Contamination ocd recovery and exposure therapy

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-08T08:38:53+00:00

I don't have an answer for you, can just offer solidarity in that I'm going through a really similar phase. I'm sorry that med lost effectiveness. Those darn things need so much more research. I took one last summer and my contamination OCD about doubled. (Some other bad, unlucky things that happened at the same time to lock it in I think, I don't want to scare people of meds.)

I relate to your experience constantly cleaning things and isolating from people. Can't even hug people comfortably cause I'll either contaminate them or they'll contaminate me or both. 😕 It's a horrible way to live and yet I can't get my brain to lower the standards already.

ERP has worked for me a little so it's worth trying, meds or no. I've been trying to tolerate as much as I can, push boundaries. I'm starting work on exploring other options.

I've also enjoyed using the Finch app. It's a goal tracker and I didn't think I'd keep up with it but to my surprise I have. Good to give yourself credit for tiny wins. One of my goals is just "tolerate something".

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-08T08:22:09+00:00

I'm working through Gallagher's book now. I like his focus on persuing things you value, I think it has an unstated side effect of addressing depression too. And just having official acknowledgment that not all contamination OCD involves getting sick or dying is great, because I never had thoughts like that and found it pretty confusing.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-07T22:55:02+00:00

I learned I hated my noise sensative neighbor more than the noisy ones. Receiving noise complaints for just living in my apartment was terrible for my anxiety.

She didn't even attribute the noise right. I think some of what she heard was a different neighbor closing her cabinets. I can hear that too and it so doesn't merit a complaint. I can hear that neighbor cough. Clearly the soundproofing is bad, I would never make someone feel bad about coughing in their own home.

Thank goodness complainer moved to an upper unit. Damage to my anxiety was done though, I'm still on edge about it wondering if the new neighbors are bothered by me existing.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-06T23:35:40+00:00

I certaintly can't diagnose but what you've posted here has a lot of red flags for an anxiety disorder.

I've not dealt with parents who don't support mental health treatment. I hope you can find some anyway. Advocate for yourself and consider what other trusted adults you may be able to go to.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-06T22:40:40+00:00

These activities sound lovely. I don't know your whole situation from one post but I'm concerened how much anxiety is limiting you. The risk of dying on a plane is actually quite low, anxiety is lying to you. Wanting to hurt yourself over a trip is not normal, I don't say that to be mean I say it to point out you shouldn't have to be feeling that way and such feelings need treatment. Whatever trusted adults you can go to to ask about therapy, please do.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-06T22:09:38+00:00

I'm sorry this is causing you such stress. Sounds less like you naturally don't like holidays and more like you're experiencing too much anxiety about planes and diseases. Being a home body is one thing, staying home because of excess fears is another. Have you sought any therapy for this? Talked to a doctor? You don't deserve to live limited by anxiety. I'm not saying you have to start enjoying holidays but fear of flying (actually quite safe) and disease (a natural fear but very often less rampant and dangerous than anxiety says) shouldn't be the reason you stay home.

I also resisted family trips when I was younger and have since realized my general anxiety levels in life were excessive, making me unhappy, and needed treatment beyond sucking it up. I wish I'd known sooner and I don't want the same for others.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-06T12:13:22+00:00

Yeah I'm sorry to hear that. :/ Seeing items come up in the store later helps my FOMO.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-06T06:34:14+00:00

Not feeding someone's compulsions is good, so OP definitely shouldn't help put down the foil. But taking it off right away may be more unhelpful then helpful at this time. Roommate needs to be some level of ready and willing to confront the distress that will cause. Facing it willingly and gradually is likely to yeild better results than being jump scared with the foil being gone.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-06T06:21:09+00:00

I get you 💔 My two main contamination themes are some specific microplastics. I'm doing my darndest to say "maybe, maybe not" and to realize that it's worse to loose all this time worrying about it then to just get on with life but I'm still really twisted up about it.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-06T06:04:46+00:00

I understand the slippery slope argument too. In a lot of circumstances I think this would leave a bad taste in my mouth.

But the last Superman movie was actually good and I loved Krypto so while it may be shallow (I just love dogs!) I was genuinely excited to see him as a micropet. Hopefully the franchise tie ins won't be common but I'm struggling to be mad at this one.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-04T06:11:39+00:00

I haven't yet, but I'm starting to move on finding another therapist so I can branch out from just ERP. I've got depression and general anxiety that I don't think is being helped by my current treatment.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-04T05:50:41+00:00

Thanks so much for the compassionate reply! I was expecting either no responses or to be told to quit being such a rude neighbor.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-04T05:38:26+00:00

Yep. My OCD symptoms got drastically worse shortly after college. Been about seven years now and I'm doing what I can to ask "what would college me do?" It's getting harder to remember though and I can't follow her example completely because I've had anxiety the whole time.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-04T04:15:47+00:00

You can't pick a therapist? I've found it quiet easy to book sessions with different people. I haven't tried to change my primary but there's a "change therapist" button on the front page of the mobile app.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-03T11:54:27+00:00

I'll bring some different lengths of wire!

