life.
I didn't know there was a name for this, just thought I was crazy lol. I can't touch any handles or doors in my house without using a paper towel, and if someone touches something before me and then I touch it I worry that they're touching ME. So stressful!
I’m the same way, it’s so frustrating. My family/other especially don’t help.
I wish people in my life would understand me more and why I need to take these precautions, I cannot cope being sick, even a common cold is too much for me. Being ill puts me in a bad place as an hsp, I become very depressed. I am a very loving person, but misunderstood as I appear cold when socially having to distance myself from family members when they have colds/coughs etc. The pandemic made me worse. My grandad visited me from abroad and I put effort into getting him and everyone gifts, I tried my best to hug him and I kind of did and stroked his face, telling him I loved him (he was sad, as my grandma got dementia)but I can’t kiss anyone on the face, or be very close for long periods of time, I feel that people are confused by me and think of me as a cold person, which is hurtful. I’m trying my best but the anxiety I get around viruses and germs is overbearing.
I hate it when guests arrive at home use my bathroom sit on my bed and touch everything and aslo when some9ne touches my phone hugs me in my CLEAN clothes
This hits the right spot, words said were what i wanted to hear omg, I'm going to try slowly, I hope every one can too
Thank you. You explained this dead on to what i feel and see, and its just getting worse.
Reminds me of 10 count manga.... It touches the topic of contamination ocd so well.... That's when i realized that i have the issue as well and currently I'm slowly working on it... Esp in pandemic
I think my boyfriend suffers from this and I don’t know how to help him. One time, right after cooking a meal, I sprayed the counter to quickly clean it and he was so scared that some of the spray might have got on his food that he just couldn’t eat it. He binned a full plate of food and had to cook again. And he always has to hold his cutlery and plate under hot water before eating, even if they’ve just recently been washed. Anything to do with his food he really struggles with. Also he often asks me to turn the tap off after washing his hands. I think this is because he sees the tap as contaminated. And he shakes his hands instead of drying on a towel, because he probably sees the towels as contaminated. He knows it’s irrational but it’s hard
i struggle with the exact same thing as him like all of these are my exact symptoms . he probably has contamination ocd , has he gotten any better or have you found a solution to his anxiety ?
Thank you for these videos. Very informative. My brain is sincerely grateful 🙏
I wish this lady could come over and hang out with me for a day, just to coach me through my silly rituals. And I'm not (technically) a child...
I just tried it out and made progress already thank you
My hands are gonna fall off they're so dry from washing my hands so much 😭
I am an environmental microbiologist. And we did an experiment (well, we did hundreds...) with a harmless chemical that glows under UV light. (See Mark Rober's video. He did a similar experiment with kids in a school.). We separated the germaphobes from the moderates to the "I don't cares". Sent them home with their hands painted with the chemical, then had them all make hamburgers (which they didn't eat of course). They then did (washing hands, cleaning surfaces, watching TV, playing with their dogs, etc. ) whatever they would as they usually lived for the next couple of hours. We then went in with UV light to see the results. HANDS DOWN the worst were the germaphobes. Their surfaces had less chemical, but in FAR more places. They wre touching so many places trying to clean themselves, they actually SPREAD the chemical. The other two groups were similar to each other, with of course the moderates spreading the least.
If you are a germaphopbe, study microbiology. It will either chill you out, or send you to the nut house. Live your life, people!
Best explanation
I haven’t been diagnosed with contamination ocd but I’ve always been afraid of cleaning products. I hate cleaning my bathroom or cleaning pretty much anything besides the dishes. Any time I touch a cleaning product I get super paranoid that it’ll get on my clothes, my mouth and eyes so before I can touch anything else I have to thoroughly wash my hands once or twice. Anytime I do laundry I wash my hands after putting the laundry soap in the washer because even if I know it’s not on my hands I feel like if I touch food and eat it the soap will get it in my mouth. I’m always paranoid that if my food or drink is anywhere near a cleaning product that it’ll be “contaminated” and again that the cleaning product will get it my mouth. I also hate dirt, I hate getting my hands dirty in general and if they do somehow get dirty then I’ll wash my hands really good. Sometimes even after washing my hands I still feel like they aren’t that clean but I usually try to ignore it. These fears don’t really take a toll on my life, they’re just thoughts that sit in the back of my mind.
About 2 years ago, I started doing this. I was baby sitting & it randomly started where I didn’t wna touch cabinets, stoves, spoons & touch the child’s food as well. It started increasing & I didn’t want to touch any of my moms things just because it was nasty & I didn’t know what was on it. I would put on lotions & I would quickly go n wash my hands because I didn’t know what was in the lotions. Recently now I think everything is drugged or poisoned. I hateee it. I won’t eat certain things or touch anything because I don’t want to get high. I constantly wash everything 2-3 times because I always think “what if they used this for this.” I won’t drink or eat snacks/drink if they’ve been open & my brain always tells me that certain drinks n snacks are drugged even if it clearly says on the label that they’re not. The list goes on n on, I came across contamination OCD recently & have been researching bout it & reached out to a therapist. I wish someone would tell me straight up “it’s all in your head” but I know even then I wouldn’t believe them. There’s days where I don’t even Wna touch my dogs because I think they have germs or have “drugs” on their fur or mouth. I feel like I’ve kind of let this get quite a hold of me now that I found out what it is. Please send help & what you guys have done to help yourselves when it comes to this
I'm the same. I think food has been poisoned and contaminated and it's really annoying.
