Excluding when we damage ourselves overcleaning I think there is a big issue with other people genuinely being unhygenic not us being "ocd". Dirty people reinforce each other and lower the bar. I had someone recently tell me i'm too clean yet that same person mouth kisses their dog. Another person said I'm being excessive and made a sandwich after putting the bins out without washing hands. Another said I worry too much then ate food off the floor.
Thank you for sharing your experience! My friend has contamination OCD but I noticed that she is quite uncomfortable talking about it so I never pressured her with questions. Unfortunately it made it difficult for me to empathize with it. But if something good has come out of this whole pandemic, is that I understand her behavior so much better and I can try to make her life a little easier. She's been doing quite well over the past few months and I'm proud of her! :)
I'm glad your friend is doing well. Sometimes it can be so tricky to talk about because a lot of people's default is to judge it as not real. But I think it's fab you're being so supportive 💛
Thank you for sharing this! I’m studying psychology and just finished a work placement in an OCD clinic so hearing your experience was really interesting. You did so well and it’s amazing that you managed to sit with your anxiety more and more and go to shops again. I feel like this pandemic has definitely helped me understand OCD a little better because I find myself thinking some of the exact same thoughts (worrying about touching things and even “seeing” the germs on my hands). Hopefully that’ll help everyone be a little more empathetic!
Thank you for this video it was really interesting. I’ve got a heart condition, I have OCD too even when I went shopping before going into lockdown I never liked touching shopping baskets or shopping trolley because I just know loads of people have touched them they haven’t been cleaned . When I picked an item up in the shop I always get it from the back not the front. When I used to go out for meals I always wanted to wipe down the area I sat, it made me a bit calmer inside my head. Thank you so much for this video 💕
Thank you for sharing your experiences. We need to normalize talking about mental health. I have anxiety/panic attack and depression, but I cannot imagine contamination OCD during a pandemic. Sending you all the good vibes as the world continues to process the virus!
I am the same. Totally understand this and it was nice to hear someone else's experiences. Even before lockdown I was cleaning my hands with a nail brush. Hope you're doing okay 🥰
Thank you for this video! I've been fluctuating between stages 6 and 8 throughout the pandemic so I know (at least partially) how you feel. Thoughts that have helped me include: * the virus can only live for three days inside the home, so anything people touch (groceries, post etc.) can be left in a cupboard somewhere untouched for three days and then be perfectly fine * everyone understands that outdoor visits are fine (the virus lives much less time outdoors) and the weather has been reasonably kind lately * you're not alone - the whole world is going through this, so if you have boundaries and worries, just communicate them with people and those people have no right to argue with those concerns because we're all doing our best in an unknowable situation
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It’s really insightful to hear what some maybe and are experiencing right now! I’ve really feel it’s so important to respect others feelings on how they’re dealing with the pandemic. You’re not alone with wiping grocery’s down haha! My household is still wiping down grocery/store items. Sending you all the best 💛!
Thank you for sharing. I don’t have contamination OCD but my anxiety has become so much worse and I ended up having to go back to therapy (after 2 years of not having to) because I couldn’t cope and to an extent it’s helped, but it’s still very up and down
Thank you for making me feel less alone. I have been dealing with this pretty much my whole life but it has quadrupled due to the pandemic. At this point, things have escalated so much I am no longer a functional human being. I really can't stay like this any longer, but I don't know how I'm going to do it. Do you have any advice?
Been stuck in Stage 6 for almost a year now... Can't stop washing my groceries. Best I've managed is to move from using bleach, to using only soap and water.
Just found this video and it felt almost like peer support. I also have OCD and about a year ago it was the worst that it has ever been. I would also describe have fear of contamination but I also have other aspects on top of that. Wierdly, the pandemic hasn’t hit my OCD that hard. I do have fear of having a role in someone else getting sick but not getting sick myself. Except obviously in a healthy amount. I do worry about being able to go back to a normal work day schedule since working from home has allowed me to be more flexible with my self and also not stress too much if a compulsion comes on in the middle of the day. Normally this was something that would often result in me being always late. But for me, it is just absurd how atm I get signifigantly more anxiety from, for example, the fear that a steped in dog poop as opposed to covid. (Yes, I do still worry about covid in a healthy amount, but Yeah).
