Obviously, washers go through large amounts of soap and paper towels (used in preference to cloth towels which can only be used once and create laundry). Its not clear why this is the case. So, the urge to do compulsions continues to go up over time while the obsessive fear of blood never abates (and actually worsens over the same period of time). The answer is a combination of cognitive and behavioral treatment strategies that together define cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). DOI: Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. My current situation: I let out some gas, but it was the type where it sometimes makes you check your underpants for "just in case". To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we: We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Tips for helping someone you love with contamination OCD, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Getting Over OCD: A 10- Step Workbook for Taking Back Your Life, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8057190/, jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2614194, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7691644/, new.ejpsy.eg.net/article.asp?issn=1110-1105;year=2018;volume=39;issue=3;spage=140;epage=149;aulast=Michael, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Screening Quiz, How to Support a Child with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Podcast: NHL Goalie with OCD & Anxiety Featuring Corey Hirsch, OCD and Multiple Sclerosis (MS): What to Know, How to Support a Loved One with OCD: 7 Ways. That said, many people develop OCD for no clear reason. You also describe your obsessive thoughts and your compulsive behaviors to your therapist. You need to start looking at bodily fluids without the disgust. Common Contamination OCD obsessions: Fear of getting AIDs or other serious diseases. Although not a replacement for therapy or medication (if needed), self-care strategies can be helpful for people with OCD. "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental illness that consists of unwanted intrusive thoughts that cause high levels of anxiety followed by compulsive behaviors performed in an attempt to temporarily relieve the anxiety. Take time to decompress and reach out for help if you need it. Understanding Contamination OCD in All Its Forms OCD can revolve around one or more themes, or major areas of focus. Both are treatable. Generally, contamination OCD is associated with things like dirt, bacteria, or viruses, but any substance can become the focus of contamination fearsincluding bodily fluids, chemicals, or other . a red mark on a wall), Checking for blood or for cuts in the skin (on self or others), Reassurance seeking online (or elsewhere) regarding blood-borne illnesses and how they are contracted, Reassurance seeking from others that they have not come in contact with blood, Mental rituals, such as mentally retracing what could have touched what or mentally repeating reassuring statements, Scrutinizing the behavior of dentists, doctors or any other professionals who may be exposed to blood (yours or others), There are no documented cases of contracting HIV through environmental contact (i.e., touching infected blood), There are essentially only two ways to get HIV the use of shared hypodermic needles in which blood from one person is literally extracted and put into the bloodstream of another person, and unprotected sex with an infected person in which semen or vaginal secretions are essentially pushed into the bloodstream of another person through tears in the skin of the mouth, vagina, anus, or penis (other ways of contracting it include transmission from pregnant mother to fetus and transfusions of infected blood [which is no longer an issue due to testing standards]). They can disrupt a persons social, academic, or professional life. Counting may also be part of a washing ritual to ensure that it has been done long enough period, or a certain number of times. These dangers were invisible, undetectable, and could remain dormant for months after the initial contamination, making them difficult to avoid through simple cause-and-effect learning. It is not unusual for them to wash their hands fifty or more times per day. The chain of thought typically goes something like this: I must be certain that I did not get any blood on me. Although a few different kinds of therapy can be used to treat OCD, a kind of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), called exposure and response prevention (ERP), is particularly effective. Contamination OCD usually revolves around the fear of dirt, germs, and illnesses. There has been some kind of accident, an act of violence, or a sickness that brought the blood out of its home in the body and into your presence. The Center for OCD and Anxiety | Sheppard Pratt Contamination OCD | Intrusive Thoughts If your loved one lives with OCD, remember to take care of yourself, too. On the surface, the contamination fears associated with OCD dont seem to be a very complicated subject. Support Group. OCD sufferers can feel alienated by their disorder, or even find themselves judged by others. Exposure with response prevention works by bringing up the unwanted thought (through exposure to triggers) and practicing resisting the compulsive response. Their hands often become bright red and chapped with cracked and bleeding skin. When a person comes in contact with something they feel is contaminated, they have an opportunity to stop and take a look at what is going on inside. Living with OCD comes with a range of daily challenges. American Psychiatric Association. People may even fear that theyre contaminating others. It also leads to resentment and fighting, as family members feel increasingly imposed upon and their lives become limited. You shouldnt stop taking your medication suddenly, because in some cases it can cause: Your doctor may recommend deep brain stimulation (DBS) if more conservative treatment methods arent working for you. Showers can take an hour or longer, and in severe situations can last as long as eight hours. What I mean by this is that I have intrusive thoughts about contaminating other people with bodily fluids such as saliva, blood or even anal secretions. If the OCD demands certainty and certainty is unavailable, then why would I certainly avoid sharing a needle but not certainly avoid hugging a person who looks like they might have once shared a needle? Being sick could kill you, so anything disgusting must be treated as a fatal danger. 2nd edition. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health issue in which the person suffering from it experiences unwanted intrusive thoughts and engages in repeated behaviors aimed at getting certainty that the thoughts won't come true. If OCD wont let you draw the line with rational thinking, then how are you supposed to choose to ever draw the line? bottom of shoes), Avoidance of people associated (accurately or inaccurately) with blood contact or blood-related illnesses (i.e. Contamination OCD can also include the fear of more abstract contaminants like thoughts, words, or images that you perceive to be immoral or bad luck. Similarly, if a thought about blood is present in the mind, mindfulness enables you to see it for what it is, a thought about blood. It can also include such things as: This list is by no means complete. If you have or think you may have this condition, consider looking for a therapist who is experienced in treating OCD. Doctors, psychiatrists, and psychologists have found a number of treatments that can decrease your symptoms and improve your daily functioning. Fear that someone you love will die from germs. The virus is actually pretty fascinating. These intrusive thoughts cause the person serious anxiety and distress, which they try to relieve with compulsive behavior, like excessive washing or avoiding crowded spaces. Research says inflammation and life stress may connect these conditions. Both treatments together are often more effective than either one alone. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. Yet OCD creates the same problem. Use this brief screening measure to help you determine if you might need to see a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment of OCD. You may feel stressed in circumstances where you feel out of control or uncertain. American Psychiatric Association. Researchers are finding differences in the brain structures of people with OCD, along with differences in how their brain functions. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a maladaptive reaction to these ordinary but unpleasant experiences of disgust, discomfort, and unease. I have known clients to burn their clothes, spend hours showering, hours checking their body for cuts, abandon groceries in the parking lot of the supermarket, abandon entire locations (including their own home) for fear of blood contamination. There is recovery though, and many have achieved it. In cases of obsessions regarding contamination, many people with OCD will engage in ceremonial hand washing, bathing, or grooming techniques. One unusual belief sufferers have is that very small amounts of contaminants can cover very large areas. Some dangers, like predators or harsh weather, were easy to recognize, and our ancestors evolved straightforward behaviors to manage themsuch as the fight or flight response. doctors, hairdressers, homeless people, gay people), Avoidance of contact with people in general (i.e. Basic self-care, like sleeping adequately and eating a balanced diet, can be helpful. Contamination OCD is one of the most common subtypes of OCD. Beyond therapy, you also might benefit from prescription medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Research suggests that it can affect up to 46% of people with OCD. These are called OCD themes.. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. For example, someone who has a contamination obsession fear of germs or bodily fluids may avoid public restrooms. OCD Avoidance: Signs, Treatment and Coping Strategies - Psych Central OCD produces serious anxiety. About 2 percent of the general population has OCD. For example, you might experience intrusive thoughts about having diarrhea in public. Poor sleep and diet can worsen your mood, which can increase your stress levels and OCD symptoms. When it comes to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), preoccupations differ from person to person: one person might have obsessions around car accidents, another might have obsessions around fires or natural disasters, while others might have obsessions about germs and cleanliness. It's also common to have more than one specific phobia. You might use certain washing or cleaning rituals to get rid of those thoughts. Protection: Wearing gloves or using paper towels to try and stop germs from touching your skin. People may believe that by cleaning objects or spaces in a specific order or with a particular frequency, they can avoid or recover from contamination or infection. Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Advances in diagnosis and treatment. Talk therapy is one of the most common and effective treatments for OCD. I have even worked with several people who poured straight bleach on their hands and bodies, resulting in chemical burns. Perhaps the most visible of all OCD symptoms are those related to the fear of disease. Sometimes OCD goes into remission on its own, especially if it initially appears during childhood. As with other bodily fluids, this gelatinous mess of glandular secretions, sugar, and sperm appears to take on magical properties once it leaves the body, resulting in severe OCD behaviors that can meaningfully impair one's quality of life. Watching someone close to you in distress can cause you distress, too. Are you willing to sacrifice being social because you might encounter a triggering person? OCD that focuses on germs and cleanliness is called contamination OCD. People commonly associate fears of germs and contamination with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), often with images of someone feverishly using hand sanitizer and Lysol to quell their fears. Not everyone with OCD needs SSRIs in order to improve, though. Other common compulsions include repeating mantras, prayers, or safety words to ward off danger or reduce anxiety. The types of contamination that can be spread to others are about the same as those that trouble other sufferers. This disgust may be an evolutionary necessity. From my own experience, I would guess that the fear of certain illnesses may still the leader. They're normal, relatively benign and unharmful and no more dirty than getting some orange juice on your sheets and letting it dry. Life is dangerous and funny and interesting and beautiful. This type of help, of course, doesnt really help, as it only locks the sufferer into the illness and increases helplessness. Discomfort related to contamination and infection is universal and has deep roots in human evolutionary psychology. It spirals out of control pretty easily, with each new avoidance sending the message to the brain that death was narrowly escaped, prompting further, more indirect reasons for avoidance. (n.d.). All rights reserved. Last medically reviewed on August 4, 2020. Inside the body, very cool stuff indeed. How Psychologically Conditioned Rats Are Defusing Landmines, The Innate Intelligence Observed in the Dying Process. In blood obsessions, it typically presents as: Fear of contracting a disease from casual contact with blood Basically they enhance the activity of serotonin, the brain chemical implicated in this disorder.