Washing my hands over and over - a sign of OCD?

[ScarlettR]

Hi everyone!

So here's my story - the past year or so, I've been really obsessed with washing my hands even if they get slightly polluted. There's no deep meaning behind this - I just don't want furniture and accessories to be contaminated with whatever is on my hands, especially bodily fluids like blood. I have a fear of unknowingly spreading germs and making things unclean and unusable in a unsafe way.

I had a phase like this in 2010-2012, then it stopped, then it happened again early this year. My family have noticed and think it's odd.

I'm just worried that bodily fluids like blood and mucus might be highly contaminating and polluting.

I guess I need some advice to calm me and reassure me that I'm not doing anything wrong.

[geoff]

Hello ScarlettR, I am really sorry that this has developed once again, I've copied and pasted this for your information

'Excessive washing is a sign of OCD. ... Obsessive fear of germs or dirt and the compulsion to wash the hands over and over is one of the most common manifestations of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)'.

Anyone who has OCD, as I do, is an obsession which is persistently repeated because of about unwanted thoughts that are intrusive and cause much anxiety.

You try to ignore them or get rid of them by performing a compulsive behaviour or a ritual when you're trying to think of or do other things, you can't be blamed and you shouldn't feel as though you are alone by yourself because a large number of people suffer from this illness.

You haven't been doing anything wrong and you should never be teased or ridiculed and it's mostly caused by being anxious.

I feel sorry for you.

Geoff.

[Alexlisa]

Hello Scarlett,

I can hear you’re really struggling, so I’m glad you reached out here. As Geoff pointed out, excessive hand washing is a common sign of OCD, though it’s best to speak to your GP about it. I know it can feel intimidating to speak with a doctor about mental health, but it’s important that you be as open about what you’re experiencing as possible, so that you can get the right help. And the good news is that if it is OCD there is help available. This can be in the form of specific types of therapy with a psychologist and there are also medications available.

OCD can be a tricky beast. It can come and go, get better, then more problematic over time. I think the most important thing about getting help for OCD is that you get onto it quickly so that it doesn’t worsen and spread into other areas of your life. Because this very often happens if it’s left untreated. It’s my biggest regret about my own OCD that I didn’t get help earlier when it was limited to just hand washing. It sounds like if your family has noticed that it’s happening it probably is a big enough issue that you reach out for some help from a professional.

The way you described that feeling like you need to wash your hands sounds like my own experience. I’m very sorry this is happening to you, because I know just how hard it can be to live a ‘normal’ life.

Your GP will be able to give you a Mental Health Care Plan so that you can access a psychologist for 10 sessions per year for free. Please give it some good thought, you deserve to be not alone in this.

Please know that what you’re doing isn’t ‘wrong’. If you do have OCD, it is a real illness that you are bravely struggling with. Please don’t be too hard on yourself, I’m sure you’re doing your best, but sometimes in life we need real help.

Take care,

Alexlisa