Health Anxiety and Contamination OCD

[Willow Jude]

Hey everyone,

Last year I developed some mild chronic health conditions that give me symptoms similar to a weak cold, and as they went undiagnosed for a long time, they ended up having a big impact on me (many COVID tests, frequent days off work, not being able to participate in my hobbies, not socialising, etc.). As a result, I became so worried about getting sick that I developed health anxiety and contamination OCD (in addition to existing social anxiety and depression). Even though I now have a diagnosis for my health issues, I still struggle when I feel like I am at risk of getting sick or when I have any symptoms/body sensations that could indicate some kind of illness. I am lucky that my mental illnesses aren’t overwhelmingly difficult to deal with on a day-to-day basis, but there are times when specific situations can lead to me feeling very low, and I also acknowledge that the habits I rely on to avoid getting sick (e.g. declining social invitations, being suspicious of those around me, limiting the role/s I can do within my job, etc.) might not be sustainable or might lead to me feeling worse. I was hoping someone out there might be able to relate or at least just send some good vibes my way.

Thanks,
Willow Jude

[Petal22]

Hi Willow Jude,

Sorry your worry has began to impact you…..

I had severe anxiety OCD, it was very debilitating and the anxiety was intense..

I seeked professional help for my condition from seeing a gp through to seeing a psychiatrist and clinical phycologist, this then led me to a OCD clinic that specialised in OCD…, I was taught many strategies for managing my OCD……. I no longer do compulsions…. I am now free of its grips and have been recovered for 4 years now going strong…..

have you had any therapy for your OCD? I did meta cognitive therapy it was the best thing I ever did …. I highly recommend it….

if I can recover there is hope you can too….

im here to chat to you

[geoff]

Hello Willow Jude, and a warm welcome to the forums and thanks Petal for replying.

Contamination OCD is an illness where people have a fear of contracting an illness or spreading germs which causes you to stress and create anxiety and makes you do obsessions and compulsive actions that not another person who doesn't have this illness have to perform.

I also have OCD and had it for a very long time and understand exactly what you're saying and know that as long as COVID has been around, will be a terrible nuisance for anybody suffering from OCD and will not only defer people from doing what they are allowed to do but also prohibit them from going that extra step once permitted.

Along with this illness, you may also be having 'intrusive thoughts' which to you, make your situation worse and intensifies thoughts you only wished you weren't actually happening.

Can you please type this in the top search bar or in your browser bar and many different comments will appear, this may be helpful for you to read and please ask any question you would like to know an answer to, there will be many people able to help you.

My best.

Geoff.