I have a question for contamination OCD people. While you are carrying out your daily cleaning rituals, such as washing the windows, scrubbing the bathroom tile, wiping the countertops, etc., do you listen to music, or talk radio, or lectures on the internet, or leave the TV on, or put in a DVD? Do you wear bluetooth headphones, or do you have speakers in every room that are connected to each other? If you don't play any media while you are cleaning, do you talk to yourself outloud? Or do you talk to yourself without your lips moving while cleaning your home?
Hi, so first off I'd say that not everyone's OCD is the same. We don't all have a daily cleaning routine, for example I don't clean my whole home on a daily basis. It's different for everyone. And we're no different from anyone else when we clean, I'll have the TV on, maybe be on the phone to pass the time, listen to an audiobook or music. Whatever really. I don't have a routine, it's just something I do because I want a clean home. Contamination OCD doesn't mean people have to have clean homes though, it's all about germs and usually external factors such as other people being ill.
I feel exactly the same. It's like listening to myself. I am unfortunately stuck in stage 6. Thank you for sharing. X
Excluding when we damage ourselves overcleaning I think there is a big issue with other people genuinely being unhygenic not us being "ocd". Dirty people reinforce each other and lower the bar. I had someone recently tell me i'm too clean yet that same person mouth kisses their dog. Another person said I'm being excessive and made a sandwich after putting the bins out without washing hands. Another said I worry too much then ate food off the floor.
Thank you for sharing your experience! My friend has contamination OCD but I noticed that she is quite uncomfortable talking about it so I never pressured her with questions. Unfortunately it made it difficult for me to empathize with it. But if something good has come out of this whole pandemic, is that I understand her behavior so much better and I can try to make her life a little easier. She's been doing quite well over the past few months and I'm proud of her! :)
I'm glad your friend is doing well. Sometimes it can be so tricky to talk about because a lot of people's default is to judge it as not real. But I think it's fab you're being so supportive 💛
Your friend is really lucky to have you :)
Thank you for sharing this! I’m studying psychology and just finished a work placement in an OCD clinic so hearing your experience was really interesting. You did so well and it’s amazing that you managed to sit with your anxiety more and more and go to shops again. I feel like this pandemic has definitely helped me understand OCD a little better because I find myself thinking some of the exact same thoughts (worrying about touching things and even “seeing” the germs on my hands). Hopefully that’ll help everyone be a little more empathetic!
Thank you for this video it was really interesting. I’ve got a heart condition, I have OCD too even when I went shopping before going into lockdown I never liked touching shopping baskets or shopping trolley because I just know loads of people have touched them they haven’t been cleaned . When I picked an item up in the shop I always get it from the back not the front. When I used to go out for meals I always wanted to wipe down the area I sat, it made me a bit calmer inside my head. Thank you so much for this video 💕
I'm really glad you found the video interesting. I know exactly what you mean with touching things too 💛
Thank you for sharing your experiences. We need to normalize talking about mental health. I have anxiety/panic attack and depression, but I cannot imagine contamination OCD during a pandemic. Sending you all the good vibes as the world continues to process the virus!
Thanks so much for your lovely comment!
I have been through exactly the same steps. And still struggling through this. That ketchup thing. Yesss.
I am the same. Totally understand this and it was nice to hear someone else's experiences. Even before lockdown I was cleaning my hands with a nail brush. Hope you're doing okay 🥰
Hope you are too 💛
I’m still wiping down my stuff lol not as much as before but it’s a cycle and I have dettol wipes for my car aswell with febreeze
Thank you for this video! I've been fluctuating between stages 6 and 8 throughout the pandemic so I know (at least partially) how you feel.