this is a great explanation as how ive been feeling for years. luckily my ocd has improved over the years
I wash my hands so much that i exhauste soap within two days my parent says no person would ever do such thing like me i also worry that my hands finger print may get damaged and infected but fear of germs ,dirt always triggers me and i cannot stop myself to wash my hands and don't like to be in contact with any animals
I'm not sure exposure therapy has helped me. I have been battling with contamination OCD for around 10 years now. In those 10 years I have lived alone for maybe 1 of them, and with a roommate or partner for the other 9. Living alone, my germaphobia/ cleanliness seriously got out of control. But living with someone, my anxiety is also extremely high. Now, add on top of all of this - I am also a residential cleaner! All day long I deal with other peoples germs and contamination. I believe my anxiety is always spiked. Some people would argue that this is good for me... it is exposure therapy. For me? I'm exhausted. I JUST bought my own condo and will be moving into it at the end of the month, ALONE. I am SO EXCITED to live alone, with ONLY MY GERMS. This is a dream come true. However, I know that there is the potential for me to spiral a bit. I'm already having thoughts about not ever wanting guests to come over, and if they come over - they must sit on a special blanket, etc. But I also cannot wait for my anxiety to stop spiking. My last roommate was an absolute germaphobe's nightmare!!!! That was no good for my mental health. But, so I wonder, has exposure therapy worked at all for me? I don't really think so.
I'm the exact same way 😢 I used to have guests over but I rarely do anymore. But if they do come, they have to wash their hands once they come in, put their items in a designated spot, and sit on a blanket with indoor slippers on. And when they leave, I clean all the spots they touched 🥲
@MunkQoo I still haven't had any guests over because I don't want to deal with all the contamination!! I feel for you!
@refreshingtwist I recently started letting people come over but only 1 at a time. It's stressful since I monitor everything they touch and when they leave I have to clean everything again 😮💨 I'm wishing you the best and I hope you can begin to feel more comfortable someday 💖
@@MunkQoo same to you. It's comforting knowing others struggle with the same thing.
I LOVE love love this video. Thank you much for this reminder.
This is actually really helpful thank you for this and it hits the mark
i have OCD i cant touch my family or close friends i feel i cant do anything touch anything anyone else has touched its really hard
I like to think of the "contamination" as a black ink or mud. It splats and splotches on anything that comes into contact with it.
And the clean is like a white, blank slate.
And even now im living in a world where all the floors are muddy and black. Everything outisde of my room is muddy.
And im not sure i can just move on.
At this point I think im gonna do 1 more through clean then just pretend that everything is either blank and pristine or everything is black and covered in ink.
Ill see myself as covered in ink too. Maybe then I wont have to worry about it. Maybe if I let go of the little blanks space im protecting on my canvas and just accept the ink that everyone else doesnt even see. Then maybe that will be easier.
I'm sick of not being able to hug my loved ones because I have to stay clean.
I'm sick of being unwilling and unable to do the things I used to before I started to see the mud. I don't know if it will work but maybe this comment will help someone else.
I'm not just going to ignore the mud. I'm going to accept that mud is a part of living. Everyone is covered in the mud whether We know it or not. So why should I care about it when no one else does.
You explained it beautifully at this point in my life my brain thinks every brown/yellow stain is poop or pee 😂 i wasted so much time cuz of the red and now everything assosiated with that moment is red the whole month the whole week etc... i'm tired and done
i have mild "germaphobia". while i dont mind eating finger-food without washing my hands if i dont remember touching anything too dirty, like a trash bag or a faucet handle, i do mind things that are overwhelmingly gross, like the idea of a dog licking my face too much or anything a kid has been near. i think my issue is more biological grossness related than objects being gross on their own.
one of the things that i think has helped me is acknowledging that my skin is basically immune to germs (not *actually* ofcourse, but the idea helps), so as long as i dont let any germs *into* my body, touching gross things is only bad until i clean myself off. also imaging the dirtiness as being localized to only where you made contact helps, so you dont imagine it spreading across your body which can cause some people to feel that they need to take a shower to get clean even after just touching something gross with their hands or arms.
This is literally me
i feel so understood. i dont exactly think that i have ocd? though this really spoke to me
I think I have drug contamination OCD. I need help ASAP
Super helpful, thanks!
My stepdad sometimes doesn't wash hands after going to the toilet so all high traffic hand areas are red, the thought of exposure and not constantly washing my hands makes me very uncomfortable
I am from Pakistan and watched your video i have been running in contamination ocd for 2 or 4 years....i didn't know that its a mental issue i thought that it is ok....but now m fed up of this shit ...i m crying writing this...its so worse to have this....i feel i contaminated my hand my clothes with pee or poop i wash m hand again and again.....