OCD Struggles (Contamination OCD)

[kylet3]

Hi All,

I figured I would be open since this is a pretty good space to share and gather thoughts. I'm someone who has always had issue with germs, and people being sick (a large history of multiple sinus infections, surgery, issues, allergies and asthma doesn't help), but in the last year and a half it's been ugly and has turned into a rather bad form of what's called contamination OCD. I'm a classic case including things like compulsive hand-washing, checking with others (reassurance), lysol wiping my desk at work constantly, hand sanitizing, etc. I've started with a registered psychologist and we started something called ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) which basically means that I have to put myself in situations where we try and break the cycle of compulsions. Yesterday was putting my hands on a photocopier (prime spot for germs), touching it all over the place, then taking a tissue, wiping the surface of the photocopier, holding the tissue in my hands, and then having to touch my clothes and parts of my face... and then I had to wait at least an hour before washing my hands (I still had yet to eat supper at that point) and while of course I have since washed, I don't know if my risk of getting sick has gone up or down but even so, I still feel "dirty" as it were. I know ERP treatment is difficult, and it's going to be another 12-13 weeks of these sessions...

Does anyone else struggle with this type of OCD? Have you gone through the same treatments? Worked with a registered psychologist? I'm having a tough time right now because this is only the first test, and I'm hoping it gets better, but if anyone is out there and can relate their struggles? I'd like to know what it's like. I'd like to avoid going the medication route because I've been on the SSRI (cipralex) that they prescribed, I gained 40 lbs and the struggle to get off the drug was . If anyone is out there I'd like to hear from you.

Cheers,

 

[Twilight1]

I wish I had pearls of wisdom for you from my own experiences but all I can say is trust in the process for your treatment. (I am an addiction counsellor so am on the other side of aiding people in their recovery)

Exposure therapy truly does help.

I am sure there are some suport groups available? Have you looked into a local peer support service? It might help with hearing other's experiencess and help with instilling hope.

All the best!!

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

I don't know from personal experience, but I've also heard that the exposure therapy really can help. I also wanted to add that you should be seriously proud of how well you got through that first session (with the photocopier). You totally did it!

 

[Habs]

I don't have the same type of OCD, but I have OCD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I started seeing a therapist on the advice of my doctor after my symptoms started coming out as physical ailments - i.e., stomach discomfort, chest pain, headaches, etc. He ran lots of tests, found nothing, and suggested I might be feeling some stress.
My therapist discussed different options with me and we decided on exposure therapy. It was TERRIFYING. She also made me keep a journal, and she gave me exposure exercises to do on my own at home. It totally worked and after only 10 sessions, I found I was able to deal with situations and cope with life so much better. I even was able to stop seeing my therapist and only go back for a "tune-up" once a year or so, if I need to.

Good luck, Kyle! It's a tough road but you can do it!

 

[judiz]

My husband suffered from severe OCD. You are doing the right thing by starting ERP which is the best treatment. There are also medications which can help lessen the symptoms which will not cause weight gain.

There are two hospitals which specialize in treatment of OCD. One is McLean Hosptial in Massachusetts and the other is Rogers Hospital in Wisconsin. My husband was inpatient at both.

There is a very good OCD support group on Facebook, if anyone is interested please PM me for the information.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Good luck with your treatment.

 

[kylet3]

My husband suffered from severe OCD. You are doing the right thing by starting ERP which is the best treatment. There are also medications which can help lessen the symptoms which will not cause weight gain.

There are two hospitals which specialize in treatment of OCD. One is McLean Hosptial in Massachusetts and the other is Rogers Hospital in Wisconsin. My husband was inpatient at both.

There is a very good OCD support group on Facebook, if anyone is interested please PM me for the information.

Wow, that's very intense, I'm in Canada, but it's good to know that those places exist and there is a specialized treatment. From what I've seen the medications that are used seem to be SSRI's, which I was on for years in the past and I would prefer not to go down that road again for myself personally. That's just for me though. I'm day two past and it's a bit better than yesterday. It's the practicing certain things (touching the photocopier with my finger tips, and not lysol wiping my desk for a week that is difficult, I'm doing it, but I don't feel great about it at the moment). I'm hoping with time things get easier, but this treatment is hard. I knew it was going to be, but I'm going to try and work through it. Tough as it is.

 

[Aceon6]

@kylet3 It sounds like you are doing great. I have family experience and the exposure therapy helped a lot. Family member's therapist worked really hard on being able to react differently to real vs. perceived issues with the need to wash/wipe/clean and it's made life so much easier for my relative.

 

[Japanfan]

Hang in there kylet 3. Sounds like you are doing well and being very courageous.

I have a phobia of snakes. If I had to do exposure therapy to deal with it, I think the exposure might give me a heart attack.