Thoughts that have helped me include:
* the virus can only live for three days inside the home, so anything people touch (groceries, post etc.) can be left in a cupboard somewhere untouched for three days and then be perfectly fine
* everyone understands that outdoor visits are fine (the virus lives much less time outdoors) and the weather has been reasonably kind lately
* you're not alone - the whole world is going through this, so if you have boundaries and worries, just communicate them with people and those people have no right to argue with those concerns because we're all doing our best in an unknowable situation
Thank you for using your platform to talk about mental health so sincerely and openly. #normalisingmentalhealth
I’m glad I could help to add to removing the taboo!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It’s really insightful to hear what some maybe and are experiencing right now! I’ve really feel it’s so important to respect others feelings on how they’re dealing with the pandemic. You’re not alone with wiping grocery’s down haha! My household is still wiping down grocery/store items. Sending you all the best 💛!
Thank you for sharing. I don’t have contamination OCD but my anxiety has become so much worse and I ended up having to go back to therapy (after 2 years of not having to) because I couldn’t cope and to an extent it’s helped, but it’s still very up and down
I really hope you see more up days soon 💛
Great video! Thank you for making it. I think you managed to explain things clearly!
Thank you so much!
Thank you for making me feel less alone. I have been dealing with this pretty much my whole life but it has quadrupled due to the pandemic. At this point, things have escalated so much I am no longer a functional human being. I really can't stay like this any longer, but I don't know how I'm going to do it. Do you have any advice?
You're very welcome. I'd say talking to someone could really help you, do your work offer any services where you can get some help?
@@BooksNest Unfortunately, no.
Been stuck in Stage 6 for almost a year now... Can't stop washing my groceries. Best I've managed is to move from using bleach, to using only soap and water.
If you are in UK, I use online Ocado as they pick the shopping via machine so barely touched by anyone
@@gknight2010 that's super useful to know actually! Never shopped with them before, but that could wildly reduce my grocerie anxiety. Ty for the tip!
th-cam.com/video/4DKrcpa8Z_E/w-d-xo.html
For my family it has become a rutine, but I'm the one that stills cleans even more everything that comes from outside the house because my OCD.
Just found this video and it felt almost like peer support. I also have OCD and about a year ago it was the worst that it has ever been. I would also describe have fear of contamination but I also have other aspects on top of that. Wierdly, the pandemic hasn’t hit my OCD that hard. I do have fear of having a role in someone else getting sick but not getting sick myself. Except obviously in a healthy amount. I do worry about being able to go back to a normal work day schedule since working from home has allowed me to be more flexible with my self and also not stress too much if a compulsion comes on in the middle of the day. Normally this was something that would often result in me being always late.
But for me, it is just absurd how atm I get signifigantly more anxiety from, for example, the fear that a steped in dog poop as opposed to covid.
(Yes, I do still worry about covid in a healthy amount, but Yeah).
Thank you so much for sharing. Do you have any advice for partners of people feeling what you’re feeling?
I have a question for contamination OCD people. While you are carrying out your daily cleaning rituals, such as washing the windows, scrubbing the bathroom tile, wiping the countertops, etc., do you listen to music, or talk radio, or lectures on the internet, or leave the TV on, or put in a DVD? Do you wear bluetooth headphones, or do you have speakers in every room that are connected to each other? If you don't play any media while you are cleaning, do you talk to yourself outloud? Or do you talk to yourself without your lips moving while cleaning your home?
Hi, so first off I'd say that not everyone's OCD is the same. We don't all have a daily cleaning routine, for example I don't clean my whole home on a daily basis. It's different for everyone. And we're no different from anyone else when we clean, I'll have the TV on, maybe be on the phone to pass the time, listen to an audiobook or music. Whatever really. I don't have a routine, it's just something I do because I want a clean home. Contamination OCD doesn't mean people have to have clean homes though, it's all about germs and usually external factors such as other people being ill.