OCD Action

daisychain7
Member

I have had OCD for a while now but over the past week my obsessions concerning water seem to have become more prominent. I have always (I suppose) "unconsciously" had worries about water contamination resulting in me leaving the shower running 10 minutes before I get in it, so the water that hit my body isn't contaminated, filling a glass with water at least 3 times before actually drinking it, for the same reason and also reboiling the kettle if I don't make a drink straight away, even if the water is still at full boiling temperature. Over the past week the thoughts about contamination have become more "conscious" and I keep getting the urge to run the taps to get rid of water contamination, to the point where I have felt very stressed and found it emotionally hard to travel and work. The only trigger that I can think of is that I've recently started a new job in an office where we have a kettle and my office mate told me that I shouldn't keep boiling the kettle (which upset me), also I'm using water that doesn't come from my own home (I have a thing about that too, I think that water that's not from my own home has more of a chance of being contaminated because I'm not the only person who uses the water).

I was wondering whether any of you have similar issues or any tips on how to overcome this problem?

Sun Feb 12 2012 23:32:38 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Hiya Daisy -

that's a real burden that you suffer from. OCD is irrational, and it is able to overrule our own attempts at rationally analyzing a situation. We often know very well that what we are doing (in terms of 'making sure') is not necessary, but OCD makes us perform these compulsive acts, and also tells us: if you don't do them, you're going to get ill, perhaps even die. But OCD is a bully and a liar (I guess that is why people with OCD, centuries ago, were seen as being possessed by an evil spirit - some inner tormentor, or terrorist if you will; come to think of it, that idea comes across as being quite apt in metaphorical terms. But of course there was no cure way back then.)

I have a question for you: did the following thought cross your mind: hey, others are much more 'loose' in their dealings with water, for cooking and washing purposes, and yet they don't get ill, how is that? And if so, did you try to apply it to your own activities with water? I am curious, because it would be interesting to know how such a comparison gets assessed by yourself.

Feel always free to PM me, in delicate matters. We're here for support and companionship.

Best from a grey and dull Holland, Cuthbert.

Mon Feb 13 2012 9:21:36 #
daisychain7
Member

Hi, thanks for the response, I've only just seen this as I was waiting for an email alert to tell me that I'd got a response, I'm guessing this forum doesn't work in that way.

To answer your question: I rationalise other people as not being effected by the water because their immune systems are more powerful than mine, my immune system is weak, I'm more likely to get effected by this "contaminated" water.

Mon Feb 13 2012 20:18:19 #
Mike
Member

To fix this: drink water straight from the tap, no matter how anxious it makes you. Only boil water if the recipe calls for it.

Mon Feb 13 2012 21:40:57 #
Nimrod
Key Master

Hi, thanks for the response, I've only just seen this as I was waiting for an email alert to tell me that I'd got a response, I'm guessing this forum doesn't work in that way.

You can get a notification via an RSS feed - click on "RSS feed for this topic" at the bottom left of the thread just above "Reply".

Nimrod

Mon Feb 13 2012 22:50:54 #
daisychain7
Member

@Mike - Thanks, I will try that but it's probably easier said than done. Do you have worries that are the same or similar?

@Nimrod - Thanks for that

Mon Feb 13 2012 23:23:04 #
Mike
Member

No, my anxiety is always about failure with the opposite sex.

Tue Feb 14 2012 0:03:11 #
daisychain7
Member

@Mike - I'm sorry to hear that. If there are ever any delicate matters that you want to talk about do not hesitate to send me a private message on here. It's always good to make friends who suffer with similar problems.

Tue Feb 14 2012 19:24:44 #
Mike
Member

Thanks, I really appreciate it. Although I find that when the anxiety is low, I never naturally need to seek reassurance from others; it's only when the anxiety is high that I feel the need to do this. So I take the conservative position of assuming that if I feel that I need to talk about it with someone, it's probably because of the OCD, and I avoid doing it. I always regret it if I give in to these urges because once the anxiety dies down I feel better, and I realize that my behavior was compulsive.

