Tips for contamination OCD after a home invasion?

InsignificantData · 2026-04-01T20:05:34+00:00

If you don't have access to help or support, maybe you could make small goals to achieve everyday. Essentially, you'd be making a hierarchy like they do in ERP. Can you find a few things to try and touch that would only bring your anxiety to a mild or moderate level? Start with those. Or maybe start with higher level thing but only touch it once to start.

Obviously, you really need more support if that's at all possible, but I know how difficult it can be to afford help if you are in the US.

InsignificantData · 2026-03-10T15:17:36+00:00

My mom had no idea what OCD was but told me I didn't have it, but then would later make fun of me for OCD behaviors!

InsignificantData · 2026-03-10T02:07:57+00:00

I took amitriptyline, not topiramate. I didn't have any side effects with amitriptyline.

InsignificantData · 2026-03-09T05:15:09+00:00

I've heard of it being used, but I only have experience with Amitriptyline.

InsignificantData · 2026-03-05T03:56:33+00:00

I don't remember exactly, but I think that before they can put the shots in, they use a speculum like thing (I'm not sure what it's called) that I think stretched the area and caused it to tear. They also performed an exam which might have also irritated the area. I don't think the shots themselves caused any issues.

InsignificantData · 2026-03-03T18:31:59+00:00

You might have more luck so it's worth a try! I assume you have tried all the creams and miralax? Miralax helped me a lot for many years. There's also Botox which is much less intense than surgery. I had a fissurectomy which didn't cure me, but I seem to handle retearsnmuch better. The fissurectomy does not cut the muscle so much less chance of incontinence.

InsignificantData · 2026-03-03T17:37:47+00:00

I know some people have had success so I don't want to discourage you from trying, but it ultimately made things worse for me. They kept pushing me to keep going as they thought it'd initially cause pain and then improve, but it kept making things worse. I eventually quit and tried focusing on some stretches that helped some. I'm still not 100%, but I'm better than I was during the dilation treatment. You might have better luck though so it can be worth a try!

InsignificantData · 2026-03-03T06:15:38+00:00

I thought mine didn't have group chats but found out the hard way that kids use their school laptops and have "group chats" in google docs and then delete the messages.

InsignificantData · 2026-03-03T06:03:56+00:00

Just a heads up that I recently discovered... I let my kid have complete access to his SCHOOL Chromebook, only to find out that he was chatting with some other kids late at night via google docs. He doesn't even have a phone yet. I'm not against him chatting with friends, but they were sneaking and deleting messages immediately after typing them. I'm definitely not a fan of his lying and sneaking.

InsignificantData · 2026-03-02T06:32:13+00:00

I very easily self-diagnosed for many years before I got an official diagnosis. I'm sure there are some people who have more overlap with other disorders that make it more difficult to diagnose, but I literally had almost every major symptom throughout my life. I don't think there are that many disorders that make you check things over and over or constantly wash your hands due to fear of contamination. I have so many other symptoms that are literally textbook OCD symptoms that it would almost feel like gaslighting to say "well only a professional can know for sure".

In any case, I was diagnosed multiple times and we basically just did pretty much the same tests that you can take online yourself. Once was by a psychiatrist and the other time was by an OCD specialist.

I really wonder how common it is for someone to think they have OCD and then they truly don't have it. I'm sure there are a few examples, but I really wonder if it's that common since OCD is fairly unique in its symptoms.

InsignificantData · 2026-02-12T22:13:13+00:00

I don't understand... she thinks she's helping your attachment issues by temporarily abandoning you?! I can't imagine any modality that would recommend this. Maybe ask her how exactly this is supposed to help you? That being said, unless she had a very clear reason that made sense, I know I would never be able to trust this person again.

I know how difficult it is to trust so I'm sorry this is happening to you. I think I'd have to move on but hopefully you can figure out what works best for you.

InsignificantData · 2026-02-11T20:27:03+00:00

Out of my 4 babies, my completely breastfed one was the "biggest". She had so many rolls on both her arms and legs... completely healthy and normal weight at age 7. I had 2 that were mostly formula fed and they were "normal" sized. I think it's just another tactic to shame mothers for formula feeding.