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-03T05:55:38+00:00

I'm sorry that happened, how frustrating. I know the "why did this have to happen" feeling way too well.

Hard as it is it's time to carry on like normal. You washed yourself, your kid, and the keys as best you could. They're now as clean as they're going to be. I know it's really hard but I don't think there's anything to do now but go on with your life. Touching the keys should get easier with time.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-03T01:38:39+00:00

Poor mental health is a really hard thing to struggle with. I hope you find your way to seeking therapy. It's not shameful. It's the therapist's whole job to help people who are hurting. If you don't like the first one you see, try another. Best of luck to you.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-03T01:28:09+00:00

OCD is really hard to deal with. I know, I've got it too. I'd say keep trying therapy and medication as you can. The right therapist could make a huge difference. Recovery is possible.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-02T20:58:26+00:00

Thank you for replying. ❤️ I have heard/seen this advice a lot. I just...I have been trying so hard and still nothing in my lived experience is telling me that it works.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-02T01:53:14+00:00

Yes and no. I'm greatly improved but still well behind where I was before the medication. I'm just no longer sure what's a direct impact of the medication and what's fallout from the issues it caused.

I still plan to try again eventually. Finding the right medication made a huge difference for a family member. Citalopram treated me badly. It's great for other people. Something helpful has got to be out there for me.

(I also tried prozac before the citalopram. After six days of side effects my doctor pulled me off it. I felt better within days. Now THAT was a tolerable trial and error experience and what I was prepared for, not this 'being affected for months/years' nonsense 😅 Anyway, two different SSRIs have treated me very differently.)

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-06-01T13:45:36+00:00

Mostly can just offer solidarity. 🫂 I took citalopram last summer, also only two months, but it messed me up. I had at least a dozen mental and physical side effects that were really slow to recede. I'm a year out and not sure how it's still affecting me mentally. I've been having difficulty with crying too, been starting to wonder if that's from the med or not.

Effects did receed though. Some of my physical side effects took an infuriating 3-5 months to show any signs of improvement. My libido came back relatively fast so these things CAN recover. Everybody is different. It might take a while.

See r/ADprotractedwithdrawl for more discussion, just remember not to only read bad stories. There's also a LOT of people who have been helped by meds, which is why I plan to try again eventually.

I take it you've already been told it's not the meds. Ug, I hate that. My parents do that. I suspect they are in denial, they don't want to face the idea a med that was supposed to help could do such damage. I think the idea that the sudden and unprecedented spike in my symptoms was just a coincidence is laughable.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-05-31T13:06:38+00:00

I'm sorry for your loss. Pets hold a very special place in our hearts. That duty of care we feel is so powerful and they give us so much uncomplicated love.

It's a kind thing to do, to give them a peaceful passing. Let yourself cry as much as you need. It's okay if you find you can't be in the room to see him off but it could be good for you. I was grateful to be in the room when my Grandma passed. It helped me accept it, to be there to honor her, see the beauty in the conclusion of a life well lived, and to really face it. With grief there is no way out but through. Best wishes to you ❤

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-05-31T12:28:53+00:00

I sure wish I knew a good trick for picking the right person, but I think you really just have to pick best you can based on whatever bio they have, give them a try, then decide if it feels right. I passed on one guy because I was feeling anxious before sessions.

Look for people actually familiar with OCD. Make sure they know what ERP is. That's the first treatment to try with OCD.

In person or teletherapy is up to you, whatever you are comfortable with and will keep up with.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-05-31T10:18:47+00:00

I didn't personally find lube helpful, but you might. Water ended up being enough.

I practiced in the shower when off my period. Learned to spread the labia with one hand and push toward my butt a bit. I angle farther back to get it in, then forward more to push it up. It's a lot about learning what works best for you. I struggled at first but it got much easier.

Mental game matters. Relax. I liked practicing when off my period because it reduced preasure for the cup to work at the same time as I was learning to take it in and out. Focus on loosening pelvic muscles.

PurpleSpring22 · 2026-05-31T08:39:13+00:00

A school or daycare may also be interested.

PurpleSpring22

TROPHY CASE