Thanks again, though (and no guarantee I'll never take you up on your offer, regardless of what I said above).

Tue Feb 14 2012 22:05:22 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Daisy, Hi Mike, it isn't easy is it? I too have a thing about water. We have a filter jug in our fridge, and I try to prevent it touching the tap, as if we'd have legoinellas (However you spell the damn word!) disease in our kitchen. I used to work in a hospital where the taps were run for a given amount of time, at regular intervals to prevent the buildup of any germs. That is the reason the water is so hot in hospitals, I guess that the cost of waste hot water is less than the trouble caused if one person in a million should fall prey to any illness while in hospital!
I too struggle with all this stuff. I can write with confidence, but if my clothes should touch the toilet, well I'm a nervous wreck! It isn't easy, but I'm confident we'll get there! (Wherever there is of course!) Maybe if we tried less hard?
Wannabe

Thu Feb 16 2012 21:16:39 #
daisychain7
Member

Hi Wannabe

Thanks for your wonderful response. Do you have any helpful advice and tips for overcoming this problem?

Sat Feb 18 2012 22:28:12 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Daisy... Thank you too for your input on the thread too, it helps me to cope, just knowing that I'm not on my own with it. To be honest, I'm supposed to be writing about it... I've tried also reading some of the great books that are available. I try to go with the idea that water is safe in itself. We are defended, and so is eveyone else. As Mike says, unless the recipe calls for it, just drink the water from the tap. It HAS to be okay... The worst scenario is that your body will reject it, and you'll vomit it out of your system, but that isn't very likely, and probably never happened before the OCD took hold. I think back to my childhood, when I used to try and get downstairs before the toilet stopped flushing... So much for the washing of hands, yet I was rarely, if ever, ill. Not that I can remember anyway. We're in this together...
Wannabe

Sun Feb 19 2012 17:02:46 #
daisychain7
Member

Hi,

Thanks for your response. I like your attitude towards OCD. I've been reading through a book called "Overcoming OCD" and I'm going to try and overcome my problems (the water contamination worries isn't the only element of my OCD, I have severe worries of being unprofessional in the workplace amongst other things, perhaps I will tell you more if you're interested).

The advice that both you and Mike have given to me relates to exposure. I think that this would be the most helpful procedure to take in order to overcome water contamination worries. I also currently have plans for what procedures I am going to take for my professional boundaries worries.

Sun Feb 19 2012 17:18:54 #
Tess
Member

Wannabe, I used to have to get back downstairs before the toilet finished flushing too! I also used to have to check every room upstairs before I could get into bed, under the beds, behind the doors, inside the wardrobes, up the chimneys, in fact absolutely anywhere a very thin midget might manage to hide - and once one room was checked I had to do the others whilst constantly watching the ones which had already been checked to make sure no-one crept in while my back was turned - and all in complete silence because I was too embarrased and frightened to tell anyone. My nan used to cook a midday meal and mine was left to keep hot on top of the coal boiler until I got home from school - all those bacteria multiplying and then eating it straight after the rush up the stairs to the toilet and down before it finished flushing without even a thought of hand washing. Mind you I've made up for the lack of hand washing since!

Sun Feb 19 2012 18:22:03 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Daisy, The exposure needs to be gradual, I think... Especially for me... I sort of look at the tap first, get used to how it looks. I try to come to terms with it not being perfectly clean, cos it never is. We don't need to drink antibacterials, cos they would damage our existing defences. We have acid in our stomachs to dissolve germs, and that has served us since we were babies... Eventually you get to holding a glass full of the water, and when you feel ready, drinking it. But you must do it when you are ready, not before, cos it could make you feel ill from the fear... I try to do some of these things, but I sure do wish it was a lot easier...
Wannabe

Sun Feb 19 2012 18:22:55 #
daisychain7
Member

I also think it's a good idea to have gradual exposure, otherwise it would cause too much anxiety. I'll let you know how I get on

Sun Feb 19 2012 22:19:35 #

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