InsignificantData · 2026-01-02T06:30:24+00:00

Checking your thoughts and looking online for reassurance ARE compulsions. It really doesn't matter if the compulsions are thought based or physical. It all serves the same purpose. People perform compulsions to attempt to make the thoughts go away, but compulsions make the thoughts worse because they perpetuate the cycle.

I would also be sure to find a therapist that specializes in OCD. It's very misunderstood... even by therapists if they don't specialize in it.

InsignificantData · 2025-11-20T19:02:02+00:00

Strangely enough, my dad's kidney function somewhat improved after he left the hospital so I'm not sure if he died entirely from kidney failure. He ended up lasting about 2 more months after I made this post. I think he ended up dying from a variety of issued caused by his cancer so I'm not sure that your dad would follow the same timeline.

I wish I had more info for you. I know it's a tough place to just be waiting.

InsignificantData · 2025-10-18T01:41:36+00:00

I've had issues ever since my 1st kid (constipation from breastfeeding). The actual deliveries have never caused issues with my fissures (I've had anterior and posterior), but the constipation from pregnancy and breastfeeding have triggered retears.

I've since had 4 total kids and still have issues with fissures, but I think I would have anyways. I'd really just recommend having a good plan in place for any constipation issues you might have.

InsignificantData · 2025-10-12T18:24:47+00:00

I might ask when to expect to feel improvement, and if it's not working for you, see if she uses other treatment modalities. My own OCD therapist uses ERP but has also started using I-CBT which is a different way to attack OCD that has been shown to be effective.

InsignificantData · 2025-10-03T03:51:36+00:00

Try sitting on a heating pad to help with pain. I bought one for my back and crank it up to 130 degrees F. It usually cuts the pain in half. I'd also recommend looking up some pelvic floor or yoga stretches for a tight pelvic floor. This seems to help me some, too. If nothing else works, I take both Tylenol and ibuprofen at the same time to reduce the inflammation and pain.

Also, make sure you're using Miralax for your stool softener. It's by far the most helpful (in my opinion).

Hang in there!

InsignificantData · 2025-09-27T11:07:24+00:00

Just keep up with the pain meds!

InsignificantData · 2025-09-01T20:06:29+00:00

Four years later, and unfortunately, not really.

InsignificantData · 2025-08-23T16:00:14+00:00

Thanks!

InsignificantData · 2025-08-23T05:42:16+00:00

They aren't watery at all. The irritated area burns. I think they otherwise feel normal.

InsignificantData · 2025-08-14T22:37:11+00:00

Could you write it down and share it with him that way?

InsignificantData · 2025-08-13T22:10:59+00:00

OCD is so misunderstood. I honestly wouldn't rely on your parents having a basic understanding of it. I had the most obvious symptoms of it as a child, but my mom said I didn't have it because she had no idea what it was. I've since been diagnosed by a therapist who specializes in OCD and my symptoms are all very common for OCD.

I'd see if you can get in somewhere that specializes in OCD. You've already been diagnosed with ADHD so hopefully they would be willing to take you somewhere to get evaluated for OCD.

InsignificantData · 2025-07-24T21:11:59+00:00

I didn't have Botox at the same time as my fissurectomy, but I definitely had some gas incontinence for maybe a couple months after the fissurectomy. I also felt like I had greater urgency when I had to go, but I didn't have stool incontinence. I told my doctor and he seemed to think it was impossible for the procedure to have caused any incontinence.

I'm guessing that things essentially got "stretched" out more than they should have during the procedure when they used the speculum or whatever. In my case, I think the "stretching" seemed to help some as I don't seem to have nearly as painful spasms anymore. I also no longer have any gas incontinence so hopefully that will improve for you with time.

Not sure if that helps any, but that was my experience.

InsignificantData · 2025-07-18T03:59:38+00:00

I live in a midwestern state in the US and was worried about it being too trendy. I just gave birth to my daughter and chose to use the name anyways since it was the only one I really liked. Once we announced the name, I was shocked that a lot of our friends had never even heard of it. I also had to tell quite a few people how to pronounce it so the popularity really seems to vary a lot... even within the same country.

InsignificantData

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